Bulgaria and the EU

Latest business news about Bulgaria and the European Union.

Interim Report on Progress under the Co-operation and Verification Mechanism in Bulgaria — 08 February 2012, 17:25 CET

When they joined the EU on 1 January 2007, Romania and Bulgaria still had progress to make in the fields of judicial reform, corruption and organised crime. To smooth the entry of both countries and at the same time safeguard the workings of its policies and institutions, the EU decided to establish a special "cooperation and verification mechanism" to help them address these outstanding shortcomings. In December 2006, the Commission set criteria ("benchmarks") for assessing progress made on these issues (consult the reports). The decision to continue assessing Bulgaria and Romania shows the EU's commitment to see the two countries develop the effective administrative and judicial systems they need to deliver on the obligations of membership as well as enjoying the benefits. Progress on judicial reform, corruption and organized crime will allow Bulgarians and Romanians to enjoy their full rights as EU citizens.

EU criticism douses Romania, Bulgaria Schengen hopes — 08 February 2012, 17:29 CET

Romanian and Bulgarian hopes of rapidly joining the Schengen visa-free travel zone were dealt a new blow Wednesday as an EU report urged them to take more action against corruption and organised crime.

EU funding shortfall for ex-Soviet nuclear plants clean-up — 08 February 2012, 11:41 CET

The EU faces a shortfall of some 2.5 billion euros to complete de-commissioning of eight ex-Soviet nuclear plants in Bulgaria, Lithuania and Slovakia, says the European Court of Auditors.

Bulgaria pledges to shut mental homes — 06 February 2012, 19:16 CET

Bulgaria pledged Monday to shut its dilapidated mental homes after the European Court of Human Rights condemned Sofia over an inmate held for years after being wrongly diagnosed as schizophrenic.

Romanian leader slams Dutch 'abuse' over Schengen — 02 February 2012, 12:28 CET

Romania's President Traian Basescu on Thursday accused the Netherlands of abuse over its blocking of Romania and Bulgaria's accession to the visa-free Schengen area.

Bulgarian parliament OKs joining EU pact with conditions — 27 January 2012, 15:30 CET

Parliament in non-eurozone Bulgaria voted Friday to join an EU budget pact for tighter discipline but with conditions regarding tax policy and exemption from certain financial obligations.

First Chinese car plant in Europe to open Feb 21 — 26 January 2012, 15:40 CET

Chinese car-maker Great Wall Motor will open on February 21 a plant in Bulgaria, producing the first Chinese cars assembled in Europe, its local partner Litex Motors said on Thursday.

New Bulgaria president seeks more active role in EU — 25 January 2012, 18:26 CET

Bulgaria's new President Rosen Plevneliev said Wednesday he wanted a better image and a more active role for his country in the EU, ahead of talks in Brussels with EU executive chief Jose Manuel Barroso.

Bulgaria opens to Schengen visa holders to boost tourism — 25 January 2012, 18:24 CET

Bulgaria said Wednesday it had decided to offer visa-free business and tourist travel to all Schengen visa holders, despite remaining outside Europe's border-free travel area.

World Bank, EIB to help Bulgaria use EU funds — 22 January 2012, 22:59 CET

World Bank and European Investment Bank experts will help Bulgaria make better use of European aid funds, the government said Sunday, as it signed memorandums of understandings with the two institutions.

Bulgaria's President Plevneliev takes office — 22 January 2012, 12:22 CET

Bulgaria's conservative President Rosen Plevneliev took office Sunday, urging national unity around the goal of improving the economy and the country's image within the EU.

Romania president bitter at Schengen, labour restrictions — 19 January 2012, 16:58 CET

Romanian President Traian Baseescu on Thursday blasted the EU's veto of his country's accession to the visa-free Schengen area and labour market restrictions imposed by nine member states.

Bulgaria seeks to double use of EU funds in 2012 — 13 January 2012, 16:43 CET

EU's poorest newcomer Bulgaria managed to make use of just 20 per cent of its European aid funds last year but aims to double that in 2012, says EU Funds Management Minister Tomislav Donchev.

Euro police busts synthetics drug ring — 12 January 2012, 17:52 CET

Policing agency Europol said Thursday it has busted a major synthetic drugs-making network and arrested nine suspects in four countries, while recovering drugs, equipment, guns and explosives.

Bulgaria sets conditions to join EU budget pact — 11 January 2012, 15:41 CET

Non-eurozone member Bulgaria said Wednesday it will join an EU budget pact for tighter discipline but refused to undertake any financial pledges to aid the eurozone or accept changes to its tax policy.

Chinese car-maker to start Bulgaria assembly line — 06 January 2012, 12:45 CET

Chinese car-maker Great Wall Motor will start assembling cars in Bulgaria in February as part of its efforts to enter the European market, its local partner Litex Motors said on Friday.

Bulgaria anti-mafia court opens — 03 January 2012, 12:26 CET

A special Bulgarian court set up to tackle cases of organised crime opened on Tuesday after repeated calls from Brussels for swifter sentences in anti-mafia trials.

Five years on Romania, Bulgaria cash in on EU membership — 29 December 2011, 11:07 CET

Five years after joining the European Union, Bulgaria and Romania are cashing in billions of euros in aid and their citizens can earn a living in the bloc's more fortunate members, even if obstacles persist.

Bulgarian judges cry foul over top appointments — 21 December 2011, 13:34 CET

Bulgaria's judges union on Wednesday protested new appointments by parliament to the country's top judiciary body, questioning their competence and the transparency of the nomination procedure.

EU's poorest region teeters on the brink — 11 December 2011, 15:57 CET

The bare fields, the empty roads, the ruined houses and the shuttered schools say it all. Welcome to Bulgaria's rural northwest, officially the poorest region in the European Union.

Bulgaria passes 2012 budget based on lower growth of 2.3% — 09 December 2011, 13:10 CET

Bulgaria is heading for sharply less growth than expected next year but will still be in the top group of European Union countries in the growth stakes, the budget for 2012 adopted by parliament on Friday shows.

Finland agrees to two-track Schengen for Bulgaria, Romania — 15 November 2011, 13:19 CET

Finland has dropped its opposition to membership of Bulgaria and Romania in Europe's passport-free Schengen area, allowing them to join in two stages, Finnish EU Affairs Minister Alexander Stubb said Tuesday.

Commission report on transitional arrangements regarding free movement of workers from Bulgaria and Romania — 14 November 2011, 15:48 CET

A new report published today by the European Commission highlights the overall positive role that mobile workers from Bulgaria and Romania (EU-2) have played in receiving countries' economies.

WWF sounds warning on caviar — 14 November 2011, 13:21 CET

Poaching and illegal trade in sturgeon caviar persist in Romania and Bulgaria, posing a serious risk to the highly threatened species of fish, the environmental group WWF warned on Monday.

Bulgaria lobbies for fairer EU farming aid caps — 31 October 2011, 19:10 CET

Bulgaria lobbied Germany's farming minister Ilse Aigner on Monday to back EU plans to cap farming subsidies, insisting the current distribution system was uneven, the agriculture ministry said.