Business

Bulgaria's Electronic Media Board (CEM) urges advertisers to limit the “naturalistic” and “physiological” television ads during the traditional dinner time. 

Romania's President Traian Basescu asked Prime Minister Victor Ponta to revoke a fuel excise coming into force on April 1.

In a letter, Basescu wrote that introducing the excise would "put an exaggerated and pointless pressure on the economic environment and on the consumers," as Romania's AGERPRES quoted him as saying.

Bulgaria's State Commission for Energy and Water Regulation (DKEVR) has approved the proposal of Bulgargaz to reduce the price of natural gas by 2.73% as of April 1, 2014.

The price of natural gas in the second quarter of 2014 will be BGN 612.80 per 1000 cubic meters, VAT excluded, excise duty excluded.

Consumer credits in Bulgaria in February continue to rise for the third consecutive month, while the mortgages continue to drop, shows Central Bank (BNB) data.

The decrease in the mortgages is both on monthly and annual base, down to BGN 8.808 B. 

Bulgaria's advertising market in 2013 has been estimated at BGN 303M net value with a minimum expected investment increase of 2% in 2014.

Internet advertising has the greatest potential in 2014, according to data revealed by the Bulgarian Association of Communication Agencies (BACA) at the traditional forum of the organization.

Speaking after a meeting of the Austrian business circle, Prime Minister Plamen Oresharski referred to the country as a traditional economic partner of Bulgaria.

Montenegro tops tourism growth list

Tourism revenue in Montenegro is expected to grow more than 17 percent from last year. Also in business news: Turkey will begin to renegotiate its Customs Union Agreement with the EU by June.

Montenegro ranked first on the list of 184 countries expected to show tourism growth. [AFP]

By Sotiris Nikas

According to the 2014 budget, the Greek state achieved a 2.06-billion-euro primary surplus in the first couple of months, which is over 1 billion euros higher than the set target of 1.04 billion, despite a 580-million-euro revenues shortfall.

The cost of electricity appears set to increase for low household consumption (of up to 800 kilowatt-hours per four months) and decline for low- and medium-voltage commercial consumers through the termination of so-called cross-subsidies, demanded by the country’s creditors through the revised bailout agreement.

By Vassilis Ziras and Yiannis Papadoyiannis

Brussels has issued strict guidelines to Athens regarding the coverage of Eurobank’s capital needs, given that the country’s other systemic banks will cover their requirements from the private sector.