Latest News from Bulgaria
Offshore Companies Banned from Bulgarian Agriculture Land Ownership
Offshore companies can not acquire and have ownership of agricultural land in Bulgaria, according to the latest amendments to the Agricultural Land Ownership and Use Act.
The changes to the Agriculture Land Act were passed on second reading, Thursday, Bulgarian BTV reports. The restriction applies to joint-stock companies that have issued bearer shares, as well.
EP Recommends Stopping Bulgaria's Access to EU Funding
European Parliament has called on the EU's Commission to "seriously consider" the possibility of freezing European funds for Bulgaria.
The proposal was part of a report prepared by the EU's budget committee on the implementation of 2012 EU budget, Bulgarian agency Mediapool has reported.
German MEP Condemns Restructuring of Bulgaria's National Audit Office
A German MEP has leveled criticism at the recent amendments to Bulgaria's National Audit Office Act.
"Bulgaria is making itself weak through the changes to the National Audit Office Act," said Ingeborg Graessle, Coordinator of the EPP group in the Committee on Budgetary Control, at a press conference, as cited by money.bg.
Russia 'Wants Answers' over NATO Border Plans
Russia has sent a list of questions to NATO's headquarters regarding the alliance's actions in Eastern Europe.
The country's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told journalists that Moscow would expect "answers based on rules upon which we have agreed", as he was quoted by German weekly Der Spiegel.
No Wave Of Turned Away Refugees Expected
Bulgaria's Interior Ministry and Refugee Agency do not expect a wave of refugees, turned away from other EU countries.
According to deputy interior minister Plamen Angelov, so far there are single inquiries from Germany and Hungary.
Angelov told the BNR public broadcaster that the turning away of refugees in the EU is in accordance with the Dublin Regulation.
10 Retail Chains Control 36% Stake of FMCG Market in Bulgaria
Ten retail chains control a 36% stake of the fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) market and the share will keep expanding, according to statistics of the Made in Bulgaria Union.
In a Thursday interview for the Bulgarian National Radio (BNR), Plamen Grozdanov, Executive Director of the Union, drew attention to the need for amendments to the Competition Protection Act.
Bulgaria to Provide New Social Housing for Roma Population
Bulgaria's Ministry of Investment Planning is considering new standards for the construction of social housing for the Roma population in the country.
The standards should provide a minimum of 7.5 sq.m. living area per household member, Minister of Investment Planning Ivan Danov announced, cited by BGNES.
Second US Destroyer to 'Support Ukraine' in Black Sea
The US is sending a second destroyer into the Black Sea as a gesture of support for Ukraine and other allies.
A US senior defense official was quoted by NBC News as saying that the USS Donald Cook, a guided missile destroyer based in Spain, could be in the Black Sea "in the next week or so".
US Navy Extends USS Truxtun Mission In Black Sea
The US navy extended the mission of the USS Truxtun in the Black Sea, reports Bulgaria's public broadcaster BNT.
The reason are the tensions in Ukraine and the annexation of Crimea by Russia.
The guided-misslie destroyer, which is based in Greece, sailed in the Black Sea in March to participate in a joint military exercise of the navies of Bulgaria, Romania and the US.
Ex Conflict of Interest Commission Chief To Spend 3.5 Years in Prison
The Sofia City Court sentenced Filip Zlatanov, former Chair of the Commission on Prevention and Ascertainment of Conflict of Interest (CPACI), to three-and-a-half years in prison.
The trial, which started on March 31, involved a covered-up probe of President Rosen Plevneliev and delayed decisions on two other cases, according to reports of the Bulgarian National Radio.
Repair Works Start at Bulgaria's Sofia Central Railway Station
The repair of the Central Railway Station in Sofia has been launched with an official ceremony Thursday, announced Bulgaria's National Railway Infrastructure Company.
Bulgaria Ranks 13th in Europe in Mall Space
Bulgaria ranks 13th in size of its shopping mall space in Europe, a report has shown.
Data quoted by British newspaper The Guardian suggest that Bulgaria, which is often described as the EU's poorest country, is positioned at the upper part of the list.
Bulgaria's Foreign Minister: We Need New Fighter Jets
Bulgaria urgently needs to modernize its air force, in the light of the situation in Ukraine, said Foreign Minister Kristian Vigenin.
According to him, the country needs to reorganize its military air force and buy new type of fighter jets, in order to terminate its dependence on Russia for their technical maintenance.
Bulgaria's Govt Optimizes Investment Certification Procedures
Bulgaria's government has introduced changes to the Investment Promotion Act implementation rules lowering priority investment projects in manufacturing certification thresholds.
Incentives will be provided to investors in the sectors of manufacturing, industrial zones and technology parks, the government press office announced, cited by Dnevnik.
Bulgaria May Participate in 2nd Tender for Fertilizer Plant Chimco AD
The state will most probably participate in the second tender for the bankrupt fertilizer plant Chimco AD, also known as Himko AD, in the northwestern Bulgarian city of Vratsa.
Bulgarian Economy and Energy Minister Dragomir Stoynev commented on the case of Chimco AD during a sitting of the parliamentary energy committee.