European Parliament

Petar Kurumbashev, MP from the ruling Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), has resigned and will leave Parliament.

Bulgarian Parliament Speaker Mihail Mikov announced Kurumbashev's decision on Wednesday, without specifying the motives.

Kurumbashev is one of the seven deputy chairs of BSP, according to reports of mediapool.bg.

Guy Verhofstadt, leader of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, ALDE, has failed to convince its Bulgarian sister party, the mainly ethnic Turkish Movement for Rights and Freedoms, DPS, not to put Peevski forward in the lists for the upcoming European elections, EurActiv reported.

European Liberals have distanced themselves from the controversial nomination of Bulgarian MP Delyan Peevski for the European Parliament elections.

Eighty-seven Bulgarian municipalities are to be fined over infringements related to the Environment Operational Program.

The penalties count reach a total of BGN 180 M (EUR 90 M), after abuse during public procurement procedures was found out by the Ministry of Environment and Waters, Investor.bg has reported.

15 political parties, 6 coalitions and 6 independent candidates submitted documents for participating in the European Parliament elections in Bulgaria on May 25.

The deadline for the registration of lists of candidates with the Central Electoral Commission (CEC) expired late on Tuesday, according to reports of Sega daily.

Tuesday is the deadline for parties, coalitions, and independent candidates to register for the European Parliament elections in Bulgaria.

So far 18 parties, 6 coalitions and 5 nomination committees have registered in the Central Electoral Commission (CEC), Novanews.bg revealed. On Wednesday, CEC will draw the positions for each candidate on the ballots.

The European Parliament has adopted a resolution opposing the South Stream gas pipeline and recommending a search for alternative sources of gas supplies for the EU.

In a resolution on Russian pressure over Ukraine adopted on Thursday, MEPs insisted on more sanctions against Russia and especially its energy companies.

The European Parliament is due to vote a resolution aimed at halting construction of the South Stream gas pipeline project.

EP's move will come as a response to the ongoing destabilization in Ukraine, in which Kiev and the West argue Russia has a role, the Bulgarian National Radio has reported.

Bulgarian MP Deliyan Peevski, whose appointment as head of the national security agency sparked nationwide outrage, will reportedly be second in his Party's EU Elections list.

The European Parliament voted Tuesday to make "Made-in" labelling mandatory for non-food products sold on the single market.

The EP voted on plans to tighten up product safety requirements and market surveillance rules so as to strengthen consumer protection in the EU.