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Bulgaria President Georgi Parvanov has welcomed the amendments to the GMO Act adopted by Parliament on Thursday, which in effect ban the cultivation of GM crops in the country. "Under the pressure of numerous civil protests and as a result of the my expressed position to veto any non stringent amendments and to call for a referendum, ultimately, it was a reasonable decision," said Parvanov. He added; "At this stage Bulgaria has managed to keep clear of GM crops and has created conditions for the development of organic farming....

Bulgaria PM Boyko Borisov has revealed that prosecutors are already studying the project of the hydroelectric power plant - 'Tsankov Kamak'. Borisov, speaking at the site of the project, said "we have already approached the prosecutor's office regarding 'Tsankov Kamak', but I bought along the Interior Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov to make the necessary investigations." ...

From Financial Times (ft.com) By Neil MacDonald, Kerin Hope and Chris Bryant ...

Bulgaria's unemployment rate has exceeded the threshold of 10%, which employers and economists consider to be a sign of an upcoming deterioration in the purchasing power and the labor market. The jobless rate stood at 10,26% in February with the total number of people who are unemployed towering to 380 244, up by 13,000 over the previous month, data of the Employment Agency shows. Nearly 40% of the people, who were laid off in February, worked in the industry or trade sectors....

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says there has been "substantial" progress on a new nuclear disarmament deal with Russia. On her visit to Moscow Clinton said that she believed a final agreement on a new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) would come soon, the BBC reported. The nations are trying to replace the 1991 START that expired in December. ...

Bulgaria Foreign Affairs Minister, Nikolay Mladenov, has stated that the Nabucco natural gas pipeline is the priority project regarding bilateral ties with Turkey. Mladenov was speaking after meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu on Thursday in Sofia. Davutoglu also stressed the importance of the Nabucco project and said that it had always "stood first". ...

Sofia City Court has sentenced the former director of the Bulgarian State Agriculture Fund and the SAPARD Agency Assen Drumev to four years in jail. Drumev has also been banned to occupy high-level posts for a period of seven years. He is also to pay BGN 5,000 in expenditures. ...

Scream star Rose McGowan has become the last member of Conan's primary cast, which started filming in Bulgaria on Monday. McGowan is perhaps best known for her roles in "Scream", "Planet Terror" and "Charmed". In 2008, McGowan was signed to star in "Red Sonja" — another creation of Robert E....

The European Commission opened Thursday legal actions against Bulgaria for construction in protected coastal areas and for non-adherence to maximum admissible levels of sulfur dioxide in the air. Bulgaria has already been warned over irregular construction in areas near the Black Sea, which fall under the protection of NATURA 2000. The EC established that between January 2007 and October 2009, the Regional Inspectorate for Environment and Waters in the Black Sea city of Varna had issued over 327 building permits without making adequate assessment of their influence on the environment. ...

From Manchester Evening News (manchestereveningnews.co.uk) ...

Judge Tsoni Tsonev, Head of the Ethics Commission of Bulgaria's Supreme Judicial Council (VSS) informed Thursday that the case "Panayot Genkov" has not been closed yet. VSS have called Angel Hristov, one of the two notorious Galevi Brothers, to appear before them on Monday. If Hristov does not comply, the magistrates will request a police escort to bring him. ...

The average salary of women in Bulgaria is currently 15,7% lower than that of men according to a Confederation of Independent Bulgarian Unions (KNSB) report. The KNSB report published Thursday at a conference for gender equality also stated that women are the majority of the unemployed in Bulgaria and often become victims of human trafficking. It added that there is currently a "feminization of poverty" occurring in the country. ...

Italian energy giant Enel is considering the sale of its 73% stake in Maritsa East 3, a coal-fired plant which has a capacity of 908 megawatts, the company executive director has announced. A rival company has already expressed interest in the sale, Fulvio Conti said in London, where he presented the financial results of the group for 2009 and its business plan for the next five years. A year ago Enel increased the capacity of Maritsa East Three plant to 908 megawatts, up from 840 MW, and also put new desulphurisation installations on the plant's four units. ...

The Prosecutor's office submitted Thursday to the Sofia City Court official charges against alleged crime boss Zlatomir Ivanov aka Zlatko Baretata (The Barret) and 20 other defendants. Baretata is charged as the ringleader of an organized crime group dealing with illegal drug trafficking and with first-degree murder for the killing of Stefan Ivanov aka Alf, committed in a way that endangered the life of many people. Baretata is charged as the instigator of the murder while Martin Dimitrov is charged as an accomplice....

Bulgaria's government has refused to heed calls for selling on the stock exchange shares in companies, which are part of the Bulgarian Energy Holding. "We are not planning for the time being to list energy companies from the Bulgarian Energy Holding on the bourse," Deputy Economy and Energy Minister Maya Hristova announced. In her words the government plans to privatize the remaining shares of energy companies, in which the state holds a minority share. ...

Over 100 workers in a paper plant in Bulgaria's town of Kostenets have declared hunger strike over an optimization plan of the management. The specific reason for the strike is the intention of "Paper and Paper Products - Kostenets" Jsc to lay off 24 workers without any compensations, according to a statement of the Confederation of Independent Bulgarian Syndicates (KNSB). The trade union points out that it has not been informed by the management of the factory about its intentions....

