Bulgaria
Protesters against euro adoption block roads in Bulgaria
Roads blocked in Bulgaria's biggest cities as activists step up their campaign to prevent country's entry to the Eurozone in January 2026.
COMMENT: Amid shrinking civic space, will the EBRD still uphold its democratic mandate?
As the global Democracy Index recorded a historic low in 2024, institutions tasked with upholding democratic values are under increasing pressure to adapt.
Bulgaria’s parliament speaker blocks euro referendum request
President Rumen Radev caused political crisis by proposing euro referendum just months before Bulgaria is expected to join the eurozone.
EBRD cuts 2025 growth forecasts citing tariffs and global uncertainty
Development bank lowers forecasts for Emerging Europe, Central Asia and North Africa as slowdowns in Germany and China take their toll.
Bulgaria’s president to seek referendum on euro adoption
Rumen Radev makes shock move to block euro adoption just months ahead of expected January 2026 Eurozone entry.
War is a growing concern across Europe – Statista
VE Day, or Victory in Europe Day, is celebrated on May 8 each year to mark the formal end of World War II in Europe, reports Statista.
Bulgaria’s Shelly Group expands to Poland
IoT company picks Warsaw for regional expansion after announcing decision to exit the US.
UK insect numbers plummet by two thirds in three years, Bugs Matter survey shows
The population of flying insects in the United Kingdom has fallen by two thirds in just three years, according to new findings from a nationwide “Bugs Matter” citizen survey, raising alarm among ecologists and conservation groups.
Press freedom declines sharply in several Balkan countries
Declines reported in Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo, Moldova, North Macedonia and Romania in the latest global ranking from Reporters Without Borders.
EU swaps China for Russia in procurement of rare earth metals
The EU is increasingly turning to China to source hard-to-find rare earth metals and dropping previous import deals with Russia.
Trump policies won’t harm Emerging Europe badly – and will actively benefit Russia
Latest wiiw forecasts show little direct impact on Central and Southeast Europe from Trump trade wars.
Bulgaria-based crypto lender Nexo to return to US market
"America is back — and so is Nexo," says company's co-founder after meeting with Donald Trump Jr.
Incoming German government compromises on carbon offsets to boost flagging economy
Germany’s incoming government has conditionally endorsed the European Union’s proposed 2040 climate goal and backed the EC's recommended 90% emissions reduction target but only if international carbon offsets and carbon removals are permitted.
Bulgaria's fastest-growing startup Lace AI raises $19mn in seed funding
Lace AI, which has developed AI-powered call centre technology for home services companies, posted 1,000% growth in 2024.
Advent International buys Bulgaria-based digital bank tbi
Private equity investor says tbi’s digital-first business model and customer-focused approach has created one of the leading and fastest growing challenger banks in the region.
How Europe has weaned itself off Russian gas in the last three years
In 2021, Eastern European countries imported almost half of their gas from Russia. Only two countries in the region – Albania and Kosovo – were wholly independent of Russian gas.
COMMENT: Make no mistake: Trump’s tariff turmoil is a major economic crisis
A wave of erratic tariff announcements from the United States has further battered already the already weak Eurozone economic indicators, with last week's sharp decline in the ZEW Economic Sentiment Index collapsing further.
Sanctioned Balkan politicians step up lobbying of Trump administration
After the US dropped sanctions on Hungary’s Antal Rogan, politicians from Albania, Bosnia and Bulgaria want similar decisions in their favour.
Bulgaria’s Biomyc to grow Kia car components from mushrooms
Biomyc is developing bio-produced materials to produce plastics in car interiors.
New study reveals extent of Russian disinformation targeting Emerging Europe
'Pravda network' targeting regions of geopolitical interest for the Kremlin with negative impact on democracy and regional stability.