Expats

EU Funds Deepen Bulgaria's Regional Imbalances [Jan 03, 2012] Instead of redressing Bulgaria's regional economic imbalances, EU funds are actually deepening them, a report claims. Thus, the poorest regions in Bulgaria ? and in the EU ? Bulgaria's Severozapaden (Northwestern) and Severen-Tsentralen (North-central) have contracted substantially less EU money for public projects per capita than has the Yugozapaden (Southwestern) Region, which includes the ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria to Promote Its Dairy Industry in Spain, Russia, Brazil [Dec 19, 2011] Bulgaria is set to launch advertising campaigns aiming to promote its dairy products in Spain, Russia and Brazil, chairman of Bulgaria's Association of Dairy Processors Dilyana Slavova has announced. The association has already secured the financing of the projects with EU funds money, Slavova has told the Trud daily. Spain is chosen as a new market for Bulgaria's dairy products and the fact ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria PM Vows to Revive Near Terminally Ill Health Care [Dec 17, 2011] Bulgaria's prime minister, well known for his populist pledges, plans to assign top priority to the country's struggling health system, plagued by chronic underfunding, brain-drain and a lack of meaningful reform. "The government will push for more money and will help the Health Minister, whom we left high and dry this year," Boyko Borisov told Darik radio on Sunday. ?It is very easy to say that ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria Feels Cheated as EU 'Punishes' It for Its Fiscal Prowess [Dec 05, 2011] Bulgaria, the poorest EU member state, is said to feel cheated as the EU institutions are about to seal a new policy allowing six other member states, which are struggling financially, to be able to co-fund projects with much less money. "Countries which maintain a strict financial discipline should not be punished and those that do not maintain the discipline should not be rewarded," said a ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria's Corpbank Head Surprisingly Named Mr Economy, Triggers Scandal [Dec 01, 2011] A contest to pick the Bulgarian businessman with greatest contribution to the country's economy this year has triggered a fierce controversy after the head of Corporate Commercial Bank surprisingly grabbed the award. Tsvetan Vassilev is majority owner and chair of the Supervisory Board of Bulgaria's Corporate Commercial Bank, which holds nearly half of the money of strategic state-owned ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria Patients: Health Care 2012 Budget Life-Threatening [Nov 20, 2011] Bulgaria's health system will be plagued by chronic underfunding next year, putting at risk the life of all Bulgarian citizens, who need medical aid, patients have alarmed. "Bulgaria's budget for 2012 allocates, yet again, just 4% of GDP for the health care sector, which falls a long way short of the money needed to guarantee security for the Bulgarian patients, high-quality services, prevention ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria's FinMin Mulls Upping Retirement Age [Nov 07, 2011] Now is the time to reexamine the issue with retirement age and implement reforms that would secure higher pensions. The statement was made by Bulgaria's Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister, Simeon Djankov, in an interview for the Bulgarian Trud (Labor) daily. Djankov says he wants to increase retirement age because this is the way to bring fresh money to increase pensions and reduce the ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria?s New Mayors Warned against Firing EU Funds Professionals [Nov 06, 2011] Tomislav Donchev, Bulgaria's Minister in charge with EU funds absorption has warned the newly elected mayors across the country against making "radical changes" in the staffs working on EU projects. Over the last year, the quality of work within the Bulgarian municipal administrations has increased significantly, which has directly the country's absorption of EU funds money, Donchev claimed on ... [via YahooNews] More >>

US Secret Service praises cooperation with Bulgaria [Oct 20, 2011] The head of the US Secret Service on Thursday praised his organisation's working relationship with Bulgaria, a few months after they jointly busted a money-counterfeiting ring. [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria Expects Harsh OLAF Report [Oct 19, 2011] The European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) is going to present its annual report on their probes in cases of abuse and embezzlement of EU funds for 2010. The news was announced Wednesday by the Bulgarian National Radio, BNR. According to unconfirmed data, the majority of these cases in different Member States, once again, stems from abuse of money granted for farming, while Bulgaria will lead for the ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria Eyes EU Funding for New Trains [Oct 18, 2011] Bulgaria's Transport Ministry is hoping to get EUR 300 M in EU financing for the purchase of new railway cars for the State Railroads BDZ. Transport Minister, Ivaylo Moskovski, says that on January 1, 2011, his experts will be ready to apply for funding for railway cars and engines for the 2014 ? 