The Balkans Archives

GERB leader and former prime minister Boyko Borissov expressed his gratitude for the innovation, research and start-ups portfolio European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen allocated to Bulgarian commissioner-designate Ekaterina Zaharieva.

Romania's Social Democratic Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu said he was satisfied with the People, Skills and Readiness portfolio allocated to Romania in the next European Commission. At the same time, the Liberal Party, a coalition partner in the government, appeared to find the portfolio somewhat disappointing.”

A missing Macedonian flag during the meeting between Bulgarian President Rumen Radev and his counterpart Gordana Silyanovska-Davkova has triggered a new scandal and raised tensions between Sofia and Skopje on Monday.

The deaths of two Bulgarian military pilots on Friday sparked sharp criticism of the air force for attempting to hold an air show given the current poor state of Bulgarian fighter aviation.

Romania will ask the Council for compensation for the much higher energy prices in its region compared to Western Europe, Romanian Energy Minister Sebastian Burduja said on Thursday, confirming that his country had joined forces with Greece and Bulgaria.

The Bulgarian parliament has decided to extend the deadline given to the government to negotiate the sale of two Russian nuclear reactors and related equipment to Ukraine by six months. 

Members of local branches of political parties linked to fugitive oligarch Ilan Shor are accused of receiving funds from undeclared sources to take part in protests linked to the October 2024 presidential elections.

Bulgaria's pro-Russian radical party Revival has presented parliament with its proposal for a bill on foreign agents, which Euractiv Bulgaria found copies the controversial Russian law.

The Bulgarian government is considering the possibility of taking control of currently privately owned parking areas where heavy lorries have to park and pay a fee before crossing the border.

Marta Kos, a Slovenian liberal politician and former diplomat, is the country's new nominee for European Commissioner, government sources confirmed on Monday (9 September).

The leader of the main opposition USR party, Elena Lasconi, has called on President Klaus Iohannis and Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu to provide explanations on Russian drones entering Romanian territory over the weekend.

Bulgaria and Germany signed a declaration on cooperation in energy, green policies and climate protection, the Bulgarian Energy Ministry announced on Sunday.

The Bulgarian government pledged on Thursday to fight the shadowy and criminal organisations that profit from traffic at its borders and tarnish the country's image.

Bulgaria's largest pro-Russian party, Revival, called for the country to leave the European Union and become a member of BRICS, where Russia has a leading influence.

The Green Energy Corridor launched in Bucharest two years ago, entered a new phase on Tuesday with the establishment of a joint venture company to carry out the feasibility study and oversee the implementation of the gas supply initiative from the Caspian region to Eastern European countries.

Transport operators from Turkey and Greece have united around the idea of finding an alternative corridor to bypass Bulgaria because of the ongoing transport chaos in the country, the Chamber of the Bulgarian Road Hauliers (CBRH) has said.

The Romanian government adopted a bill that would see Romania donate a Patriot surface-to-air missile system to Ukraine on Monday, sending the proposal to parliament for urgent debate and approval.

The National Council of the pro-Russian Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) has decided to expel its former leader, Kornelia Ninova, from the party following a series of electoral defeats.

Romania's Ministry of Agriculture is working on an emergency decree to limit the markup on Romanian food products to 20%.

A woman with dual US-Bulgarian citizenship was arrested and then released for protesting outside the Russian Cultural and Information Centre in Sofia, writing "murderers" in chalk on the building and burning the Russian flag.

Bulgaria's Movement for Rights and Freedoms party, which represents the country's Turkish minority, is trying to oust its co-leader, Delyan Peevski, who is facing US and UK sanctions for corruption.

The Romanian government will start negotiations with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) to acquire shares in the Giurgiulești International Free Port in Moldova.

Bulgaria is aiming to get the "regional policy" portfolio in the next European Commission and has a chance to do so, several sources in Sofia, including state-run BNT television, report.

Bulgarian parties must submit their nominations for the country's new European Commissioner by the end of the week, caretaker Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev urged on Monday, as continuing political instability and preparations for snap elections in October have delayed the process.

Caretaker Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev asked on Monday the parliamentary political formations to nominate candidates for a new Bulgarian commissioner before the government makes the final choice.