Politics of the European Union

Speaking at a briefing following a meeting with Croatian Central Bank Governor Boris Vujcic, Bulgarian National Bank (BNB) Governor Dimitar Radev highlighted the significant costs associated with delaying entry into the eurozone.

In a significant step towards Eurozone integration, Bulgaria asserts its readiness to join the currency union without relying on exceptions, according to statements made by officials in Brussels. Petar Chobanov, Deputy Governor of the Bulgarian National Bank, emphasized Bulgaria's commitment to meeting the criteria for Eurozone membership during a conference organized by MEP Emil Radev.

Bulgaria officially launches its campaign for Eurozone entry with the rallying motto "Unity is strength" (Единството е сила). The campaign, unveiled at a special press conference, features a logo created by young artist Georgi Georgiev, seamlessly incorporating symbols of the euro and the Bulgarian tricolor.

The new study of The European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) is based on a survey of public opinion conducted by YouGov, Datapraxis, and Norstat in nine EU member states (Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Romania, and Spain) and two non-EU states (the United Kingdom and Switzerland).

Reports from Politico suggest Hungary may lift its blockade on EU assistance to Ukraine, marking a potential breakthrough ahead of the special European Council meeting on February 1 in Brussels.

The euro enjoys robust support across the Eurozone, with approval ratings averaging 79%, although opinions vary significantly across member states. According to a recent survey conducted by Ipsos European Public Affairs on behalf of the European Commission, diverse sentiments towards the single currency emerged, especially in Croatia, where skepticism persists.

"No one is forcing Hungary to be part of the European Union," said the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, on Tuesday, October 25. Thus, the EU's top diplomat responded to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's words that The European Union is a "bad modern parody" of the USSR.

The prolonged dispute between Azerbaijan and Armenia has, on the whole, been settled, as the parties only need to implement additional tangible measures to completely restore and normalize their relations, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said.

Thursday's resolution was passed with the support of MPs of the governing Law and Justice Party (PiS) and the far-right Confederation alliance. During the vote, PiS leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski announced that the country would hold a referendum on the issue of relocating asylum seekers, which according to local media could take place on the same day as the autumn general election.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has called crisis talks with Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic for next week, a spokesperson said on Thursday.

"He invited both leaders for a 'crisis meeting' in Brussels next week," EU foreign affairs spokesperson Peter Stano said. "We will share more details at a later stage."