Bulgaria and Romania's Schengen bid vetoed

euobserver.com
22.09.11 @ 17:44

BY VALENTINA POP

The Netherlands and Finland on Thursday (22 September) vetoed Romania and Bulgaria's bid to join the border-free Schengen area, a move the Polish EU presidency said represented a "sad conclusion about mutual trust among member states...more...
read more: eu observer.com
http://euobserver.com/22/113707

Fins Weigh In On Bulgaria-Romania Schengen

balkan insight
21 SEP 2011 / 09:18

Finland will follow the Netherlands' examples and veto Bulgaria and Romania's Schengen accession, Romania's Foreign Minister Teodor Baconschi has revealed after meeting his Dutch and Finnish counterparts, according to Sofia News Agency.

Novinite (Sofia News Agency)

"However, we need consensus and we need a positive vote on behalf of all EU member states," Baconschi has declared after he met his colleagues at the UN General Assembly in New York....more...
read more: balkan insight
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/finland-weighs-in-on-bulgaria-romania-schengen-entry

E.U. Warns Bulgaria and Romania on Reforms

ny times
By STEPHEN CASTLE

Published: July 20, 2011
BRUSSELS — Bulgaria on Wednesday was warned of serious deficiencies in its judicial system, urged to get more convictions from its fight against organized crime and told that its battle against corruption had yet to lead to convincing results.
The warning, in a formal assessment from the European Commission, highlighted continuing worries about law and order in Bulgaria andRomania, four years after they joined the bloc....more...
read more: ny times
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/21/world/europe/21iht-union21.html?ref=europe

Law and Order, Bulgarian Style

ny times
SOFIA JOURNAL
By STEPHEN CASTLE

Published: July 20, 2011

SOFIA, Bulgaria — Arms pinned behind his back, Alexei “The Tractor” Petrov lay with his face pushed to the floor after heavily armed masked police commandos raided his home early last year. The police then hauled him off in one of Bulgaria’s most pronounced efforts to take on the godfathers of racketeering, kidnapping and prostitution who have eroded trust in the country’s institutions and day-to-day life....more....

read more: ny times
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/20/world/europe/20bulgaria.html?_r=2&ref=europe

Bulgarian, Turkish presidents discuss gas pipelines

news.xinhua net
English.news.cn 2011-07-11 22:42:46

SOFIA, July 11 (Xinhua) -- Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov and his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul on Monday discussed the future of gas supply between the two states, in particular the Nabucco pipeline.

Both Bulgaria and Turkey would have a key role to play in providing gas to Nabucco, seen by Brussels as key to reduce Europe's dependence on Russia for gas, Parvanov said at a joint press conference held after their meeting....more....
read more: news.xinhua\
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2011-07/11/c_13978649.htm

Bulgarians, Romanians Kicked Out of Dutch Labor Market

balkan insight
01 JUL 2011 / 13:14

Bulgarians and Romanians, along with foreigners from outside the EU, will now only be granted work permits for the Netherlands in "exceptional cases".

Novinite (Sofia News Agency)
Dutch MPs passed the measure, which is the brainchild of Social Affairs Minister Henk Kamp, despite EU official's warnings that it may hinder freedom of movement - one of the EU's fundamental freedoms.
read more: balkan insight
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/bulgarians-romanians-kicked-out-of-dutch-labor-market

Bulgaria MP Drafts Bill to Legalise Euthanasia

balkan insight
30 JUN 2011 / 12:05

Bulgaria should allow euthanasia at the request of patients or their relatives, according to a draft bill submitted to Parliament by socialist MP Lyuben Kornezov.

