Member states of NATO

Defense Minister Nikos Dendias conveyed a message to Albania on Wednesday, urging the country to respect the European Union standards and regulations as it progresses towards EU accession.

For the first two months of the winter season, the tourism sector in Bulgaria reports a growth of over 5% compared to the same period last year. There is a significant increase in visits from Italy, while tourists from Israel are about 70% fewer. Bulgarian tourists have increased by 8% during the same period.

Bulgaria has been identified as the 11th fastest shrinking nation globally and the 25th highest aging nation, according to a recent CIA report cited by Nova TV. The United Nations has corroborated these findings, highlighting the overall fertility rate as a key indicator. Europe's rate stands at 1.5, falling short of the 2.1-point threshold necessary to maintain population stability.

Greece lags in the EU in terms of internet speed, despite the significant investments that have been made in recent years, according to Eurostat data for 2023.

The country comes last (with only 2.9%) In terms of the ranking of countries with the highest percentage of enterprises with "fast" connections, according to Eurostat data for 2023.

Greek social media is up in arms after a Forbes Magazine article ranked Athens as the worst European city for remote working. The article was based on a survey by a British technology services company, Brother UK, which looked at which are the best and worst cities for remote working in Europe.

Addressing the World Economic Forum in Davos, "We Continue the Change" Co-chairman Kiril Petkov emphasized the potential for Bulgaria, Romania, and Greece to achieve the highest GDP growth in Europe through collaborative infrastructure development.

European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson said in Athens on Monday that Europe's productive population is decreasing by one million every year. The problem is even greater in Greece. Firstly, there is the negative birth and death ratio, signaling an annual population decrease of approximately 50,000 individuals - totaling 1,250,000 people by 2050.

Hungary will lift its objection to Bulgaria joining Europe's passport-free Schengen zone after the Bulgarian parliament formally confirms its scrapping of an extra tax on Russian gas shipments, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has said.

"I was informed by my Bulgarian colleague that yesterday the Bulgarian parliament scrapped this law," Szijjarto said in a video on his Facebook page.

BELGRADE - Serbia has fulfilled all 40 recommendations issued by the Council of Europe body on fighting financial crime and money laundering, Finance Minister Sinisa Mali said on Wednesday.

Hungary threatened on Monday to block Bulgaria's bid to join the Schengen area if fees for the transfer of Russian gas are not removed.

The Financial Times reports this, citing three sources familiar with the discussions (noting that the Hungarian authorities have not commented officially).