Bulgaria has weak chances for joining the bloc's exchange-rate mechanism, the so-called eurozone waiting room, and making this top priority dooms it to a recession, a German analyst has commented. "The Bulgarian government now is trying to up the pressure so that the country is acceded to ERM II. It is questionable whether this is a productive tactics, bearing in mind that a number of EU member states have good reasons to be cautious about Bulgaria....

Up to 25 000 people died in the Allied bombing of Dresden during World War II, fewer than often estimated, an official German report has concluded. The Dresden Historians' Commission published its report after five years of research into the 13-15 February 1945 air raid by Britain and the US. The study was aimed at ending an ongoing debate on the number of casualties in the German city, the BBC reported. ...

The Interior Minister of the German Province of Bavaria, Joachim Herrmann, advised Bulgaria to carry out urgent reforms in the Penal Code. Herrmann, who is on an official visit to Bulgaria Thursday, spoke during a meeting with his counterpart, Tsvetan Tsvetanov, pointing out verdicts in Bavaria are much harsher. The Bavarian Interior Minister gave high marks to the efforts of the new cabinet to fight corruption and organized crime, and to the bi-lateral cooperation with Bulgaria....

The Bulgarian Parliament has passed amendments to the GMO Act which mean that GM crops will not be allowed to be grown in the country. After a number of days of debate Bulgaria's MPs finally passed the strongest possible amendments which although they do not include a total ban on GM crops, make it impossible for farmers to grow them commercially or in trials. Bulgaria has thus become the first country in Europe to introduce such stringent laws for all forms of GM crops. ...

South African team Mamelodi Sundowns plans to impose a fine on its former coach, legendary Bulgarian footballer Hristo Stoichkov, if he fails to prove allegations of corruption in the country's football federation. "Mamelodi Sundowns Football Club is committed to good relations and to cooperate with SAFA, the PSL and other Stakeholders of football in South Africa. Depending on the outcome of the Premier Soccer League disciplinary proceedings against Hristo Stoichkov, Sundowns may take further appropriate action," reads an official statement on the site of the club. ...

The proclaimed independence of Bulgaria's judicial system provides political cover for abuses, said Interior Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov. Earlier on Thursday Tsvetanov was criticized by the Chair of the Supreme Administrative Court, Konstantin Penchev, for his statement that the Supreme Judicial Council - the institution which monitors and controls Bulgaria's judiciary - had too many members (25 members at present). Judge Penchev said only the convention of a Grand National Assembly could lead to changing the number of member of the Supreme Judicial Council (VSS). ...

The Head of the Sofia Police Directorate, Valeri Yordanov, informed Thursday that 11 000 crimes or 33% of all crimes were solved in 2009. Sofia registered 32 029 crimes during the past year which is 7% higher than 2008. The most frequent crime is larceny....

Italy's Trentino BetClic, led by Bulgarian Radostin Stoychev and including two Bulgarian players, is on top of the charts again after wining the regular season in A1. Trentino couldn't have hoped for a better last home game as it swept Treviso 3:0 and secured top spot in the regular season. Thanks to this win, Trentino remained unbeaten at home in the league and became champions of the regular season for the third time. ...

Bulgaria's Deputy Foreign Minister, Valeri Mitrev, says that the BGN 1,2 B for the country's health care will be enough to significantly up salaries in the sector. Mitrev informed that according to preliminary calculations doctors will have a starting salary of EUR 1 100 and nurses of EUR 400, under the condition medical facilities are restructured and public tenders are carried out without violations. The new salaries will not be based on the number of examined patients, but will be rather paid through delegated budgets. ...

A system of merit-based pay is needed for the Bulgarian administrators working on EU projects, according to Bulgaria's newly-appointed EU Funds Minister, Tomislav Donchev. Donchev was confirmed by Parliament Thursday as a Minister in charge of the coordination of EU funds absorption. He is going to be in command of several small government directorates rather than a full-fledged ministry....

The European Commission is expected next week to propose rules on divorce that would initially apply in only ten member states of the European Union, including Bulgaria, the online edition European Voice reported. The Commission's proposal would provide domestic courts in the ten countries with criteria to determine which national law should apply in international divorce cases. It would affect couples of different nationalities, living apart in different countries, or living together in a country other than their home country. ...

Bulgaria's conservative Order, Law, and Justice (RZS) party is submitting with the Parliament Thursday an official declaration asking that Bulgaria condemns the Armenian genocide committed by Turkey. The declaration is in connection with the Thursday visit of Turkish Foreign Minister, Ahmet Davutoglu, to Bulgaria and statements of Turkey's Prime Minister Erdogan that the country is prepared to extradite 100 000 Armenians. RZS is also requesting an official answer from Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov, about the policy of the cabinet regarding the Armenian genocide during World War I. ...

Factors whose interests are being affected by the actions of the Cabinet are engaging an anti-government plot, according to Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov. Borisov commented Thursday on the scandal with the "leaked" anti-crisis measures allegedly prepared by the Finance Ministry which outraged the Bulgarian society. The "measures" including cutting in half the paid maternity leave, and taxing retirement pensions before the deduction of social security payments were provided to the media on Wednesday by syndicates....

