Bulgaria

Organizers of the Webit conference have expressed serious concerns about a potential international scandal due to the Bulgarian government's inaction, despite the country being designated as a partner for this year's event, reports OFFNews. In a letter addressed to Acting Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev, Plamen Rusev, the executive chairman of the Webit Foundation, highlighted the problem.

Bulgarian Acting Minister of Defense Atanas Zapryanov announced that surplus supplies and property, deemed unnecessary for the Bulgarian army after thorough analysis, will be offered as military aid to Ukraine.

In May 2024, Bulgaria's industrial production saw a decline, with the index dropping by 3.3% compared to the previous month and 6.3% compared to the same period last year, marking the 17th consecutive month of annual contraction, according to the national statistics office.

In May, revenues from overnight stays in Bulgarian hotels saw a significant surge of 32.2% compared to the same period in 2023, totaling BGN 116 million, as reported by the National Statistical Institute. Foreign tourists contributed BGN 58.8 million to this total, slightly surpassing the BGN 57.1 million brought in by Bulgarian guests.

Bulgaria and Turkey stand out with the lowest average annual net incomes in Europe, amounting to 9,355 euros and 8,968 euros respectively, according to data from Eurostat. This stark contrast underscores the significant wage disparities across the continent, influencing employment dynamics and economic decisions.

In 2023, Bulgaria's population has declined by 2,229 people (0.03%), the Statistical Office of the European Commission (Eurostat) reported on July 11, World Population Day.

As of December 31, 2021, the population of Bulgaria numbered 6,445,481 people, according to the country's National Statistical Institute.

There are currently 380 companies operating in the Bulgarian automotive industry, with the sector employing more than 80,000 people and accounting for over 10% of the country's gross domestic product, Automotive Cluster Bulgaria (ACB) said in a press release on Wednesday.

The Bulgarian political parties "Revival" (Vazrazhdane) and "There Is Such a People" (TISP) have jointly proposed a draft resolution aimed at initiating a referendum regarding the retention of the Bulgarian lev (BGN) until 2043, BNR reports.

Bulgaria will offer rehabilitation to children injured in the rocket attack on a children's hospital in Kyiv, announced Minister of Social Policy Ivaylo Ivanov. The children and their companions will be accommodated in rest centers in Bulgaria.

Minister of Economy Petko Nikolov highlighted the potential economic benefits of Bulgaria's full accession to the Schengen Area, estimating it could generate up to BGN 1.3 billion annually, as reported by the Bulgarian National Radio (BNR).