Bulgaria
Ukraine gets a B grade from EU: good, but more work needed
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy rejected a two-tier solution proposed by Brussels to accelerate Ukraine’s EU accession bid, after the European Commission (EC) released a progress report on November 4.
IMF’s Georgieva says Eurozone entry no guarantee of higher living standards for Bulgaria
Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva urged policymakers to stay focused on reforms to boost productivity, competitiveness and income growth ahead of accession in January 2026.
Emerging Asia overtakes the UK per-capita benchmark
For the first time since the Industrial Revolution, the major emerging economies including China, India and Indonesia have seen GDP as a percentage of the UK’s GDP increase as the leading BRICS countries start to overtake the Developed Markets.
Bulgaria suspends fuel exports to EU after US sanctions Lukoil
Bulgaria has temporarily suspended exports of petroleum products to European Union countries after the United States imposed sanctions on Russian oil giant Lukoil.
CEE needs a new growth model as FDI plunges
wiiw economist Richard Grieveson says the CEE region’s long-standing model of attracting FDI through low labour costs no longer works.
Bulgaria signs landmark deal with Rheinmetall to build ammunition plant
Investment reflects Bulgaria’s growing role in Europe’s rearmament drive and Nato’s efforts to strengthen regional defence supply chains and cut reliance on external suppliers.
Estonia has the world’s most competitive tax systems for the 11th year in a row – STATISTA
The Tax Foundation has released its International Tax Competitiveness Index which highlights the most competitive tax rates in different countries around the world. For the 11th consecutive year, Estonia had the highest score in the index.
EU rare earth supply dominated by China and Russia - Eurostat
The European Union remains heavily dependent on China and Russia for rare earth imports, with nearly three-quarters of its supply sourced from the two countries in 2024, according to data published by Eurostat and reported by Statista.
COMMENT: Europe’s “fake it till you make it” war approach cannot hold off Russia’s trillion dollar war machine
In their speeches on the war in Ukraine, European leaders appear like a video clip looped on repeat. Standing before the cameras they declare new packages of support for Kyiv and threaten new measures to pressure Russia as if it was still 2022.
Draghi urges ‘pragmatic federalism’ as EU faces defeat in Ukraine and economic crises
The European Union must embrace “pragmatic federalism” to respond to mounting global and internal challenges, said former Italian prime minister Mario Draghi of Europe’s failure to face an accelerating slide into irrelevance.
Bulgaria tightens control over Lukoil sale after fresh US sanctions on Russia
Bulgaria’s parliament passed new legislation tightening state control over the sale of Russian oil major Lukoil’s assets in the country, after Washington imposed fresh sanctions on Russia’s top energy firms.
Emerging Europe’s growth holds up but risks loom, says wiiw
Fiscal fragility, weakening industrial demand from Germany, and the prolonged fallout from Russia’s war in Ukraine threaten to undermine growth momentum in parts of the region.
Investigation reveals EU funded phantom mussel farm in Bulgaria
Drones and divers find only sand at Black Sea offshore site that received over €210,000 from European Maritime and Fisheries Fund.
Minsk asks for talks with Kyiv, as Lukashenko seeks to end Belarus’ isolation
Belarus' President Alexander Lukashenko has opened the door to direct dialogue with Kyiv as part of negotiations to end Russia’s war in Ukraine, as he launches a diplomatic drive to break the republic’s isolation and dependence on Russia.
EXPLAINER: What is the EU’s CBAM and how will it affect global trade from 2026?
The European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) will enter its full operational phase on January 1, 2026, marking a major shift in global climate and trade policy.
Global renewables to double by 2030, but IEA warns momentum must accelerate
Global renewable energy capacity is on course to double by 2030, reaching 4,600 GW—comparable to the current combined total of China, the European Union and Japan—according to the International Energy Agency’s Renewables 2025 report.
Bulgaria enforces dual pricing ahead of 2026 euro adoption
Tough penalties for businesses that fail to display prices in euro and lev as euro adoption date approaches.
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EU presses ahead with December signing of divisive Mercosur deal
The European Commission is gearing up to sign its contentious trade agreement with South American bloc Mercosur on December 5 in Brazil, possibly sealing the fate of an accord that has languished in negotiations for more than a quarter-century.
Bulgaria aims to become regional leader in small modular reactors, says energy minister
Bulgaria will leverage its favourable geographical location and diverse energy mix, Minister of Energy Zhecho Stankov said.
Bulgarian transport inspectors detained for demanding bribes from Robbie Williams concert trucks
Bulgarian inspectors stopped UK-registered trucks carrying equipment for Robbie Williams' Sofia concert and reportedly requested cash before allowing them to proceed.