Member states of the European Union

Contrary to popular belief, the “salary in an envelope” is a thing of the past in Bulgaria, shows a recent Eurobarometer survey on “undeclared labour”. 

Bulgaria is last but one in the European Union by citizens' trust in the independence of the judiciary, according to the 2014 EU Justice Scoreboard.

Members of the Hungarian government on Saturday voiced support for territorial autonomy for ethnic Hungarians in Romania, a day after Bucharest unexpectedly imposed an unprecedented entry ban on several Hungarian nationals accused of being extremists.

The Prime Ministers of Bulgaria and Romania, Plamen Oresharski and Victor Ponta, have agreed to back Serbia's EU bid at a meeting in the Danube city of Ruse.

Bulgaria launches in Germany a new advertising campaign under the slogan “Bulgaria – discover and share”.

Romania has become Bulgaria's third largest trading partner after Germany and Italy, partly as a result of the New Europe Bridge, which opened last year, officials say.

The New Europe Bridge, previously known as the Danube Bridge 2, has increased commodity turnover between Bulgaria and Romania.

Bilateral trade between the two countries now exceeds EUR 3B. Romanian export to Bulgaria grew by 9%, and Bulgarian export increased by 6%, Romanian Embassy counselor Victor Dediu revealed Thursday, Bulgarian Standard News reports.

EU nudges western Balkans toward economic reform

Improving the financial climate will attract investment, the Union said. In other business news: Bulgaria and Macedonia seek more funding for Corridor 8.

The EU believes that financial reforms will mean a better business climate and greater economic prosperity in the western Balkans. [AFP]

Thousands of Bulgarians and Romanians leave Germany to return to their home countries.

According to the German edition of The Local, which obtained data from the German Federal Statistics Office, in the last two years around 200 000 Bulgarians and Romanians have left Germany.

Romania's GDP growth leads the EU

Quarterly economic growth registers at 1.7 percent in Romania, Eurostat says. In other business news: Turkey ranks third in a list of the world's friendliest destinations for Muslim travellers; Albania encourages Italian investment.

The GDP in Romania grew by 5.1 percent this year. [AFP]