European Union

Greek police participated in the European Joint Action Day targeting organized property crime. Coordinated by Frontex and Europol, the operation took place from October 7-18, engaging 20 EU countries and seven non-EU partners.

Greece conducted intensive vehicle and identity checks at border crossings and other areas, including Thessaloniki and Athens.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen praised the agreement reached by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban to admit Bulgaria and Romania to the Schengen Area by land, calling it a significant step.

The similarities between Greece and Portugal, such as the size of their population and economies - located on the opposite sides of Europe, are more than they may seem, despite their distinct historical development.

BRUSSELS - A declaration confirming a full and unequivocal commitment to an EU membership perspective for the Western Balkans was adopted at the EU-Western Balkans summit in Brussels on Wednesday evening, noting that the region's future was in the EU.

The President of the European Council, António Costa, expressed his personal commitment to addressing bilateral issues between countries as part of the EU enlargement process. Speaking after the EU-Western Balkans summit in Brussels, Costa emphasized that the evaluation of progress toward EU accession should be based solely on a country's own merits, not hindered by bilateral disputes.

A new report from the European Commission highlights several critical challenges for Bulgaria, including adult digital learning, low nursery enrollment for children under three, and a high proportion of young people not in education, employment, or training (NEETs). These issues are part of the second package of the European Autumn Semester.

BRUSSELS - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic will attend an EU-Western Balkans summit in Brussels on Wednesday.

The summit will be chaired by new European Council President Antonio Costa and also attended by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

Vucic will attend a European People's Party-Western Balkans summit as well.

Bulgaria continues to rank at the bottom of the European Union in terms of material well-being and GDP per capita for 2023, according to the latest data from Eurostat. The country's "actual individual consumption" (AIC) is 30% below the EU average, which is equivalent to 70% of the European average.

According to the latest national report for Bulgaria from the autumn 2024 edition of the Standard Eurobarometer, nearly two-thirds of Bulgarians view the free movement of people as the primary benefit of EU membership.

BRUSSELS - A declaration due to be adopted at a September 18 EU-Western Balkans summit in Brussels will confirm full and unequivocal commitment to the perspective of EU membership for the Western Balkans and send a message that the region's future is in the EU.