Romania

Some 3000 fewer workers from Bulgaria and Romania are presently in the United Kingdom than in end-2013, the country's Office of National Statistics has revealed.

These numbers suggest a decrease compared to the period before lifting restrictions at the end of last year, when a seven-year EU transitional period for the two countries expired.

An interview of Novinite. com with Romania's Ambassador to Bulgaria, H.E. Anton Pacuretu, on general developments in Ukraine and on the future of Europe's Eastern Partnership, but also on bilateral relations between Bulgaria and Romania, which he clearly believes have common interests in the region.

The opposition Liberal Party, PNL, on Tuesday filed a no-confidence motion against the center-left government of Victor Ponta, which the government is likely to survive.

The PNL says the Prime Minister and ruling coalition should step down as they had failed to manifest "a clear foreign policy” in the context of the crisis in neighbouring Ukraine.

Romania prepares to join eurozone

The country will switch currencies by January 2019, officials said. Also in business news: A World Bank loan to Croatia will help improve the health care sector.

Romania plans to join the eurozone in 2019. [AFP]

US Vice-President Joe Biden is to visit Bucharest for talks with Romanian leaders on the volatile situation in Ukraine, among other matters.

President Traian Basescu on Monday said he had invited Biden to Romania, but declined to specify the timing of the visit.

 Per capita expenditure posted a 1.9 pct decline last year, partly due to poor takings from cruise passengers

By Stathis Kousounis

Foreign tourists’ average per capita spending in Greece remains at low levels, notwithstanding the signs of recovery observed so far this season.

Bulgaria and Romania are quite often paired up in European and regional powers' approach to the Balkans. They are said to be both wrapped in political, economic and social problems, but usually do not provoke a huge interest from EU politicians.

Bulgarian tourists spent nearly EUR 50 M in Greece over the long holidays between May 1 and 6, show estimates of tourist agencies. 

According to the Border Police 260 000 Bulgarians crossed the border to Greece. At least 85 000 spent more than one night in Greece. 

“Being on the list of 'The 7 Most Endangered' opens a window of opportunity to rescue the sites but also means increased responsibility for national stakeholders,” the President of Europa Nostra and acting Dean of the European Investment Bank Institute, EIB-I, jointly said on May 4, presenting the list in Vienna, Austia.

The military exercise, codenamed “Vector 2014”, is to end later this week and will involve some 1,600 naval personnel, the Romanian Defence Ministry confirmed on Monday.

“The exercise is organized annually and aims at training naval structures for their missions. It was planned around one year ago,” the ministry said.