2020 program period, adding money for new trains could be secured as early as 2011 if some funds ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria's Govt Sets Up Danube Navigation Info System [Oct 09, 2011] Bulgaria's government has moved to absorb EU money for the creation of an information system of the navigation of the Danube River. Earlier this week, the Transport Ministry and the Bulgarian Ports Infrastructure Company, a government body, signed a contract for financial aid from the Ministry to the Company for the creation of the info system that will cover the Bulgarian section of the Danube ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria, Czech Republic Vow to Steer Clear of 'Euro Zone Debt Union' [Oct 04, 2011] The Prime Ministers of Bulgaria and the Czech Republic have made it clear their nations will abstain from seeking accession to the euro zone for the time being because of the ongoing debt crises. "We will join the euro zone when we see clear rules over there. Otherwise, it is turning from a pillar of stability into a place to give money, to support those in trouble, and its aims is actually ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Child Begging in Bulgaria's Capital - a Thing of the Past? [Aug 23, 2011] Do you give money to beggars? I don't. For some I feel totally no compassion because they simply need to start working and stop procreating at alarming ages and in alarming numbers. With others I just like to listen to the swear words and words of damnation trailing behind me.... [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria's Judiciary, Interior Ministry Too Expensive, Inefficient- Report [Jun 18, 2011] Bulgaria's justice and home affairs expenditures are too high and are inadequately distributed, according to a newly published report. The findings of the Open Society Institute (OSI), as cited by Pari daily, indicate that Bulgaria's judiciary and police absorb excessive amounts of money to sustain a huge staff while refraining from other investments. Bulgaria spends at least twice as much as ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria's PM 'Announces' 2016 Presidential Bid [Jun 08, 2011] Bulgaria's Prime Minister Boyko Borisov claimed he would run for President, but not in the upcoming elections in the fall of 2011. "I will run in the next elections," Borisov announced while visiting Sofia's Alexandrovska hospital to hand out symbolic checks with EU funds money to directors of hospitals. He stated he intended to finish his current term and half of the next one as Prime Minister ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria's PM Proclaims Raise of Minimum Wage [Jun 05, 2011] Bulgaria?s minimum month salary will be increased from BGN 240 to BGN 270, Prime Minister Boyko Borisov declared on Sudany. He thus put an end to the speculations about whether the government will find money and/or is willing to take such a move demanded by syndicates since last year, but generally opposed by Finance Minister Simeon Djankov who is sticking to an austerity program. ?We?ve ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria to Provide Japan with BGN 216 000 in Humanitarian Aid [Apr 20, 2011] Bulgaria will give Japan BGN 216 000 in humanitarian aid after the disastrous earthquake and tsunami that hit the Asian country last month. The Bulgarian government will financially support Japan with BGN 200 000. The money will be transferred to a special bill opened by the Japanese Red Cross.... [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria Oks BGN 140 M State Loan for Ailing Railways [Apr 13, 2011] Bulgaria's parliament approved conclusively on Wednesday a state loan for the Bulgarian State Railways (BDZ) totaling BGN 140 M, which will be used for paying off debts to creditors and suppliers. The sum will be provided from the central budget and it will be a loan from the Bulgarian Development Bank. The money will be refunded in the state treasury after the company receives a loan from the ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria Absorbed 11% of EU Funds for 2007-2013 [Apr 01, 2011] Bulgaria has managed to absorb 11% of the total amount of EU money slated for it for the 2007-2013 period, according to EU Funds Minister Tomislav Donchev. Donchev predicted that by the end of 2011 the rate of absorption will reach 20%, and said he expected several payments for large EU-funded projects in Bulgaria in the coming months such as the Trakiya highway and the Sofia Metro. On Friday ... [via YahooNews] More >>