European Economic Area

Negotiators from the European Union Council and the European Parliament have struck a deal regarding the recovery of EU customs duties on large quantities of agricultural products exported from Ukraine. This significant agreement, as reported by DPA, particularly focuses on products such as eggs, poultry, sugar, corn, oats, semolina, and honey.

The European Parliament's Petitions Committee is set to vote on a resolution advocating for the full acceptance of Bulgaria and Romania into the Schengen Area.

Walter Baier, the leading candidate of the European Left for the upcoming European elections, has expressed his dismay over Austria's stance on Bulgaria and Romania's entry into the Schengen zone. Describing the Austrian government's position as "shameful, unfair, and ineffective," Baier's remarks reflect broader discontent within the European Left regarding the issue.

A delegation of the European Commission, with executives responsible for the EU Recovery Fund, are in Athens to evaluate the progress in the implementation of the projects financed by the EU.

The visit, which started on March 12, comes as the Fund is halfway through its journey - its completion is set for August 2026. 

A recent study conducted by the "Alfa Research" agency unveils insights into Bulgarian sentiments regarding European Union (EU) membership and its policies. The survey, conducted from March 1 to 7, 2024, involved 1000 adult citizens across the country, shedding light on prevailing attitudes towards Bulgaria's EU affiliation and perceptions of EU governance.

The European Union must step up preparations for climate change risks, as a hotter planet threatens everything from farming to financial stability, the European Commission has said.

The Commission was responding to a stark report published on Monday by the European Environment Agency (EEA), which urged EU countries to prepare for "catastrophic" risks from worsening climate change.

European Parliament (EP) President Roberta Metsola affirmed her commitment to Romania's accession to the Schengen area during her visit to Bucharest for the European People's Party (EPP) congress. Metsola emphasized that the Schengen area cannot be considered complete until Romania becomes a part of it.

The European Commission on Tuesday proposed a new 1.5-billion-euro ($1.63 billion) defense industry program, which would be financed from the European Union budget for the period between 2025 and 2027.

In anticipation of the upcoming elections for members of the European Parliament (MEPs) from Bulgaria, scheduled for June 9 this year, the Central Election Commission (CEC) has unveiled a crucial update to voting regulations.

Turkish borders crossing into Europe have witnessed tightened controls on vehicles entering and exiting, causing long lines and wait times, ahead of Bulgaria and Romania's partial inclusion into the Schengen zone from March 31.