Section: Novinite (Bulgaria)
Russia, Ukraine, EU to Continue Gas Talks Next Month
The next round of gas supply talks between Russia, Ukraine and the EU will be held in April, Russia’s Energy Minister Alexander Novak said on Friday. The three sides agreed to continue consultations over the pricing of Russian gas deliveries within the so-called summer package, ITAR-TASS quoted Novak as saying in Brussels following talks...
MPs Approve Legal Changes Paving Way for NATO Coordination Center in Sofia
Defense Act changes facilitating the establishment of a coordination center of NATO in Sofia passed second reading in Parliament on Friday. The legal changes allow Bulgarian military and civilian staff to be part of the local unit of the international organization, according to reports of the BGNES news agency. The Bulgaria-based unit is to...
EU to Maintain Sanctions Against Russia Until End of Year
The leaders of the EU decided at their summit on Thursday to maintain the economic sanctions against Russia until the end of the year. In a joint statement, they agreed to link the sanctions to the complete implementation of the Minsk ceasefire agreements, which had been agreed in February. EU leaders noted that the legal acts required to extend...
Bulgaria Starts Major Tourism Promotion Drive via European TV Channels
Bulgaria has launched a large-scale promotion of its resorts and tourist sites via four pan-European TV channels as part of steps to make up for a drop in the number of visitors from Russia and Ukraine. Tourism Minister Nikolina Angelkova said on Thursday increased interest from tourists from Austria, Germany and France is expected as a result of...
Study: Bulgaria to be Most Heavily Affected by New Ukraine Gas Crisis
In the event that a new Ukrainian gas crisis of a scale similar to the 2009 one is to occur, Bulgaria will be the most heavily affected EU state. This is shown by a study, which notes the EU’s improved capacity to deal with such disruptions, with only Bulgaria being incapable of substituting imports during a shorty supply interruption. The...
French Ambassador: French Companies More than Satisfied with Bulgaria
Novinite has interviewed H.E. Xavier Lapeyre de Cabanes, who apart from English, German and Portuguese is also fluent in Bulgarian. This is not surprising, since between 1991 and 1995 he worked at the French Embassy in Sofia and is, moreover, married to a Bulgarian. De Cabanes has graduated from the Institut d’édutes politiques du Paris....
President: Bulgaria Has to Meet 4 Goals before 2018 Council of EU Sessions
Sofia has to set four goals prior to hosting the Council of the EU meetings in 20178, President Plevneliev has said in his Thursday address to Parliament.These are, in his words: joining the Schengen borderless area, entering the transitional single-currency mechanism ERM II, joining the EU’s Single Supervisory Mechanism and taking steps...
Ukraine Starts Demobilisation of Troops from Combat Zone
Ukraine has launched the demobilisation of troops summoned for active duty since 17 March 2014 over the conflict with pro-Russian rebels in the country’s eastern regions, Interfax reported on Wednesday. About 30,000 government troops will be discharged from the combat area starting 18 March. Some 35,300 servicemen are eligible for the...
Russian Action in Ukraine ‘Could Affect Bulgaria’ – NATO Official
The activities of Russia in the Crimean peninsula and Eastern Ukraine is a deviation if international norms that could affect Bulgaria, NATO’s Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe has said.Speaking in a press briefing in Sofia with Bulgaria’s Chief of Defense, Vice Admiral Rumen Nikolov, Gen Adrian Bradshaw said recent developments...
President Plevneliev Expects More Austrian Investments to Bulgaria
Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev said that he expects more Austrian investments to the country after a meeting with his Austrian counterpart Heinz Fischer in Vienna on Tuesday. Plevneliev stated that Bulgaria and Austria had common plans and goals, which the two countries aimed to fulfill both at the level of bilateral relations and at the EU...