Greece may seek financial help from the International Monetary Fund over the April 2-4 Easter weekend due to little hope for aid from the European Union. A senior Greek official told Dow Jones Newswires that the prospect of help from the European Union "doesn't look good" and that IMF help would be a prominent scenario if EU help is not forthcoming. Meanwhile Greece's Prime Minister George Papandreou warned on Thursday that Athens would not be able to make planned deficit cuts unless it can borrow money more cheaply and said he would prefer not to have to turn to the IMF for help. ...

The Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) will air again the video clip titled "If You Vote for Boyko You Will Get Kostov." The campaign will be the opposition's response to the ruling Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB) party anti-crisis measures. ...

Tomislav Donchev, currently Mayor of the city of Gabrovo in Central Bulgaria, has been approved as Bulgaria's Minister of EU Funds Absorption. Donchev was born in Gabrovo in 1973. In 1991, he graduated from the mathematics high school in Gabrovo. ...

Bulgaria's Parliament approved Thursday the appointment of Tomislav Donchev as Minister for the management of EU funds. Donchev, who is the current Mayor of the city of Gabrovo was approved with 130 votes in favor, 56 votes against, and 7 abstaining. More information about Tomislav Donchev READ HERE ...

The parliamentary group of the ruling Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB) had withdrawn their project to impose a 5-year ban on growing GMO on Bulgarian soil. In the beginning of February GERB announced they would pass the amendments in the Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) Act, but will request a moratorium for 5 years, meaning the experimental growing of GMO on open land plots would begin in 2015. Last week the GMO Act was discussed simultaneously by the MPs from the Parliamentary Environment Committee and in plenary hall. ...

Bulgaria's tax revenue in the first two months of 2010 was BGN 600 M smaller than in the same period of 2009, announced the National Revenue Agency head, Krasimir Stefanov. Stefanov has pointed out that the plummeting tax revenue is the result of the deepening economic crisis. Speaking on the bTV channel Thursday, Stefanov said that the declared tax base in January and February of 2010 was BGN 4 B smaller than it was in the same period of the previous year. ...

Bulgaria's capital Sofia is freezing the planned construction of overpasses despite the availability of EUR 45 M loan from the European Investment Bank. The money was supposed to be used for six overpasses at key crossroads around Sofia in order to alleviate the situation with the congested traffic in the city. The official explanation of the Sofia Municipality for putting the projects on hold is the work on the construction of the second metro line and the ongoing rehabilitation projects....

The Borisov government has adopted "pro-crisis" rather than "anti-crisis" measures, Bulgaria's former Finance Minister Plamen Oresharski believes. Speaking on the Bulgarian National Television Thursday, Oresharski criticized the Cabinet of Boyko Borisov for coming up with inadequate policies. "The only anti-crisis measure I know is the increasing of public investments," said Oresharski who was the Finance Minister in the Stanishev government (2005-2009). ...

The breaking off and sale of rock formations from karst caves has become a new illegal trade in Bulgaria. It has become fashionable to use the karst rocks to decorate the interior of villas, hotels, and restaurants of wealthy owners, announced Aleksey Stoev, member of the board of the Bulgarian Tourism Union. Stoev has explained that the Union and the Bulgarian Speleology Federation insist on a new law specially designed to protect the caves....

Bulgaria's Prime Minister Boyko Borisov has been enraged by the publication of what were alleged to be draft anti-crisis measures prepared by the government, according to the Trud Daily. The measures - which included cutting the paid maternity leave in half and taxing retirement pensions and salaries before social security payments had been deducted - were provided to the media by syndicates on Wednesday, and caused a wave of outrage in all strata of society. Later on Wednesday, the press service of the Bulgarian Council of Ministers issued a statement saying that a number of measures are being discussed by the government but not the ones which have "leaked". ...

Ahmet Davutoglu, the Foreign Minister of Turkey, is arriving on an official two-day visit to Bulgaria Thursday. Davutoglu has been invited by his Bulgarian counterpart, Nikolay Mladenov. In addition to meeting with Mladenov, on Friday the Turkish Foreign Minister will be received by Bulgaria's President, Prime Minister, and Parliament Chair. ...

The European Commission assessment of Bulgaria's three- year fiscal plan is one of the few positive, which boosts the country's chances of joining the eurozone waiting-room ERM II, insiders from Brussels have commented. The news comes shortly after Brussels placed Bulgaria in the brackets of low-risk counties with regard to public finances. According to the report for long-term financial stability, published by the institution at the end of last year, this category blankets only Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, Finland and Sweden. ...

Bulgaria's anti-trust watchdog has launched a probe into the country's top cable providers "Eurocom" and "Cabletel" on monopoly allegations. The Commission for Protection of Competition acted on a tip-off of Bulgaria's first national private television bTV, which has recently came into a conflict with Cabletel, claiming it is putting a spoke in the wheel of its sale to CEM. The Swedish investment fund EQT V (EQT) acquired 100% of Eurocom and 70% of Cabletel at the end of October last year in a EUR 210 M deal. ...

Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has threatened to expel from his country some 100,000 illegal immigrants from Armenia. The statement came after a US committee and Sweden recently approved resolutions to brand the 1915 killing of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire as genocide. Asked about the votes in an interview with the BBC Turkish service that was broadcast late Tuesday, Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said: ...

Over 20 Austrian companies have expressed strong interest in participating in the construction of the Bulgarian road and railroad infrastructure. Companies such as Alpine Bau, Deco-Tech Handeks, Evronik Para-Chemie, Strabag, Terra-Mix, VAE have taken part in the Bulgarian "Transport Infrastructure" forum and have stated their desire to be included in projects in the country. Austrian Ambassador to Sofia, Gerhard Reiweger, pointed out Bulgaria must benefit from the Austrian experience in absorbing funds from the EU operational program "Transport"....

A cross-border Contact Center, a pioneer service of the police forces of Greece and Bulgaria, will be inaugurated on Friday at the Promachonas border station in Serres, opposite the Kulata border station on the Bulgarian side, the Athens News Agency reported. The inter-state cross-border agreement for the establishment of a joint Contact Center with shared facilities on the Greek side of the border for a "one-stop border control" was signed in April 2008 by then deputy interior minister Panayiotis Hinofotis with then Bulgarian interior minister Mihail Mikov in Sofia. This happened at the meeting of SEECP justice and internal affairs ministers, aimed at the creation of a joint contact center for the coordination of crime-fighting actions and the conduction of joint border controls....

Bulgaria's Foreign Ministry is preparing a list of up to 20 diplomats to propose as members of the new European External Action Service. All EU member states are to submit their candidates to the EU High Representative for Foreign Policy, Catherine Ashton. Bulgaria hopes to impress the High Representative with its nominations and to receive some prestigious diplomatic positions. ...

Bulgaria's Ministry of Agriculture has received a letter from the European Commission notifying about a sanction of the amount of BGN over 49 M that the country must pay. The fine has been triggered by violations committed by the Ministry in direct payments to farmers in 2008. The violations stem from overlapping of declared land plots and the procedure for the selection of a contractor to create an aerial photograph map of farming lands in Bulgaria. ...

Bulgaria's Minister for Regional Development, Rosen Plevneliev, has announced that he is prepared to reluctantly "accept" a EUR 41 M increase in construction costs of the Lyulin Highway. Plevneliev said on Monday that the expert assessments recently made all pointed to an under-assessment of costs on the part of the Turkish consortium in charge of the construction project. The current value of the contract with Mapa Cengiz amounts to EUR 137,4 M....

Bulgarian prosecutors have hinted they are on their way to unravel the murder of controversial crime journalist Bobi Tsankov, who was shot dead in a gangland-style execution at the beginning of the year. "I already have an idea, though a vague one, about who killed Bobi Tsankov," Nikolay Kokinov, Sofia City Prosecutor, announced on Wednesday. Bobi Tsankov was shot dead on January 5 as he was entering an apartment block with other two men, according to the police. ...

Bulgaria's Commission for Protection of Competition (CPC) is yet to issue a final decision on the complaints over the "Trakiya" highway public tender, Regional Minister, Rosen Plevneliev said Wednesday. CPC has only rejected the requests of the Austrian road construction consortium "Strabag" and the Greek builder "Terna" to block the public tender procedure, but there is a legal 2-month deadline to probe the complaints, the Commission informed to clarify the issue. In addition, CPC reports that any of their decisions can be appealed before the Supreme Administrative Court. ...

Hello Magazine Little Simeon Hassan, the son of Bulgaria's Princess Kalina, has grown up into quite the young gent since we last saw him at his baptism two years ago. ...

UK airlines British Airways will renew its flights to and from Bulgaria's sea capital Varna as of April 1, representatives of the company announced on Wednesday. The price of the one-way ticket on a flight from Varna to the airport Gatwick has been set at EUR 35 and EUR 70 for a return ticket, airport fees excluded. The company said it is testing special ticket prices for flights from Sofia and Varna to the United States and Canada, varying from EUR 281 to 291. ...

The Members of the Bulgarian Parliament failed Wednesday to vote on all amendments in the much disputed GMO Act with the most important ones postponed for the next day. The vote stirred heated debates between representatives of different parties, leading to the decision to vote on the most argued about text on Thursday - the so-called article 80 introducing the general ban to grow genetically modified organisms (GMO). The ban would not apply to GMO already on the market. ...

Bulgaria media watchdog adopted at its meeting on Wednesday procedures for the selection of new directors of the state-owned national radio BNR and TV channel BNT. The contest for director of the Bulgarian National Radio starts on March 24. Candidates can sbumit documents from April 26 till May 10....

Ahmet Davutoglu, the Turkish Foreign Minister, will make a two-day official visit to Bulgaria. Davutoglu will meet Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov, PM Boyko Borisov and Foreign Minister Nikolay Mladenov on Thursday. The Turkish Minister's particular focus will be on bilateral relations, but the recent situation in the Balkans will also be discussed....

Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel says she wants the eurozone to be able to exclude one of its members in future if that is necessary to avert a crisis. Merkel told the German Bundestag (parliament) that existing EU rules were not strong enough to deal with the current crisis triggered by Greece. Exclusion from the 16-nation eurozone would be a "last resort", she said, as cited by BBC. ...

Bulgaria's Interior Minister, Tsvetan Tsvetanov, declared he is going to join the Ministry's employees during their protest rally, scheduled for March 20. Tsvetanov told reporters Wednesday he always supported his colleagues and understood their problems, adding that realities in the country must be taken into account. "There is no Interior Minister, who would not want for policemen to have better pay and working conditions....

By Cyril McAravey Kickoff Mamelodi Sundowns knew they had a tiger by the tail when they employed Bulgarian legend Hristo Stoichkov to lead the Brazilians, and now it appears that they have deserted him in his time of need. ...

In January 2010, seasonally adjusted production in the construction sector fell by 2.2% in the Eurozone and by 2.0% the EU area, compared with the previous month. ...

Bulgaria's center-right government has officially dropped plans for a health tax hike, which was approved last week amid doctors' walkouts and in a bid to raise additional funds to support the ailing system. The cabinet of the ruling GERB party approved last Wednesday a 2 percentage-point rise in health insurance levies to 10 percent of an individual's income, effective from April. The private sector cried foul, saying that the measure will deal a heavy blow to the companies, which are already struggling in these times of crisis and will create conditions for the expansion of the grey economy. ...

The Retirees Union in the Bulgarian western city of Pernik begins Thursday the collection signatures in support of President, Georgi Parvanov, the Union's leader informs. The move comes in the heels of Bulgaria's ruling Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB) party beginning a procedure to impeach Parvanov over the controversy stemming from the President publishing a transcript from his conversation with Finance Minister, Simeon Djankov, without the latter's knowledge. GERB say the move violates the Constitution. ...

Bulgaria' s national air carrier Bulgaria Air will be headed by a new executive director following the resignation of the current CEO Dimitar Pavlov, according to reports, citing insiders. Pavlov is expected to be replaced by Yanko Georgiev, who is currently head of the Flight Directorate at Bulgaria Air. The company has refused to officially confirm the information. ...

The Bulgaria military deputy chief, Minko Kavaldjiev, is leading a delegation to Belgrade, in a continuing program of cooperation with the Serbian military. Kavaldjiev declared that cooperation between the two countries was good, and that it significantly contributed to security in the region. He announced that the Bulgarian army was preparing to share its experience with the Serbian army, as it goes through a period of reforms. ...

Bulgaria's Central Cooperative bank, part of the country's largest holding company Chimimport, has been given the green light to acquire a third bank in Macedonia. The Macedonian financial supervision authorities have approved the deal earlier in the week. In the middle of February Stater Banka said in a statement on the Macedonian Stock Exchange website that its majority owner, Iceland 's Milestone Group, is currently negotiating with Bulgaria's Central Cooperative bank to sell its 91,71% stake in the bank. ...

A large number of Bulgarians (61%) say their living standard has worsened in 2009, according to a poll conducted by the National Center for Study of Public Opinion (NZIOM). From the 1 214 respondents, only 5% stated they led a better life with most of them being college graduates and Sofia residents. The most hardships are faced by people 50 to 59 years of age, unemployed, living in villages or without education degrees, with 70% of them pointing out their living standard has worsened. ...

Bulgaria is going to see a surge of protests within the next several days, with several sectors warning of strike action and demonstrations. The target is the severe measures proposed by the Bulgarian government in its attempt to reduce the state budget deficit. Employees of the Interior Ministry have been among the first to announce their protest in reaction to the proposal that civil servants should be obliged to pay their own insurances. ...

The European Commission has called on Bulgaria to pursue "strict" fiscal policies that will make up for "slightly favorable assumptions on growth and revenue collection". "Given the need to ensure sustainable convergence, Bulgaria is invited to continue pursuing strict fiscal policies as well as to implement the planned structural reforms," the commission said in its assessment of the country's three- year fiscal plan. The European Commission examined on Wednesday the updated stability and convergence programmes (SCPs) of fourteen EU member states, including Bulgaria. ...

The reforms of the ruling Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB) party managed to reinstate European trust in Bulgaria, according to Wilfred Martens, President of European People's Party (EPP). Martens is in Sofia Wednesday to participate in the international conference devoted to Bulgaria's best practices to combat corruption. The EPP President said that his statement is based on the fact the European Commission has released millions in EU funds that were previously blocked for Bulgaria, and on the stark change of the general attitude towards the country across Europe. ...

Media reports about draconian anti-crisis measures attributed to Bulgaria's Finance Ministry are far away from the truth, according to an official statement issued by the institution Wednesday. The document, cited by the media, does not exist, had never been discussed and the reports are the expression of another attempt to stir public tension, direct discontent towards the cabinet and its economic policies, and sabotage the common effort with labor unions and employers, according to the statement. The Ministry further informs that experts are in the process of conducting thorough and serious analysis and forecasts on which the real anti-crisis measures will be based....

