Member states of the European Union

Greece’s six-month presidency of the European Union, which is set to end on June 30, is likely to be the least costly on record, according to sources at the Foreign Ministry who indicated that less than half of the 50 million euros earmarked for the presidency by former Finance Minister Yannis Stournaras have been spent so far.

BELGRADE - Consumption expenditure per capita in Serbia totalled 43 percent of the EU average in 2013, the assessments of the European Statistical Office of the EU Eurostat show.

Bulgaria registered in 2013 levels of consumption equaling 50% of the EU's average values, Eurostat data has shown.

Actual individual consumption (AIC) was the lowest in Bulgaria, which is closely followed by Romania, while Luxembourg topped the ranking with 38% above the medium rate, data from the EU's statistical body cited by the Daily Luxemburger Wort reveals.

Bulgarians are the nation least satisfied with their life throughout the European Union, a new study published by the Guardian shows.

BELGRADE - Serbia's Minister of Youth and Sports Vanja Udovicic met with Hungarian Secretary of State for Sports Istvan Simicsko in Budapest Wednesday to discuss improving cooperation between the two countries and the Hungarian experience in ownership transformation in sports.

Minister Udovicic said that a public debate on amendments to the Law on Sports would begin soon.

Economy and Energy Ministry will launch an advertising campaign to promote year-round local tourism to Bulgarians. 

The campaign, which will encourage Bulgarians to visit various places in the country will cost BGN 3.1 M and is funded by the Regional Development Programme of the EU. 

Bulgaria ranks 46th in the world in terms of business environment for the period 2014-2018, surpassing Romania and Italy, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit.

Bulgaria has moved one spot ahead compared to the previous ranking for the period 2009-2013, BGNES reports.

Bulgaria had the second-lowest tax burden in the EU, Eurostat data has shown.

The country was second only to Lithuania, but had the lowest income levy in within the bloc with its 10-percent flat rate, the Bulgarian National Radio reports citing the European statistical body.

Nearly half a million vehicles have run along Danube Bridge 2 connecting Bulgaria's north-western city of Vidin to Romania's Calafat since its launch on June 14, 2013.

The heaviest traffic is recorded in July, August and September, Vladimir Andreev, CEO of the company operating the facility, told Bulgarian Telegraph Agency.

 WEF report highlights barriers to improving business environment, notes high numbers of scientists, students

By Dimitra Manifava