Bulgaria
Russia reaps harvest of chaos in nearby democracies
Allegations of interference surround recent elections in Bulgaria, Georgia, Moldova and Romania.
The EU Council calls for a European geothermal action plan
The energy ministers in the EU Energy Council approved the outline of a European geothermal energy action plan on December 17.
FDI in Emerging Europe hit by geopolitical uncertainty and German slowdown
wiiw report warns lower investment trend could continue as Central and Eastern Europe's role as a production hub for Western companies is waning.
Hungarian households have joint lowest consumption levels in EU
Hungarians and Bulgarians had the lowest spending power among EU member states.
IMF: The 2004 EU enlargement was a success story built on deep reform efforts
New accession candidates will need to undertake equally ambitious reforms to make the next expansion a comparable success.
Russia spent €69mn on propaganda and interference in Bulgaria and Romania, Bulgarian cybersecurity group reveals
Funds were used to spread Russian influence and promote far-right discourse in both Bulgaria and Romania.
EU admits Bulgaria, Romania to full Schengen membership
Southeast European countries welcome membership of border-free area after years of vetoes by Schengen members.
Bulgaria’s central bank slams spending hike in 2025 budget
Central bank warns caretaker government to raise spending to unprecedented level, and jeopardise Bulgaria’s eurozone entry.
Bulgaria threatens to cut transit of Russian gas to Serbia
Caretaker Energy Minister Vladimir Malinov warns Bulgaria could end gas transit to Serbia to avoid breaching new US sanctions on Gazprombank.
Bulgarian prosecutors target ex-PM Petkov, putting coalition talks at risk
Request to lift parliamentary immunity made immediately before Petkov’s CC-DB was due to start talks with Gerb.
Bulgaria's GDP grows 2.4% in Q3 2024
Consumption drives upturn in GDP growth, while exports fall.
COMMENT: European countries plan hydrogen import infrastructure to achieve climate goals
Talks between Greece's DESFA and several Southeast and Central European countries aim to establish a new hydrogen corridor to Germany.
Emerging Europe winemakers sparkle as global wine production declines
Global production is set to fall 2% this year, but countries in Emerging Europe including Georgia, Hungary and Russia are bucking the trend, says the OIV.
Bulgaria’s full Schengen accession to bring in an annual €833mn
Cutting queues at borders will also save part of the estimated 46,162 tonnes of carbon dioxide emitted every year, says Bulgarian Economic Research Institute.
Gas prices rising as EU storage tanks empty faster than usual
Gas withdrawals from EU underground storage tanks have accelerated as Europe suffers from the first cold snap of winter. Gas tanks were 85.5% full as of December 1, having peaked at 95.3% full on October 29, according to Gas Infrastructure Europe.
Bulgaria loses out on EU funding after political instability stalls reforms
European Commission says Bulgaria’s second payment under the Recovery and Resilience Facility will fall short of the requested €653mn.
Bulgaria's Ampeco raises $26mn in Revaia-led Series B funding
Electric vehicle charging software developer to use funds for international expansion.
EBRD warns of risks for emerging markets pursuing industrial policies
Industrial policy is back "with a vengeance” but can have a distorting effect, EBRD chief economist Beata Javorcik told bne IntelliNews
INTERVIEW: Fintech in a volatile world
iBanFirst’s regional director for Southeast Europe Johan Gabriels discusses the rise of the fintech sector in the region.
Main pro-Western parties in Bulgaria to start coalition talks
Populist Gerb and reformist CC-DB mull setting aside differences to avoid more political instability and yet another general election.