Bulgaria's aspirations to join the euro zone may be rewarded in four years' time, according to a leading expert from The Economist's analytical unit. "The Bulgarian government will hope to join ERM II later in 2010, although Mr Borisov has admitted that the aim to adopt the euro by 2013 will be a struggle. We anticipate that Bulgaria may get to adopt the euro in 2014 at the earliest," Toby Iles, an analyst for Central and Eastern Europe at the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), said in an interview for Novinite....

Interview with Toby Iles, analyst for Central & Eastern Europe at the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) After gaining a first class undergraduate degree from the University of Oxford, Toby Iles undertook further study at the University of Cambridge and the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna. Subsequent to this he joined the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) in Vienna as a research analyst covering Central Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa....

Bulgaria's Conservative Order, Law and Justice (RZS) party demanded Wednesday the dismissal of Finance Minister, Simeon Djankov, over his proposed extreme measures to deal with the economic crisis. The request was announced by party leader, Yane Yanev, who threatened occupation of the Finance Ministry's building in case the request is not fulfilled. According to information which leaked to the Bulgarian media, several of the proposed 35 anti-crisis measures are aimed at saving money at the expense of important social benefits. ...

A Wizzair flight from the Romanian city of Timisoara was forced to return to the airport, following an anonymous call claiming there was a bomb on board the plane. The aircraft was bound for London when, 15 minute into the flight, the call was received at the airport. The plane made an emergency U-turn back to Timisoara, where all 165 passengers were safely evaculated. ...

Bulgaria's Interior Minister, Tsvetan Tsvetanov, accused the judicial system of lacking the will to deal with organized crime in the country. The Minister spoke Wednesday at the international conference devoted to Bulgaria's best practices to combat corruption, held in Sofia, saying the political will to combat crime is a fact, but not the judiciary one. Tsvetanov reiterated the need of a serious legal reform, stressing that in the last 20 years those with political power have been untouchable by the Courts. ...

St Patrick's Day, the national day of the Irish, both at home and worldwide, is being celebrated on Wednesday. The holiday began as a purely religious celebration to mark the death of Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. The holy man was born into an ecclesiastical family in Roman Britain in the late fourth century. ...

The Sofia City Court proved unable to find Wednesday 3 former ministers, who were summoned to testify in the case against the former Director of the Road Infrastructure Fund, Veselin Georgiev. The ex Minister in charge of the EU Funds, Meglena Plugchieva, the ex Finance Minister, Plamen Oresharski, and ex European Affairs Minister, Gergana Passy, failed to appear before the magistrates. Their absence was explained by irregularly sent subpoenas. ...

The Members of the Bulgarian Parliament passed Wednesday at second reading the amendments of the Meetings and Demonstrations Act in agreement with the veto imposed by President, Georgi Parvanov. The MPs approved the requirement to keep the security zone limiting access to government buildings, the President's Office and the Parliament during meetings and demonstrations between 5 and 20 meters, with the exact distance being determined for each particular event. The distance will be agreed with the Interior Ministry and approved by the Mayor of Sofia....

Bulgaria's Cabinet approved Wednesday a memorandum for the country's participation in an international integrated logistics unit. Each of the participants - Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Hungary, Lithuania, and Slovakia - is going to take part with 4 military officers in the NATO logistics unit. The main task of the unit will be to form a mobility control detachment through which the parties will be able to participate in current NATO operations conducted with the approval of the UN Security Council. ...

Bulgaria's Borisov government should go all the way with privatization, according to Krasen Stanchev, Chair of Governing Board of the Sofia-based Institute for Market Economy. Stanchev has welcomed the decision of the government to sell its minority shares in a number of companies saying that by doing this, the GERB party Cabinet is actually fulfilling its campaign promises. By the end of the week, the government is going to set up a consolidated state company which will include minority shares from 55 companies in an attempt to generate badly needed revenue. ...

A central register showing all debts owed by the state to private companies should be created in order to ease the economic situation, the rightist Blue Coalition has suggested. Ivan Kostov, Co-Chair of the Blue Coalition, which supports the government of the ruling GERB party, has spoken in favor of creating a register specifying the exact amounts of money owed by the state to private businesses, and the deadlines for payment. In this way, the state will largely improve the tense situation because it will provide the companies with documents that they can use before the banks from which they themselves had borrowed. ...

Russian companies appear to be in lack of enough oil in order to fill the Burgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline, according to Moscow newspaper Vedomosti. The CEO of Transneft, Nikolai Tokarev, complained to the Russian Deputy PM Igor Sechin in a letter from September 2009 that there was not enough oil for the planned pipeline in Bulgaria and Greece, the Vedomosti has reported claiming to have a copy of the letter. Tokarev is said to have pointed out that the actual economic benefits from the project will become clear only after its completion, and that it is geopolitical rather than an economic endeavor. ...

Legendary Bulgarian footballer Hristo Stoichkov has resigned as the coach of South African team Mamelodi Sundowns. Stoichkov is leaving offended because the team did not offer him an extension of his contract, according to South African media. The 44-year-old Bulgarian coach took over Mamelodi Sundowns in July 2009, and led the team to the second position in the South African championship. ...

