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Balkan Developments

EU roaming fees to be eliminated for Albania and Montenegro Roaming charges between Albania and the EU will be completely eliminated in 2026, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said during her visit to..

published on 10/17/25 12:05 PM

Bulgaria’s Parliament fails to hold a session for the third consecutive day due to a lack of quorum

Bulgaria’s Parliament failed to hold a session for the third consecutive day due to a lack of quorum. As a result, the scheduled parliamentary control, usually held every Friday, was also cancelled. Only 29 MPs from We Continue the Change –..

published on 10/17/25 10:11 AM

Bulgaria’s Parliament fails to hold a session due to a lack of quorum

Bulgaria’s Parliament failed to hold a session on October 15. "The next session is tomorrow at 9 a.m.", announced National Assembly Speaker Natalia Kiselova. Only 61 MPs registered for attendance during the first and only attempt to open the..

published on 10/15/25 11:32 AM

How building permits are issued and illegal construction becomes legal

Yet another disaster, yet another series of analyses and post-hoc actions by the relevant institutions. The devastating flood that hit the resort village of Elenite a week ago, claiming four lives, has led the state to realise that the flooded..

published on 10/14/25 5:49 PM
Rumen Radev

Political repression and plunder result from security services shake-up, Bulgarian president says

“ The result of the changes in the services is the crushing of inconvenient opponents, ever more aggressive political repression, and the ever more brazen plunder of public resources and private business – about which we will be learning less and less,”..

published on 10/13/25 4:19 PM

The Bulgarians and the Gagauz in Moldova are wary of the country’s European prospects

The election for parliament in the Republic of Moldova on 28 September, 2025 ended in a landslide victory for the ruling Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS). The result was seen by many as a validation of the country’s pro-European policy against the..

updated on 10/9/25 1:58 PM
Ivaylo Mirchev

Emergency legal amendment clears path for sale of Lukoil refinery

An emergency legal amendment has paved the way for the sale of Lukoil’s refinery in Burgas, opposition MP Ivaylo Mirchev, co-chair of Yes, Bulgaria, said on Wednesday. "Today, we have received confirmation that Lukoil has finally found a buyer for..

published on 10/8/25 3:38 PM

No quorum, scandals and friendly fire: Is the government on shaky ground?

Last week, Bulgaria’s 51st National Assembly all but ground to a halt. On each of the three regular sitting days — Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday — parliament failed to reach the required quorum of 121 out of 220 deputies. On Friday, for instance, only..

published on 9/29/25 1:42 PM
Илие Боложан

Balkan developments

Romania continues policy of gradual budget deficit reduction Romania should end the year with a budget deficit amounting to 8.4%, as compared to 9.4% at the end of 2024, as negotiated with the EU, PM Ilije Bolojan has announced. During his visit..

published on 9/26/25 3:45 PM
The building of the current Bulgarian Parliament

Three political parties contest the second place in case of early elections: survey of Trend agency

GERB-SDS party maintain their dominance in new parliamentary elections with 26.4%, show the results of a survey by the sociological agency "Trend". The poll was conducted on behalf of 24 Chasa daily through a direct standardized "face-to-face" interview..

published on 9/25/25 11:10 AM