Bulgarian MEP

European Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius has called for a significant increase in defense spending among EU member states, suggesting that nations allocate 3% of their GDP to military budgets, instead of the current target of 2%.

Slovenian European Commissioner-designate Marta Kos gave a brief "no" in response to Bulgarian MEP Andrey Kovachev's question on whether she would support altering the negotiation framework with North Macedonia. Kos stated that renegotiating the already established framework with member states is typically unrealistic.

Bulgarian European Commissioner candidate Ekaterina Zaharieva emphasized the connection between peace in Ukraine and Europe's security during her hearing in the European Parliament.

Ekaterina Zaharieva from Bulgaria has been nominated as the European Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation. This announcement was made by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

A scandal from six years ago, involving the alleged sale of Bulgarian passports, could jeopardize Ekaterina Zaharieva's candidacy for European Commissioner, Politico reports.

Almost 70 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have called for Hungary's exclusion from the Schengen Area, which allows for free travel across internal EU borders. The request, addressed to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, includes signatures from Bulgarian MEP Andrey Kovachev of GERB among others.

The European Parliament has greenlit a new Migration and Asylum Plan, marking a significant shift in EU migration policy. The plan introduces mandatory quotas for the distribution of migrants among EU member states and establishes a novel approach to processing asylum applications.

In a decisive move to alleviate the burden on European truck drivers and streamline border crossings, the European Parliament (EP) has called for the lifting of Schengen land border controls for Bulgaria and Romania by the end of 2024. This significant step follows the recent abolition of air and sea border controls on March 31, 2024.

On a roundtable discussion held on Tuesday, Bulgarian MEP Andrey Novakov emphasized the pressing need for Bulgaria to be prepared in the face of escalating security concerns, particularly stemming from the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

In an interview with BTA, Bulgarian MEP Eva Maydell, representing the European People's Party/GERB, emphasized Bulgaria's need to prioritize efforts towards achieving full Schengen membership. Maydell's remarks come amid ongoing discussions surrounding Bulgaria's path to integration and the potential implications of semi-European solutions such as the Mini-Schengen Area.