Bulgaria's government is reducing by up to 30% the privatization prices of several companies in a quest to raise badly-needed revenue. The Bulgarian Privatization Agency has announced that it is selling on the stock exchange state shares in 40 companies. Some of the companies in question are among the ones which might be included in a state consolidation company designed to raise revenue as an emergency measure by selling the government's minority shares in several dozen firms....

Macedonian papers have expressed their outrage over bits and pieces that allegedly leaked from the 'Friendship Treaty' proposed by Bulgaria. Six of the 21 items in the treaty - which the Bulgarian government recently announced it had proposed to Skopje in order to provide for good neighborly relations - are problematic, according to an article of the Dnevnik Daily. "Bulgaria is placing itself in the position of the elder brother,' the paper says citing unnamed sources which have seen the English-language version of the proposed treaty....

Eight Bulgarian cities are staging protest rally Wednesday as the Parliament is expected to vote on final draft of the Genetically Modified Organisms Act later during the day. "Bulgaria free of GMO" slogans will be raised by rallies in Sofia, Pleven, Plovdiv, Veliko Tarnovo, Varna, Kyustendil, Ruse, and Rudozem. The GMO legislation has been in disputed in Bulgaria over the last two months, and despite the many amendments designed to exclude the possibility that GMOs will be allowed on Bulgarian soil, the protesting NGOs and civil society coalitions believe that the law in question still does not provide sufficient guarantees....

The package of 35 anti-crisis measures prepared by the government is going to hurt a number of social benefits, according to trade union leaders. Syndicates claim to have obtained a draft of the measures prepared by the team of Finance Minister Simoen Djankov, and have expressed their concern over them. According to information which leaked to the Bulgarian media, several of the anti-crisis measures are aimed at saving money at the expense of important social benefits. ...

Bulgarian judge Panayot Genkov and alleged mafia boss Angel Hristov never shared a table in a Sofia restaurant. This information has been revealed Wednesday morning by Judge Tsoni Tsonev, head of the Ethics Commission of the Supreme Judicial Council (VSS), speaking on BNT 1. A new judicial system scandal was about to unfoil amidst reports on Tuesday that judge Genkov and one of the two so called Galevi Brothers, Angel Hristov, were spotted sharing a table in a restaurant in Sofia. ...

Business

Bulgaria PM Boyko Borisov has revealed that prosecutors are already studying the project of the hydroelectric power plant - 'Tsankov Kamak'. Borisov, speaking at the site of the project, said "we have already approached the prosecutor's office regarding 'Tsankov Kamak', but I bought along the Interior Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov to make the necessary investigations." ...

Bulgaria Foreign Affairs Minister, Nikolay Mladenov, has stated that the Nabucco natural gas pipeline is the priority project regarding bilateral ties with Turkey. Mladenov was speaking after meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu on Thursday in Sofia. Davutoglu also stressed the importance of the Nabucco project and said that it had always "stood first". ...

Italian energy giant Enel is considering the sale of its 73% stake in Maritsa East 3, a coal-fired plant which has a capacity of 908 megawatts, the company executive director has announced. A rival company has already expressed interest in the sale, Fulvio Conti said in London, where he presented the financial results of the group for 2009 and its business plan for the next five years. A year ago Enel increased the capacity of Maritsa East Three plant to 908 megawatts, up from 840 MW, and also put new desulphurisation installations on the plant's four units. ...

Bulgaria's government has refused to heed calls for selling on the stock exchange shares in companies, which are part of the Bulgarian Energy Holding. "We are not planning for the time being to list energy companies from the Bulgarian Energy Holding on the bourse," Deputy Economy and Energy Minister Maya Hristova announced. In her words the government plans to privatize the remaining shares of energy companies, in which the state holds a minority share. ...

Over 100 workers in a paper plant in Bulgaria's town of Kostenets have declared hunger strike over an optimization plan of the management. The specific reason for the strike is the intention of "Paper and Paper Products - Kostenets" Jsc to lay off 24 workers without any compensations, according to a statement of the Confederation of Independent Bulgarian Syndicates (KNSB). The trade union points out that it has not been informed by the management of the factory about its intentions....

Bulgaria has weak chances for joining the bloc's exchange-rate mechanism, the so-called eurozone waiting room, and making this top priority dooms it to a recession, a German analyst has commented. "The Bulgarian government now is trying to up the pressure so that the country is acceded to ERM II. It is questionable whether this is a productive tactics, bearing in mind that a number of EU member states have good reasons to be cautious about Bulgaria....

Bulgaria's Deputy Foreign Minister, Valeri Mitrev, says that the BGN 1,2 B for the country's health care will be enough to significantly up salaries in the sector. Mitrev informed that according to preliminary calculations doctors will have a starting salary of EUR 1 100 and nurses of EUR 400, under the condition medical facilities are restructured and public tenders are carried out without violations. The new salaries will not be based on the number of examined patients, but will be rather paid through delegated budgets. ...

Greece may seek financial help from the International Monetary Fund over the April 2-4 Easter weekend due to little hope for aid from the European Union. A senior Greek official told Dow Jones Newswires that the prospect of help from the European Union "doesn't look good" and that IMF help would be a prominent scenario if EU help is not forthcoming. Meanwhile Greece's Prime Minister George Papandreou warned on Thursday that Athens would not be able to make planned deficit cuts unless it can borrow money more cheaply and said he would prefer not to have to turn to the IMF for help. ...

