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

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

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

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/

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

Fitch Upgrades Bulgaria Outlook

balkan insight
25 May 2011 / 14:39

Global rating agency Fitch has revised its outlook for Bulgaria to positive from negative, citing a reduction in the country's debt and recovery of the economy.
Sofia Echo

Should debt decline further and local banks display clearer evidence of stabilisation, the agency could upgrade its ratings, the analysts said.

Fitch lists Bulgaria's foreign and local currency ratings at BBB- and BBB, one and two steps above junk rating.

http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/fitch-upgrades-bulgaria-rating

read more: balkan insight

Bulgaria Police Seize 30 Kilos of Heroin

balkan insight
23 May 2011 / 13:45

Bulgarian customs officers found 30.5 kilos of heroin in the gas tank of an automobile on Sunday at the country's border with Romania.
Novinite (Sofia Press Agency)

The information was reported Monday by the Bulgarian Customs Agency.

The car, with tags from the northwestern city of Vratsa, was searched on May 22 on the ferry at the Danube port of Vidin as it exited the country, based on risk analysis....more...
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/bulgaria-police-seize-3%C3%A5-kilos-of-cocaine

read more: balkan insight

PM Warns of More Changes in Bulgaria Gov't Reshuffle

balkan insight
19 May 2011 / 13:58

The wave of reshuffles that swept Bulgaria's government on Wednesday will continue in the Agriculture Ministry in a bid to improve EU funds absorption, the prime minister said Thursday.
Novinite (Sofia News Agency)


read more: balkan insight
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/pm-warns-of-more-changes-in-bulgaria-gov-t-reshuffle

"I will either appoint one more deputy minister or will dismiss one of them," Prime Minister Boyko Borisov said in the morning broadcast of the national state TV on Thursday....more....

Europol chief praises Bulgarian anti-crime efforts

se times
17/05/2011

Europol's head says that over the past two years, the government has signaled its determination.
(FOCUS News Agency - 17/05/11; BTA, Sofia News Agency, Dnevnik.bg, Mediapool, FOCUS News Agency, Public Service Europe, Europol, Official Website of the Bulgarian Interior Ministry - 16/05/11)
Europol Director Rob Wainwright commended Bulgarian authorities Monday (May 16th) for their efforts to fight organised crime and co-operation with his organisation.

read more: se times
http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/features/setimes/features/2011/05/17/feature-01

Europol Marks Bulgaria Progress in Organised Crime Fight

balkan insight
16 May 2011 / 17:29

Europol Director Rob Wainwright has praised Bulgaria's progress in the fight against organised crime over the past two years.
Novinite (Sofia Press Agency)

Wainwright said that the operational information supplied by the Bulgarian authorities for the drawing up of an EU Organized Crime Threat Assessment is on an excellent level, possibly one of the best in Europe....more...

http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/europol-marks-bulgaria-progress-in-organised-crime-fight
read more: balkan insight

Bulgaria Opens Dry Spent Nuclear Fuel Depot

balkan insight
13 May 2011 / 09:59
Bulgaria has officially opened a new dry spent nuclear fuel storage facility at the country's Kozloduy nuclear power plant.
Novinite (Sofia News Agency)read more: balkan insight

The facility, which was opened by Prime Minister Boyko Borisov and Economy and Energy Minister Traicho Traikov, will have the capacity to store over 5,200 spent fuel assemblies in 72 steel and heavy concrete casks safely for 50 years....more...

http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/bulgaria-opens-dry-spent-nuclear-fuel-depot

ECHR: Bulgaria must address "systemic" judicial problem

se times
11/05/2011

Bulgaria must introduce legal remedies for victims of unreasonably long proceedings.
(Sega, Trud, 24 Chasa, FOCUS News Agency - 11/05/11; European Court of Human Rights, Sofia News Agency, Dnevnik, Mediapool, Trud - 10/05/11)
Bulgaria must adopt legal changes to introduce compensatory remedies for the victims of protracted civil, administrative and criminal proceedings, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) said in a judgment Tuesday (May 10th). ....more...
read more: se times
http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/features/setimes/features/2011/05/11/feature-01

Bulgaria Grey Economy Reaches 40%, Survey Shows

balkan insight
11 May 2011 / 14:35

The gray economy in Bulgaria made up 40 per cent of the business sector in 2010 and keeps growing, a poll by the Association of Industrial Capital, AIC, shows.
Novinite (Sofia News Agency)

AIC presented on Tuesday the results of a nation-wide poll of 3,500 employed people, aged 15 to 85.
Employees say this share is nearly 48 per cent, while the average Bulgarian puts the figure at 58 per cent....more...

http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/bulgaria-grey-economy-reaches-40-survey-showsread more: balkan insight