Bulgaria
Bulgaria starts construction of gas link with Serbia
New pipeline with capacity of up to 1.8 bcm a year will help increase energy security and diversify gas supplies in the region.
Russian gas pipe flow dips to record low in January
Russian pipeline gas flowing to Europe dipped to a record low in January, down 30% compared with supplies in December, while experts warn that there could be significant further downside risk to the country’s deliveries.
Only Hungary and Russia heading for recession in 2023 as Emerging Europe shows its resilience
wiiw believes that most countries of the region have “probably already digested” most of the economic shock caused by the Ukraine war, provided Russia does not escalate the conflict further.
M&A in Emerging Europe fell by 20% to €32.93bn in 2022
The weak macroeconomic backdrop and the spectre of possible recession are likely to stifle M&A in the coming months, according to the annual CMS/Emis Emerging Europe M&A Report.
VISEGRAD BLOG: When Eastern European states speak out they are now listened to
The countries on Nato’s eastern flank believe they are now leading the debate on how to confront the Kremlin, as demonstrated by the row over supplying modern battle tanks to Ukraine.
Fitch warns Bulgaria’s political turmoil putting EU funds, eurozone accession at risk
Bulgaria will hold its fifth general election in two years this April, further delaying reforms needed to unlock EU funds and meet eurozone entry criteria.
North Macedonia’s president says Russian secret services are behind rift with Bulgaria
President Stevo Pendarovski links series of incidents that caused relations to Bulgaria to deteriorate to Moscow's interference in the Western Balkans.
Employees claim Bulgarian Facebook moderators controlled by Russia
Moscow is suspected of using multiple tools for hybrid attacks on democracy in Bulgaria, including spreading disinformation and financing political parties.
OPINION: Bulgaria sets itself a tough task with Burgas-Alexandroupolis pipeline revival
Bulgaria urgently needs non-Russian crude for its Black Sea refinery, but there are multiple challenges to reviving the Burgas-Alexandroupolis project.
Bulgaria to hold new snap general election after parties fail to form government
Parties already mulling new alliances as Bulgaria prepares to hold its fifth general election in two years.
Rural parts of Bulgaria and Croatia suffer Europe’s deepest long-term population loss
Three mainly rural regions of Croatia and Bulgaria suffered the deepest population decline across the European Union between 2015 and 2020, a compilation of data from the EU’s statistics office Eurostat shows.
Southeast Europe sovereigns start 2023 with return to capital markets
Sovereigns move quickly to tap international capital as they anticipate rising yields later in 2023.
Bulgaria secretly provided fuel and ammunition to Ukraine at start of Russian invasion
Investigation by German daily WELT finds pro-Ukrainian former premier supported Ukraine by sending ammunition and fuel through third countries.
bneGREEN: IEA five-point action plan could avoid a new European energy crisis this year
Europe faces another energy crisis that may start in the summer, leading gas and power prices to spike again. Europe won this winter’s battle in the energy war with Russian President Vladimir Putin, but will receive even less gas than last year.
Gas, panic in 2023
Last year was a disaster for Europe as Putin’s energy war wreaked chaos on Europe’s economies by sending up gas prices 20-fold, fuelling run-away inflation and an energy crisis that drove millions into poverty. Another crisis could be coming.
Analysts say Russia using all available propaganda tools for hybrid attacks on Bulgaria
Kremlin strategies include spreading disinformation and financing political parties, contributing to ongoing political instability in Bulgaria.
EBRD invests record €13.1bn into its region in 2022
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development invested a record €13.1bn into its Emerging Europe and Eurasia region in 2022, the bank announced on January 12.
Bulgarian parliament orders caretaker government to renegotiate closure of coal-fired plants
Sofia wants to renegotiate recovery and resilience plan with European Commission after Russia cut off gas deliveries, prompting return to coal.
Bulgaria raids offices of crypto lender Nexo
Accusations against Nexo include money laundering, tax crimes, unlicensed bank operations and computer fraud, a spokesperson for the prosecution said.
bneGREEN: Renewables to overtake coal in electricity generation soon
Hundreds of protesters currently trying to halt the continued development of a coal mine in Germany – which would involve the destruction of the now abandoned village of Lützerath – are putting pressure on the government to phase out coal use.