Novinite (Sofia News Agency)
In order to guard against abuse, the document stipulates that a five-member committee, summoned by the Health Minister and Justice Minister, review each euthanasia request and ensure appeals can be filed via the Supreme Court of Cassation....more....
read more: balkan insight
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/draft-bill-on-legalization-of-euthanasia-in-bulgaria-enters-parliament

Bulgaria, Croatia recognise Libya's rebel transitional council as legitimate

se times
29/06/2011

Muammar Gaddafi's "era is over", Bulgaria and Croatia said on Tuesday.
(Nova TV, Dnevnik.bg, Mediapool - 29/06/11; Sofia News Agency, The Sofia Echo, Dnevnik.bg, Mediapool, AFP, DPA, Reuters, Middle East Online, Xinhua, Official Web Site of the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry - 28/06/11)
Bulgaria and Croatia joined at least 19 other world nations on Tuesday (June 28th) in recognising the rebel National Transitional Council (NTC) in Benghazi as the only legitimate representative of the Libyan people....more...
read more: se times
http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/features/setimes/features/2011/06/29/feature-01

Property Prices Drop Sharply in Bulgaria

balkan insight
23 JUN 2011 / 09:49

Bulgaria's real estate market is ranked sixth in the world in terms of a drop in property prices in the first quarter of 2011, according to a study by the company Knight Frank.

Novinite (Sofia News Agency)
Using data of the Bulgarian National Statistics Institute, NSI, the study showed that residential property prices fell by nearly 6 per cent in the first quarter of 2011 compared to the same period of 2010. On quarterly basis, the decrease is 2.3 per cent and it is nearly 4 per cent on a six-month basis....more...
read more: balkan insight
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/bulgaria-ranked-6th-in-world-by-property-price-drop

Sofia Graffiti Fans Mourn Soviet Memorial's New Look

balkan insight
22 JUN 2011 / 01:12

The overnight cleaning of the Soviet Army Monument in the Bulgarian capital, after an unknown graffiti artist painted US pop culture characters on it, has drawn anger on the net.

Sofia Novinite.com
Sofia has lost its life-sized version of Superman, Captain America and Ronald McDonald along with an entire company of superheroes after they got turned back into old, bronze statues of Soviet soldiers....more...
read more: balkan insight
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/soviet-army-monument-in-sofia-washed-clean-overnight

Bulgaria in Mourning for Bus Crash Victims

balkan insight
15 JUN 2011 / 15:29

Highway disaster that immolated eight passengers prompts Prime Minister to order day of mourning.

Novinite (Sofia News Agency)
Eight people died and 20 more suffered injuries, leaving one of them in a life-threatening condition, after a bus overturned en route from Sofia to Burgas.
The accident happened at around 1am on Wednesday, as the bus was driving on the Trakiya Highway, when it capsized and burst into flames. The passenger cabin was completely burnt, Bulgarian National Radio said.....more....
read more: balkan insight
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/bulgaria-in-mourning-for-bus-crash-victims

Number of Romanian Tourists in Bulgaria Rises Slightly

balkan insight
14 JUN 2011 / 15:31

Bulgaria is among the top tourist destinations for Romanian travelers, though the economic crisis means more people will stay home this summer.

Novinite (Sofia News Agency)
A survey conducted in the beginning of June shows that due to the crisis many Romanians will favor local tourist attractions, the Romanian news agency Agerpres writes, cited by BTA.....more....
read more: balkan insight
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/romanian-tourists-headed-to-bulgaria-rises-slightly

Bulgaria, Turkey Agree to Speed Up Gas Grid Connection

balkan insight
10 JUN 2011 / 10:39

Bulgaria and Turkey have agreed to speed up the construction of a gas grid interconnection between the two countries, their energy ministers said on Thursday.
Novinite (Sofia Press Agency)



Bulgarian Energy Minister Traicho Traikov met on Thursday with his Turkish counterpart Taner Yildiz in Kayseri, Turkey, where they took part in the signing of the Project Support Agreements (PSAs) between Nabucco Gas Pipeline International GmbH and the responsible ministries of the pipeline's five transit countries.


read more: balkan insight
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/bulgaria-turkey-agree-to-speed-up-gas-grid-connection

EU Blocks Bulgaria, Romania Schengen Entry

balkan insight
09 Jun 2011/ 17:11
EU Interior Ministers decided on Thursday to keep Schengen hopefuls Bulgaria and Romania out of Europe's borderfree zone, a day after the Eropean Parliament approved their bid
Novinite (Sofia Press Agency)

In a move effectively determined by opposition from the Netherlands, the European Union decided to keep the two youngest EU members out of the Schengen zone, even though they have met all technical requirements.....more....

read more: balkan insight
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/eu-gives-bulgaria-romania-cold-shoulder-on-schengen

European Parliament OKs Bulgaria, Romania Schengen Bid

balkan insight
08 Jun 2011 / 17:36

The European Parliament has given the green light for Bulgaria and Romania to join the Schengen border free zone.

