Bulgaria
Summer starts as EU gas tanks start to fill again
Winter is over, as the EU gas tanks switch from withdrawals to filling mode again in preparation for next winter. Injection into the gas tanks started on April 1, a week earlier than in 2023 and started at an all-time high record level of 59.3% full.
Bulgaria’s retail sales up 0.9% m/m in February
Year on year, retail sales increased by 3.2%, after falling by 0.1% in January.
Southeast Europe urgently recruiting from developing Asia ahead of summer season
One of Europe’s poorest regions is tackling labour shortages by importing workers from as far away as Bangladesh, India and Nepal.
Where is green tech made in Europe?
Europe is home to more than 400 clean tech manufacturing plants, but the distribution is uneven and a few large countries dominate the business of making equipment needed to produce green energy sources.
Bulgaria and Romania join air and sea Schengen area
After long delays and vetoes by Schengen members, Bulgaria and Romania celebrate partial entry to Europe's border-free Schengen area.
Labour costs in Western Europe still four times higher than in Romania and Bulgaria
Bulgaria has the EU's lowest labour cost, while Romania still lags well behind Poland and Hungary.
Bulgaria’s Paynetics acquires Bulgarian-UK neobank Novus
Novus users can monitor their carbon footprint and earn cashback for sustainable purchasing choices through its app.
Bulgaria moves towards sixth snap general election since 2021
Agreement between Gerb and CC-DB for a joint government with a rotating PM has broken down.
COMMENT: Overheating in Russia and Turkey, but CEE recovering
The economies of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), which experienced a period of stagnation last year, are poised for a modest revival in 2024, but both the Russian and Turkish economies are already overheating.
Romania's GDP per capita surpassed Hungary's in 2023
Romania has been catching up with the EU average faster than Hungary, which fell into recession in 2023.
Bulgaria moves closer to deal on selling Russian-made reactors to Ukraine
Reactors originally intended for Belene NPP project now likely to sold to Ukraine to compensate for loss of Zaporizhzhia NPP to Russia.
Bulgaria thrown into new political crisis, snap general election likely
Hopes of progress on Schengen and Eurozone entry dashed after Gerb blows up talks with CC-DB on government rotation.
Southeast Europe’s major cities are emptying out
Eurostat data shows fall in populations of biggest urban areas in Bulgaria, Croatia and Romania in last five years.
A surprise EU proposal to expand agricultural ”emergency brake” import restrictions will cost Ukraine €1.7bn
EU countries have overnight agreed to impose new restrictions on Ukrainian agricultural imports that will cost the cash strapped country €1.7bn and hurt its ability to fight the war against Russia.
KYIV BLOG: EU finalises €5bn Ukraine Peace Fund contribution that will see little new money sent to Kyiv
EU ambassadors agreed to back a new €5bn Ukraine Assistance Fund on March 13, part of the EU's off-budget European Peace Facility (EPF) that is used to partially reimburse member countries for the weapons they provide to Ukraine.
Bulgaria heading towards new snap election as talks on government rotation fail
Gerb's Mariya Gabriel has given CC-DB until noon to agree to the party's terms to form a new government, or Bulgaria will hold its sixth snap general election
Support for Nato membership falls sharply in Southeast Europe
Under half of Montenegrins now back Nato membership, and only 33% would help another member in case of attack.
NGO warns Bulgaria over plans to swap coal for fossil gas
CEE Bankwatch says Sofia's intention to replace coal-fired with gas-fired power plants is unfeasible given it has no strategy or financial plan.
Ukraine becomes world's 4th largest arms importer, European imports soar
European arms imports were up by 94% in 2019-23, as Ukraine's allies send military aid while also arming themselves, says new SIPRI report.
Closing gender gap in workforce could double global growth rate says World Bank
Countries in Central and Eastern Europe and Eurasia have a lower gender gap than the global average but only Latvian women have equal legal standing with men.