Expats

Bulgaria Bows to Victims of Communism [Feb 01, 2012] Bulgaria is marking Wednesday for the second time the official Day of Gratitude and Homage to the Victims of the Communist Regime. The date February 1 was chosen because on this day, in 1945, the so-called People's Tribunal sentenced to death 3 regents, 67 members of the parliament, 22 ministers, 40 generals and colonels of the royal army and a number of other public figures. The sentences have ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria sets conditions to sign EU fiscal pact [Jan 29, 2012] The Bulgarian Parliament has approved a government plan to join the European Union fiscal pact on certain terms. [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria sets conditions to sign EU fiscal pact [Jan 27, 2012] The Bulgarian Parliament has approved a government plan to join the European Union fiscal pact on certain terms.The plan ? backed on Friday in a 129-1 vote, with 48 abstentions ? stipulates that Bulgaria's ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria's Parliament Greenlights Joining EU Fiscal Pact [Jan 27, 2012] Bulgaria's parliament approved on Friday the draft decision for joining the Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union or the so-called EU Fiscal Pact. The treaty was supported by 129 MPs, 1 voted against, while 48 abstained. Foreign Affairs Minister, Nikolay Nladenov, informed the MPs that the country has set six conditions for the joining, such as no ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria Adopts Total Ban on Hydrofracking for Shale Gas in U-Turn Decision [Jan 18, 2012] Bulgaria's Parliament has voted overwhelmingly in favor of banning the controversial technology of hydraulic fracking (hydrofracking) for shale gas exploration and extraction. The ban on hydrofracking, which comes after mass protests over its potential environmental effects, was approved after four hours of debates Wednesday afternoon with 166 votes in favor, and six votes against. The total ban ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria bans shale gas 'fracking' [Jan 18, 2012] The Bulgarian parliament has imposed a permanent ban on the exploration of shale oil and gas in the country using the extraction technique known as "fracking" following widespread public protests.The ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria Scraps Full Ban on Shale Gas Exploration, Extraction [Jan 18, 2012] Bulgaria's Parliament did not support the bill proposed by the left-wing Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) that envisioned a full ban on the exploration and extraction in the country. 123 out of the total of 240 MPs in Bulgaria's single-chamber Parliament voted against the bill, while 43 were in favor and 66 abstained from voting. Prior to Wednesday's vote, Valentin Nikolov, a key lawmaker from ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria MPs to Vote Ban on Hydrofracking Technology [Jan 18, 2012] Bulgaria's parliament will vote on Wednesday the proposed ban on the use of hydrofracking technology in the extraction and exploration of gas and oil in Bulgaria. The text is included in a draft proposal of the Parliamentary group of the ruling, center-right Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria party, GERB. The proposal points out that the ban includes the use any technology involving ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria Mulls Permanent Ban on Hydrofracking Technology [Jan 17, 2012] The ban on the use of hydrofracking technology in the extraction and exploration of gas and oil in Bulgaria will be permanent. The text is included in a draft proposal of the Parliamentary group of the ruling, center-right Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria party, GERB, which will be submitted in the Parliament on Wednesday. The proposal points out that the ban includes the use any ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria's Rulers Promise Shale Gas Ban, Protesters Claim [Jan 16, 2012] Bulgaria's ruling center-right GERB party has taken a political commitment to ban the exploration and production of shale gas in the country, according to environmentalists. Several thousand eco protesters gathered in Bulgaria's capital Sofia on Saturday in front of the House of Parliament to protest against what they see as a highly hazardous technique, hydraulic fracking, that is employed for ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria Scraps Armenian Genocide Declaration Once Again [Jan 11, 2012] Bulgaria's Parliament did not support the fifth consecutive attempt on behalf of the far-right Ataka (Attack) party to pass a declaration recognizing the Ottoman Empire's genocide against Armenians (1915-1922). On Wednesday, Ataka leader Volen Siderov pointed out that it was completely normal for "a patriotic party like his" to support the recognition of the Armenian genocide. "To hide certain ... [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 Holds Yet Another DTT Contest to Avoid Hefty EU Fine [Dec 27, 2011] Bulgaria has confirmed it will hold a tender for yet another multiplex, triggering speculations that the move aims to prevent legal action by the European Commission, irked by the previous shady deals. Bulgaria's communications watchdog is obliged to prepare the package of documents for the new tender on September 1, 2013 under legal amendments that parliament hurriedly adopted in the last days ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria's MPs to Discuss Vetoed Retirement Age Upping Act [Dec 16, 2011] The increase of Bulgaria's retirement age with three months each year until 2014 will be once again discussed in the Bulgarian Parliament on Friday after President Georgi Parvanov vetoed the recent disputed amendment. Last Sunday, Parvanov signed a decree to return the State and Public Social Security Act for 2012 to the Parliament for new debates. The lawmakers passed the Act on December 8 ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria to ban smoking in indoor public spaces [Dec 15, 2011] SOFIA (Reuters) - Bulgaria, where more than a third of adults smoke, plans to ban smoking in indoor public spaces from June 1, 2012, the government said on Wednesday. The ban, which has to be approved by parliament, would also forbid smoking outside of nurseries, kindergartens and schools. The European Union poorest member is the country with the second highest tobacco consumption in the bloc ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria passes 2012 budget based on lower growth of 2.3% [Dec 09, 2011] (SOFIA ) - Bulgaria is heading for sharply less growth than expected next year but will still be in the top group of European Union countries in the growth stakes, the budget for 2012 adoped by parliament on Friday shows. [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria Adopts 1.35% Budget Deficit for 2012 [Dec 09, 2011] Bulgaria?s Parliament has adopted at second reading the framework for the 2012 state budget within the debates on the 2012 State Budget Act late Thursday night. Thus, the MPs sealed the key figures in Bulgaria's draft budget for 2012, as defended by Minister of Finance Simeon Djankov, including a budget deficit of 1.35% of GDP, or about BGN 1.... [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria New MEP Says No to Two-Speed Europe [Dec 01, 2011] Bulgaria's newest member to the European Parliament has made it clear his country won't buy a two-speed Europe with the virtuous in the slow lane. "I am going to the European Parliament at a time when the situation in Europe is very serious. We are facing the real threat of an attempt to revive the old idea of a "two-speed Europe".... [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria Parliament Approves New Justice Minister [Nov 30, 2011] Bulgaria's parliament approved on Wednesday the nomination of Diana Kovacheva for new Justice Minister amid allegations of behind-the-curtain deals during her term as head of a local Transparency International affiliate. She was elected with 109 votes of MPs from the ruling majority. Forty-four voted against and 13 abstained. ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria Parliament to Vote on New Justice Minister [Nov 30, 2011] Bulgaria's members of parliament are expected to approve on Wednesday the nomination of Diana Kovacheva, head of the Transparency without Borders Association, an affiliate of Transparency International, for new Justice Minister. Kovacheva will replace at the post Margarita Popova, who was elected in October as Vice President on the ticket of the ruling, center-right Citizens for European ... [via YahooNews] More >>