Bulgaria
Over a fifth of Bulgarians live below the poverty line
Bulgaria remains the EU’s poorest member state, despite steady economic growth in recent years.
Central and Eastern Europe emerges as new defence industry hub, KPMG says
Region is undergoing "a decisive moment of industrial transformation" driven by rising military spending, supply chain restructuring and the war in Ukraine.
UPDATE – Radev sweeps Bulgaria election, ending three decades of coalition rule
Progressive Bulgaria won a decisive victory in Bulgaria’s snap parliamentary election on April 19, securing the country’s first single-party majority in nearly three decades.
UPDATE: Bulgaria’s Radev wins election, set for parliamentary majority
Bulgaria’s former president Rumen Radev is on course to secure a parliamentary majority in the country’s snap election, according to parallel vote counts, in what would be the first single-party majority since 1997.
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Russian sabotage operations in Europe almost quadrupled in 2024, IISS says
Russian sabotage operations in Europe almost quadrupled from 2023 to 2024 according to IISS research, with submarine cables, legacy IT systems and underinvestment in critical infrastructure identified as key vulnerabilities.
Bulgaria vote set to deliver Radev win but no clear majority
Despite the strong lead, ex-president Rumen Radev is unlikely to secure an outright majority and will need coalition partners to form a stable government.
Bulgaria opens radioactive waste repository on Romanian border
Bulgaria has opened a national repository for low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste at Radiana near Kozloduy, with 60-year operational capacity and €76mn in EBRD funding.
Germany rallies behind Ukraine as peace talks stall, EU membership debate divides the bloc
Germany has unveiled a sweeping €4bn military support package for Ukraine and Chancellor Friedrich Merz has called for the rapid disbursement of a long-delayed €90bn EU loan to Kyiv, as European powers scramble to shore up Ukraine's defences.
Bulgaria elections ‘not for sale’, PM says ahead of vote
Andrey Gyurov said officials are taking a tougher stance against electoral abuses as the EU member state prepares for its eighth general election in five years.
Zelenskiy proposes a new European version of Nato
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has proposed the creation of a new European-centred security bloc that would include Ukraine, the EU, the UK, Turkey and Norway, as concerns mount over the future of US support for Nato.
US-Europe relations strains bring Nato alliance close to breaking point
The West is discussing a new defence alliance format to replace Nato that would include Ukraine. Nato's current form is ineffective, so it is worth creating a new defence structure.
Grid constraints threaten Europe’s energy security ambitions
Europe risks undermining its energy security and industrial competitiveness due to insufficient electricity grid capacity, with at least 120 GW of planned renewable projects facing delays, according to a report by Ember.
Bulgaria’s ex-president Radev warns rivals may seek to discredit election result
Rumen Radev claims pro-EU forces aim to discredit the vote, as in Romania's annulled November 2024 after allegations of Russian influence.
Greenpeace says gas flaring persists in eastern EU despite methane ban
Fossil fuel operators in parts of eastern Europe are continuing to burn methane in potential breach of new EU rules banning routine flaring.
Bulgaria’s industrial producer prices post fastest rise in SEE in February
Bulgaria records the EU's highest annual industrial producer price growth at 7.3% in February, highlighting cost pressures in the bloc's newest eurozone member just months after adopting the euro on January 1.
Blackstone invests in Bulgarian solar developer Sunotec
German-Bulgarian solar photovoltaic developer Sunotec has secured a structured equity investment from funds managed by Blackstone’s Tactical Opportunities unit to support its expansion across Europe.
Spain cuts the link between gas and power and has Europe’s cheapest power
A year ago this week, Spain’s grid ran entirely on renewable power for a full day for the first time ever. Wind, solar, and hydro met all the peninsula’s electricity demand on April 16.
Bulgaria steps up efforts to prevent vote-buying, Russian interference ahead of elections
PM Andrey Gyurov says his government has ordered thorough investigations into all reported violations, stressing that election results must be “clear and verifiable”.
Bulgaria says no immediate threat from Iran after warning over US military presence
Politician reveals diplomatic note said Tehran “reserves the right to take all necessary measures” after US military refuelling aircraft parked at Sofia airport.
$2bn World Bank loan to eliminate Bosporus bottleneck in China-Europe trade corridor breakthrough
INRAIL project also a boost for commerce aross Central Asia, Caucasus and Middle East.