MEPs

The Bulgarian government is frantically preparing to take over its first ever presidency of the Council of the EU since it joined the European bloc ten years ago, but news about alleged Brussels-inspired bans keeps on flooding the country's media, inciting outrage among locals.

The city was officially declared the European Capital of Sport for 2018 at a ceremony in Brussels, Sofia Municipality said.

The ceremony was attended by three legendary Bulgarian champions - Tereza Marinova, Ekaterina Dafovska and Yordan Yovchev.

The offices of several Members of the European Parliament have confirmed to BIRN that they have received a mysterious book for free, named "The Bulgarian Oligarchy. They Plundered the State".

It is published by the Bulgarian newspaper Telegraf, which is part of the Balkan Media Company, linked to the controversial media mogul Delyan Peevski.

EU spokesperson Maja Kocijancic said on Monday that the EU Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn is hoping to meet the leaders of four main political parties very soon to discuss the recent escalation of the crisis which has seen daily protests on the streets of Skopje.