Kristalina Georgieva

The "Bulgarian Christmas" charity event, which culminated in a concert on Christmas Day, has raised BGN 1.50 M so far, officials from the Presidency say.

"Bulgarian Christmas" is an annual event raising funds for children with innate health problems held under the patronage of the President of Bulgaria.

Bulgaria's EU Commissioner Kristalina Georgieva and Maxim Behar, founder and CEO of Sofia-based PR agency M3 Communications Group Inc.,part of global Hill+Knowlton Strategies Group, have taken a selfie.

This happened as Georgieva was turning the first sod on the new "Children's House" in Sofia (an event launched by the For Our Children foundation of which Mr Behar is a member).

EU will have a stance on Bulgaria's idea to build a gas hub at the Black Sea after a formal proposal has been prepared, EU Commission Vice President Kristalina Georgieva has said.

Kristalina Georgieva, the European budget commissioner, said on Tuesday the European Union would speed up work to help provide more energy security for Southeastern Europe, including by financing gas connectors between Bulgaria, Romania and Greece, after Russia on Monday announced it was dropping the South Stream project.

UNESCO head Irina Bokova has said she does not see "any obstacle" for the next UN Secretary-General to be a woman.

Bokova said in an interview with the Associated Press it was "time for a woman to become secretary-general. Definitely".

The agency's text is titled "Bulgarian as 1st Woman UN Chief?" and comes amid other media reports pointing to Bokova as a strong contender.

The extension of the red line of the Sofia metro reaching the airport is expected to be completed by the beginning of April next year, the Sofia Mayor Yordanka Fandakova told journalists after an inspection of the construction.

The other extension of the same line - to the Business Park - would be completed by the end of April.

EU Commission Vice President for Budget and Human Resources Kristalina Georgieva is due to hold talks with Bulgaria's President Rosen Plevneliev and Prime Minister Boyko Borisov on Friday.

Georgieva is set to make both Plevneliev and Borisov familiar with EU Commission head Jean-Claude Juncker's "investment package" worth more than EUR 300 B aimed at boosting Europe's economy.

Bulgaria's Interior Minister Veselin Vuchkov on Tuesday supported the idea of establishing European Prosecutor's Office responsible for combating fraud and misappropriation of EU funds.

Bulgaria has a track record of mismanagement of EU funds, which had resulted in the suspension of funding under several operational programmes.

Bulgaria's European Commissioner for Budget, Human Resources and Securit Kristalina Georgieva called for urgent and profound reforms in Bulgaria in an interview for the BNR public broadcaster.

According to her, the priorities were healthcare, pension system and administration.

The EU's Economic and Financial Affairs Council is expected to approve the proposal of the European Commission for granting Bulgaria EUR 10 million in aid for flood damage.