Bulgaria's government

Bulgaria's government has approved a draft version of the new operational program Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) Initiative 2014-2020.

The operational program has a budget of EUR 102 M, which is to be used to provide more favorable terms for SMEs seeking debt financing, according to the press office of the Council of Ministers.

Bulgaria's government has launched a new procedure for the award of a concession for the airport near the northern town of Gorna Oryahovitsa.

The decision on starting the new concession award procedure was adopted by the government on Wednesday.

Bulgaria remains one of the primary source countries of human trafficking in the European Union and government corruption creates an environment enabling some trafficking crimes, the US State Department has said.

Bulgaria's government has approved a draft Accountancy Act envisaging anti-red tape provisions.

The bill complies with the EU Directive on the annual financial statements, consolidated financial statements and related reports of certain types of undertakings, according to a media statement of Bulgaria's Council of Ministers.

Bulgaria's government is seeking support from Bavarian companies for the proposed construction of a natural gas distribution hub on the country's territory, Prime Minister Boyko Borisov has said.

The European Court of Justice has ruled that Bulgaria has failed to fulfil its obligations under the EU Landfill Directive and has not taken the necessary steps to open new landfills matching EU requirements, according to Bulgarian media reports. 

The ECJ has not made clear in its ruling what penalties Bulgaria will face for the delay, Sofia-based Capital daily reported on Monday.

Bulgaria's government has proposed to parliament to ratify a new agreement with Romania on avoiding double taxation and prevention of tax evasion.

Bulgaria's government has decided to increase funding for the promotion of domestic tourism sites by BGN 2 M (EUR 1 M) in 2015.

Two bills introducing changes to Bulgaria's Energy Act passed first reading in Parliament on Tuesday.

The two bills had been submitted by center-right party Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB) and right-wing formation the Reformist Bloc.

Lawmakers in Parliament's Legal Affairs Committee have given the green light to questions due to be put to a vote in a referendum on election rules this autumn.

The three issues on which citizens should have a say are the introduction of a partial majority system, mandatory voting, and e-voting.