Bulgaria and the EU

Latest business news about Bulgaria and the European Union

• Bulgaria country guide

Lost EU funds force new look at Bulgaria's corruption problems — 30 November 2008, 14:43 CET

Bulgaria's loss of hundreds of millions of euros in EU funding last week for failing to tackle corruption could be a blessing in disguise, according to analysts.

Dutch block borders to Romanians, Bulgarians over job fears — 27 November 2008, 23:28 CET

The Netherlands has opted against opening its borders to workers from Bulgaria and Romania from January 1 amid heightened fears over job security, the social affairs ministry said Thursday.

Bulgarian former official jailed for five years for corruption — 26 November 2008, 00:19 CET

A former road fund official whose attempt to get bribes from an architect helped persuade the European Commission to freeze funding to Bulgaria, was jailed for five years Tuesday.

EU aid freeze 'a disappointment' but reforms still on: Bulgaria — 26 November 2008, 00:23 CET

Bulgaria calls the Commission's decision to cut access to EUR 220m "a disappointment" but vows to press on with reforms to guarantee delivery of the remaining funds.

Bulgaria loses EU millions for failure to tackle corruption — 26 November 2008, 00:01 CET

The Commission has punished Bulgaria for failing to adequately tackle corruption, cutting off its access to hundreds of millions of euros in EU funding.

Firms ink deal to build 4bn euro Bulgaria nuclear plant — 22 November 2008, 01:24 CET

Russian company Atomstroyexport signed an agreement on Friday with French and German subcontractors to build a new nuclear power plant in northern Bulgaria, a statement said.

Brussels urges Bulgaria to get tough on EU fraud — 20 November 2008, 19:29 CET

The European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) urged Bulgaria on Thursday to crack down on fraud cases involving EU money and hand down tougher sentences on offenders.

Bulgaria's ex-farm fund chief charged with EU aid fraud — 10 November 2008, 23:24 CET

The former executive director of Bulgaria's farming fund, Asen Drumev, has been arrested and charged with misappropriation of EU farming subsidies, the prosecutor's office announced on Monday.

EU to extend Bulgarian farm subsidy programme — 10 November 2008, 13:24 CET

The EU is ready to extend a programme of farm subsidies to Bulgaria by a year, allowing the funding of about 720 projects worth 281 million leva (144 million euros), the government said on Friday.

Bulgaria cracks credit-card fraud ring — 05 November 2008, 18:17 CET

Bulgarian police have arrested three people suspected of involvement in credit card theft and fraud targeting western Europeans, the interior ministry said on Wednesday.

Bulgaria lifts bank deposit guarantee — 30 October 2008, 11:31 CET

Bulgarian lawmakers approved a bill on Thursday to more than double guarantees for bank deposits in response to the global financial crisis.

Bulgaria's bid for EU funds hampered by resignations — 23 October 2008, 16:58 CET

Two resignations in less than a week have dealt a blow to Bulgaria's efforts to persuade the Commission to unfreeze EUR 825 million in aid, suspended over fraud concerns.

Bulgarian parliament adopts first conflict-of-interest law — 16 October 2008, 15:50 CET

Bulgaria's parliament adopted Thursday the country's first conflict-of-interest law, following EU demands for measures combatting high-level corruption.

Bulgaria resumes payments to farmers hit by subsidy freeze — 14 October 2008, 16:13 CET

Bulgaria has resumed payments to farmers hit by an EU agricultural aid freeze with money from the state budget, the state agriculture fund chief executive said on Tuesday.

Council of Europe slams Bulgaria over disabled education record — 12 October 2008, 15:47 CET

Bulgaria 'denied the right to education' for up to 3,000 children with learning disabilities placed in institutions across the country.

EU lifts Bulgarian air safety restrictions — 08 September 2008, 18:13 CET

The European Commission has lifted restrictions on Bulgarian airlines imposed last December for safety concerns, says Bulgaria's European Affairs Minister.

Bulgaria seeks EU, NATO help for battling huge forest fire — 06 September 2008, 16:15 CET

Bulgaria's ministry of emergency situations on Saturday appealed for help from the European Union and NATO to cope with a huge forest fire in its Rila mountain national park to the southwest.

EU tells Bulgaria to step up anti-corruption drive — 28 August 2008, 00:13 CET

EU Commissioner Guenter Verheugen urged Bulgaria on Wednesday to step up its fight against crime and corruption, a problem that has already led Brussels to impose sanctions on Sofia.

Four arrested in Bulgarian farmers' protest — 27 August 2008, 20:22 CET

Four Bulgarian farmers were arrested Wednesday as some 300 demonstrators blocked major streets in Sofia and tried to storm government buildings in protests over farming subsidies, the interior ministry said.

Bulgaria vows to speed up probe of EU funds fraud — 22 August 2008, 17:31 CET

Bulgaria is pledging to speed up investigations into the misuse of EU subsidies and aid after Brussels renewed calls on its new Balkans member to boost its fight against corruption.

EU sets deadline for Bulgaria corruption clampdown — 21 August 2008, 21:10 CET

The head of the European Union anti-fraud office on Thursday demanded that Bulgaria clamp down on corruption within months, the government said.

Bulgarian farmers protest delayed state subsidies — 21 August 2008, 16:46 CET

Several hundred Bulgarian farmers blocked major roads across the country on Thursday in their latest protest against a delay in agricultural subsidy payments.

Bulgaria, EU agree help for farmers hit by subsidy freeze — 07 August 2008, 23:24 CET

Bulgaria and the European Commission have agreed on an action plan to pay back farmers hit by an EU agricultural subsidy freeze.

Bulgarian farmers block roads in demand for state subsidies — 07 August 2008, 21:55 CET

Hundreds of Bulgarian farmers imposed road blockades around the country Wednesday in a new action to demand agricultural state subsidies.

Bulgarian government's ratings plunge in latest poll — 31 July 2008, 17:25 CET

Bulgaria's government saw its ratings poll plummet in a poll released Thursday in the wake of the European Commission's decision to freeze more than 800 million euros in aid.