Novinite (Sofia Press Agency)

The two countries have met the conditions to enter Europe's border free zone, based on European Commission progress reports, MEPs said on Wednesday, but added that Parliament should be kept informed of additional measures taken in the Bulgaria-Turkey-Greece area to cope with a possible surge in migration pressure.....more....

read more: balkan insight
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/european-parliament-oks-bulgaria-romania-schengen-bid

Russia, Bulgaria Boast Increased Trade

balkan insight
03 Jun 2011 / 18:14

Bulgaria's trade with Russia increased by 50 per cent last year, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Thursday after meeting with his Bulgarian counterpart.

Novinite (Sofia News Agency)

"Our trade grew more than 50 percent last year. We are glad that's the case, but we would also like to diversify economic contacts and give more attention to large joint projects, high-tech cooperation and joint innovations," the top Russian diplomat was quoted by The Moscow Times as saying.....more...

read more: balkan insight
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/russia-bulgaria-boast-increased-trade

Bulgarian Military Achieves Professional Goals, Regional Influence: Interview with General Zlatan Stoykov

balkan analysis

May 29, 2009

By Christopher Deliso

The successful conclusion of a long reform process that has brought a greater sense of stability and security for military personnel, as well as a more prominent role in Balkan partnerships on the national level, are two of Bulgaria’ss key achievements, according to General Zlatan Stoykov, Chief of General Staff of the Bulgarian Armed Forces.

At the same time, an historic accord signed earlier this month between Greek, Serbia and Bulgarian military officials on reaching common understandings regarding military history is being highlighted as an example of Bulgaria’ss role as a bridge between NATO members new, old and prospective....more....

read more: balkan analysis
http://www.balkanalysis.com/blog/2009/05/29/bulgarian-military-achieves-professional-goals-regional-influence-interview-with-general-zlatan-stoykov/

Bulgaria Opposition Mulls No-Confidence Motion

balkan insight
01 Jun 2011 / 13:51

Bulgaria's Socialist Party has launched an appeal for support for a no-confidence motion against the government.

Sofia Echo

Bulgaria's Socialist Party, BSP, said on Wednesday that it has launched talks with other parliamentary parties and MPs to gauge support for a second motion of no confidence against the Government of Prime Minister Boiko Borissov, Bulgarian National Television reported....more....

read more: balkan insight
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/bulgaria-opposition-mulls-no-confidence-motion

EU Commissioner Tops Bulgaria Popularity Poll

balkan insight
30 May 2011 / 07:20

Prime Minister ranked in third place in popularity in a recent poll, which also puts his GERB party on course to win hands down if an election were held tomorrow.

Novinite (Sofia News Agency)
Bulgaria's EU Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response, Kristalina Georgieva, once again tops the list of popular politicians, with an approval rating of 52 per cent, according to a poll conducted by the MBMD research agency....more....
read more: balkan insight
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/bulgarian-regional-minister-surpasses-pm-in-approval-rating

EU to revise Schengen rules?

se times

30/05/2011

As the EU prepares to debate a possible overhaul, Bulgaria and Romania are watching carefully.

 By Svetla Dimitrova for Southeast European Times in Sofia - 30/05/11

EU leaders are set to address the thorny question of whether the rules covering the passport-free Schengen Zone should be revised in order to provide better control of migration. With thousands of North Africans fleeing the turmoil in Tunisia and Libya, calls for revamping the system have become more urgent....more....  


read more: se times
http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/features/setimes/features/2011/05/30/feature-04