2013–14 Bulgarian protests against the Oresharski cabinet

An incident which claimed the life of an Afghan migrant near Bulgaria's border with Turkey on Thursday evening is already leaving politicians in Bulgaria divided over what actually had happened.

European Commission Vice-President Kristalina Georgieva announced on Wednesday that Bulgaria ranks fifth in the absorption of EU funds.

Georgieva said this during the opening of the exhibition "Varna - The Oldest Gold Treasure" in the building of the European Parliament in Brussels, which shows 7000-year-old golden objects discovered in Bulgaria.

Developments at collapsed Corporate Commercial Bank (KTB) are tantamount to expropriation, Bulgarian businessman Tsvetan Vasilev, who was the bank's majority owner, has said in an interview with private national TV7 station.

Bulgarian lawmakers have narrowly turned down a proposal by the opposition Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) calling for sanctions against Russia to be reviewed.

Sofia has enforced measures against the Russian Federation in line with the EU and the US policies toward Moscow after the Ukraine crisis began last year.

The leader of the opposition nationalist party Ataka, Volen Siderov, proposed Bulgaria to join the Russian-led international coalition against Islamic State (IS).

The draft proposal was tabled on Tuesday and Ataka calls on parliament to review it on Wednesday, daily Dnevnik informs.

Lawmakers in Bulgaria have given the green light to constitutional amendments which the ruling coalition says will strengthen and boost the independence of the judiciary.

At a first reading, the draft changes have been approved by a majority of 184 out of 240 MPs, with 34 against and 8 choosing to abstain.

Former counter-intelligence head Vladimir Pisanchev is due to head the Bulgarian Consulate in Thessaloniki, Greece, several media outlets have reported, citing sources.

The Foreign Ministry has submitted no official information as of Thursday morning, but some reports cite "a well-informed source" working for the institution.

Prime Minister Boyko Borisov stated on Sunday that Bulgaria's absorption rate of EU funds amounted to 92 %.

Borisov added that in this respect Bulgaria outperformed Romania by 20 %, private bTV station reports.

Nearly all of Bulgaria's problems have their origin in the judicial system and electoral law, President Rosen Plevneliev has said.

This is the first time he has compared changes to voting rules and the judicial reform, two issues which he supports avidly.

Proposed changes to Bulgaria's constitution meant to push forward a reform of the judicial system have been backed by 75% of the members of parliament.

A total of 180 MPs from both governing and opposition political parties have signed a draft bill calling for amendments to the constitution that was submitted to parliament on Friday.