Expats

EU criticizes Bulgaria, Romania on reforms [Feb 08, 2012] The European Union criticized Romania and Bulgaria on Wednesday for being too slow to reform their judicial systems or to combat corruption and organized crime. The move casts doubt on the two Balkan nations joining the borderless Schengen zone anytime soon. [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria's Ruling GERB Outlines 2012 Priorities [Jan 11, 2012] Maintaining low deficit and financial stability, reforms in the health care and social sectors, application of new anti-corruption measures, are all among the priorities for 2012 outlined by the Parliamentary group of Bulgaria's ruling GERB party. The Chair of the group, Krasimir Velchev, who spoke Wednesday during the first session after the Members of the Parliament returned from their winter ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria Surprisingly Revives Ethnic Turks Leader Graft Case [Jan 03, 2012] Bulgaria's parliamentary commission on corruption has brought back on the agenda the graft allegations against Ahmed Dogan, leader of the opposition ethnic Turkish party, a year after he was fully acquitted. The commission has approached the prosecutor's office, asking for information on how the investigation is going. The probe was not suspended even though in February last year the Supreme ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Business Sees Bulgaria as Corrupt - Justice Minister [Dec 07, 2011] The business perceives Bulgaria as a country in which corruption prevails, newly appointed Bulgarian Justice Minister Diana Kovacheva has admitted. "Bulgaria turned out to be the last among all EU member states and a lot of efforts are now necessary. One of the emerging issues is that of the legislative dynamics which have been creating a sense of insecurity in the business," Kovacheva told the ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Conservative, leftist up for Bulgaria presidency [Oct 30, 2011] Bulgarians on Sunday are choosing between a member of the ruling center-right party and a leftist ex-foreign minister in an election run-off for the presidency of the impoverished, corruption-plagued country. [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgarians to elect new president, mayors [Oct 23, 2011] The candidate of Bulgaria's ruling center-right party, Rosen Plevneliev, is favored to win in Sunday's presidential elections that test the government's popularity and the EU nation's ability to overcome concerns about vote-buying and corruption. [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria to elect new president, mayors, as monitors voice concerns about possible vote-buying [Oct 23, 2011] SOFIA, Bulgaria ? Bulgarians voted Sunday in presidential and municipal elections that test the ruling center-right party?s popularity and the EU nation?s ability to overcome concerns about vote-buying and corruption. Voting started in over 11,000 polling stations country-wide where some 6.9 million of Bulgaria?s 7.4 million citizens can cast their ballots. Read full article >> [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria to elect new president, mayors, as monitors voice concerns about possible vote-buying [Oct 23, 2011] SOFIA, Bulgaria ? Bulgarians will vote Sunday in presidential and municipal elections that test the ruling center-right party?s popularity and the EU nation?s ability to overcome concerns about vote-buying and corruption. Bulgaria?s economic woes have been the key campaign issue, with the opposition accusing incumbents of stalling key reforms. The country will get a new president and heated ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Netherlands to Block Bulgaria, Romania Schengen Entry [Sep 16, 2011] The Netherlands will "work against" Bulgaria and Romania joining the Scdhengen Agreement, the country's Immigration Minister Gerd Leers promised late on Thursday evening. Neither of the two Balkan countries is doing enough to combat corruption, Leers told the Dutch Parliament, pointing out this is a fact confirmed by a European Commission report this summer The European Commission is looking at ... [via YahooNews] More >>

E.U.?s New Conservatism Impedes Way for Bulgaria and Romania [Sep 04, 2011] Two European nations want to join the European Union?s visa-free travel zone, but concerns about corruption linger. [via YahooNews] More >>

E.U.?s New Conservatism Impedes Way for Bulgaria and Romania [Sep 03, 2011] Two European nations want to join the European Union?s visa-free travel zone, but concerns about corruption linger. [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria criminalizes match-fixing [Jul 22, 2011] Bulgaria's parliament has approved legal amendments to make match-fixing and corruption in sport a crime with penalties of up to six years in prison. [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria criminalizes match-fixing [Jul 21, 2011] Bulgaria's parliament has approved legal amendments to make match-fixing and corruption in sport a crime with penalties of up to six years in prison. Lawmakers voted on Thursday to add a whole new chapter "Offenses against Sports" to the Penal Code under which those convicted of match-fixing or bribing will also face fines of up to ?7,600 ($10,800). [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria May Prompt EU Anti-Corruption Board - German MP [Jun 22, 2011] Bulgaria, Greece and Romania may prompt the EU to enforce a long-term reform program aimed at dealing with corruption and dubious political practices, according to Jorgo Chatzimarkakis, a German MEP. Chatzimarkakis, a German liberal MEP of Greek descent, told EurActiv that the European Commission considers a plan to directly manage regional funds in Greece, Bulgaria and Romania as the countries ... [via YahooNews] More >>

WikiLeaks: Corruption, Lack of Transparency Plague Bulgaria's Energy Sector [Apr 29, 2011] Diplomatic cables of the US embassy in Sofia, dated December 20, 2006, has been revealed on WikiLeaks and provided to the project for investigative journalism www.bivol.bg, bringing out new details about corruption and lack of transparency in Bulgaria's energy sector.... [via YahooNews] More >>

US State Dept: Corruption, Censorship Plague Bulgaria [Apr 09, 2011] Bulgaria is still plagued by chronic corruption and problems with free speech, according to the US Department of State's 2010 report on the state of human rights. The rule of law is still problematic in some key points in Bulgaria, despite an overall well-functioning legal system, remarks the report in the section devoted to Bulgaria. The report mentions high-level corruption among those in ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria, Romania Schengen Entry Tied with Next EC Report [Feb 20, 2011] Bulgaria and Romania's prospects of joining the Schengen border-less zone will be highly improved if the next European Commission report on judicial reform and corruption fight, due in July, is more positive, according to insiders. Bulgaria and Romania, which have been coupled ever since their joint accession to the European Union in 2007, aim to enter the Schengen zone in March this year ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Romania, Bulgaria crack down on corruption [Feb 20, 2011] BRUSSELS, Feb. 19 (UPI) -- Romania and Bulgaria have made "significant progress" in tackling official corruption, the European Union Commission says. [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria and Romania still lag EU standards on crime and corruption [Feb 18, 2011] Brussels - European Union newcomers Bulgaria and Romania still lag far behind the bloc's standards on fighting corruption and organized crime, reports released Friday showed. [via YahooNews] More >>

US Ambassador: Bulgaria Now Is Calmer Place to Live [Feb 17, 2011] US ambassador to Bulgaria James Warlick has praised the country's embattled interior minister, saying the government has made huge strides in the combat against corruption. "Bulgaria now is a calmer place to live," Ambassador Warlick said during his visit to the city of Stara Zagora on Thursday, but added that there is a lot of work to be done in the judicial system and the battle against ... [via YahooNews] More >>