Romania

Bulgaria's Interior Ministry is planning to open eight new border crossing points by 2017, reports Sega daily. 

The checkpoints will be at the borders with Greece – one, Serbia – two, FYROM – three and Romania – two, shows a ministry plan, entitled Strategy for integrated border management. 

Romania has announced plans to cancel the debts of 15 companies in the defence sector, citing the worrying geopolitical context, which it says requires strengthening defence capacities.

An American tourist who was injured by a large firecracker explosion on the island of Santorini during celebrations for Greek Orthodox Easter in April has been discharged from the hospital on Crete where she spent several days in critical condition and underwent lifesaving abdominal surgery.

Fulham striker Costas Mitroglou, who has barely played this year due to a knee injury, was included in a 30-man provisional World Cup squad reluctantly revealed by coach Fernando Santos on Wednesday.

Santos had previously stated that he would not announce his provisional squad, only his final selection of 23 players, on May 19.

Predictions that workers from Bulgaria and Romania would arrive en masse in the UK after the removal of remaining work restrictions in January appeared disproved by new statistics showing the total number working in the UK had actually fallen in the last three months.

Ahead of the European Parliament elections, the EP's Facebook page has launched "A Taste of Europe" campaign.

Facebook users can vote for their favorite national dish of the 28 EU member states. Each country has nominated one dish to be represented.

Some 3000 fewer workers from Bulgaria and Romania are presently in the United Kingdom than in end-2013, the country's Office of National Statistics has revealed.

These numbers suggest a decrease compared to the period before lifting restrictions at the end of last year, when a seven-year EU transitional period for the two countries expired.

European Council President Herman Van Rompuy has invited Moldova to sign an association and free trade pact with the European Union on June 27 in Brussels.

An interview of Novinite. com with Romania's Ambassador to Bulgaria, H.E. Anton Pacuretu, on general developments in Ukraine and on the future of Europe's Eastern Partnership, but also on bilateral relations between Bulgaria and Romania, which he clearly believes have common interests in the region.

Romania prepares to join eurozone

The country will switch currencies by January 2019, officials said. Also in business news: A World Bank loan to Croatia will help improve the health care sector.

Romania plans to join the eurozone in 2019. [AFP]