The European Commission said on May 6 that it had sent Bulgaria written warnings, the first step in the infringement procedure, for failing to issue new or updated permits for industrial installations, and also for obstructing the free flow of capital through discriminatory taxation of inbound and outbound dividends. In a statement, the EC said that Bulgaria was among nine countries that had failed to issue on time, in line with the directive on integrated pollution prevention and control, new or updated permits for industrial installations in operation by the date of their accession to the European Union. read more

Bulgaria’s armed forces showcased their elite units and best military equipment on May 6, St George’s Day (Gergyovden), which is also celebrated as the Bulgarian Army and Bravery day, in front of hundreds of onlookers in central Sofia. Greatly scaled down compared with similar parades from the communist era, it served as a fresh reminder that 2000 troops would be made redundant this year and that their equipment was either second-hand or outdated. read more

One side effect of Bulgaria’s growing economy is something that is causing a headache for municipalities - a shrinking number of parking places. Designed by communist-era urban planners, Bulgarian cities’ centres are no longer capable of accommodating the ever-increasing number of motor vehicles that Bulgarians can afford to buy, due to the large number of leasing companies and the low prices of second-hand motor vehicles. read more

Structural changes within the Interior Ministry and the Cabinet’s healthcare policy are expected to be on the busy agenda of the leaders of the three ruling parties at their May 10 to 11 meeting in Bansko. The Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), the National Movement for Stability and Progress (NMSP) and the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) will discuss the “updated” governance programme of the Cabinet and the need for structural changes within the executive branch, the Government press service said, with the onus being on “social welfare, health policy, justice, interior issues, crisis management, economy and finance”. The weekend meeting will be attended not only by the leaders of the three parties – Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev (BSP), Simeon Saxe-Coburg (NMSP) and Ahmed Dogan (NMSP) – but by all 18 Cabinet ministers and 149 MPs of the three parties. read more

When on February 17 Kosovo announced its secession from Serbia to become an independent state, it was clear to everyone that the consequences would be far-reaching. Few, however, could have guessed that within less than a month, Belgrade would be left without a government and facing two months of hard campaigning ahead of a crucial snap poll bound to determine the future of the country. And determine it for a long time to come. read more

On April 17, ultra-nationalist Ataka party leader Volen Siderov made one of the most significant statements of his political career. At a conference to mark Ataka’s third birthday, Siderov dwelt on the subject of Ahmed Dogan, leader of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF), which has had a share of power since 2001 as part of a succession of ruling coalitions. read more

Bulgaria’s armed forces showcased their elite units and best military equipment on May 6, St George’s Day (Gergyovden), which is also celebrated as the Bulgarian Army and Bravery day, in front of hundreds of onlookers in central Sofia. read more