Bulgaria's tax revenue in the first two months of 2010 was BGN 600 M smaller than in the same period of 2009, announced the National Revenue Agency head, Krasimir Stefanov. Stefanov has pointed out that the plummeting tax revenue is the result of the deepening economic crisis. Speaking on the bTV channel Thursday, Stefanov said that the declared tax base in January and February of 2010 was BGN 4 B smaller than it was in the same period of the previous year. ...

Bulgaria's capital Sofia is freezing the planned construction of overpasses despite the availability of EUR 45 M loan from the European Investment Bank. The money was supposed to be used for six overpasses at key crossroads around Sofia in order to alleviate the situation with the congested traffic in the city. The official explanation of the Sofia Municipality for putting the projects on hold is the work on the construction of the second metro line and the ongoing rehabilitation projects....

Politics

Bulgaria President Georgi Parvanov has welcomed the amendments to the GMO Act adopted by Parliament on Thursday, which in effect ban the cultivation of GM crops in the country. "Under the pressure of numerous civil protests and as a result of the my expressed position to veto any non stringent amendments and to call for a referendum, ultimately, it was a reasonable decision," said Parvanov. He added; "At this stage Bulgaria has managed to keep clear of GM crops and has created conditions for the development of organic farming....

The European Commission opened Thursday legal actions against Bulgaria for construction in protected coastal areas and for non-adherence to maximum admissible levels of sulfur dioxide in the air. Bulgaria has already been warned over irregular construction in areas near the Black Sea, which fall under the protection of NATURA 2000. The EC established that between January 2007 and October 2009, the Regional Inspectorate for Environment and Waters in the Black Sea city of Varna had issued over 327 building permits without making adequate assessment of their influence on the environment. ...

The Interior Minister of the German Province of Bavaria, Joachim Herrmann, advised Bulgaria to carry out urgent reforms in the Penal Code. Herrmann, who is on an official visit to Bulgaria Thursday, spoke during a meeting with his counterpart, Tsvetan Tsvetanov, pointing out verdicts in Bavaria are much harsher. The Bavarian Interior Minister gave high marks to the efforts of the new cabinet to fight corruption and organized crime, and to the bi-lateral cooperation with Bulgaria....

The Bulgarian Parliament has passed amendments to the GMO Act which mean that GM crops will not be allowed to be grown in the country. After a number of days of debate Bulgaria's MPs finally passed the strongest possible amendments which although they do not include a total ban on GM crops, make it impossible for farmers to grow them commercially or in trials. Bulgaria has thus become the first country in Europe to introduce such stringent laws for all forms of GM crops. ...

The proclaimed independence of Bulgaria's judicial system provides political cover for abuses, said Interior Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov. Earlier on Thursday Tsvetanov was criticized by the Chair of the Supreme Administrative Court, Konstantin Penchev, for his statement that the Supreme Judicial Council - the institution which monitors and controls Bulgaria's judiciary - had too many members (25 members at present). Judge Penchev said only the convention of a Grand National Assembly could lead to changing the number of member of the Supreme Judicial Council (VSS). ...

A system of merit-based pay is needed for the Bulgarian administrators working on EU projects, according to Bulgaria's newly-appointed EU Funds Minister, Tomislav Donchev. Donchev was confirmed by Parliament Thursday as a Minister in charge of the coordination of EU funds absorption. He is going to be in command of several small government directorates rather than a full-fledged ministry....

Bulgaria's conservative Order, Law, and Justice (RZS) party is submitting with the Parliament Thursday an official declaration asking that Bulgaria condemns the Armenian genocide committed by Turkey. The declaration is in connection with the Thursday visit of Turkish Foreign Minister, Ahmet Davutoglu, to Bulgaria and statements of Turkey's Prime Minister Erdogan that the country is prepared to extradite 100 000 Armenians. RZS is also requesting an official answer from Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov, about the policy of the cabinet regarding the Armenian genocide during World War I. ...

Factors whose interests are being affected by the actions of the Cabinet are engaging an anti-government plot, according to Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov. Borisov commented Thursday on the scandal with the "leaked" anti-crisis measures allegedly prepared by the Finance Ministry which outraged the Bulgarian society. The "measures" including cutting in half the paid maternity leave, and taxing retirement pensions before the deduction of social security payments were provided to the media on Wednesday by syndicates....

The Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) will air again the video clip titled "If You Vote for Boyko You Will Get Kostov." The campaign will be the opposition's response to the ruling Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB) party anti-crisis measures. ...

Tomislav Donchev, currently Mayor of the city of Gabrovo in Central Bulgaria, has been approved as Bulgaria's Minister of EU Funds Absorption. Donchev was born in Gabrovo in 1973. In 1991, he graduated from the mathematics high school in Gabrovo. ...

Bulgaria in EU

The European Commission opened Thursday legal actions against Bulgaria for construction in protected coastal areas and for non-adherence to maximum admissible levels of sulfur dioxide in the air. Bulgaria has already been warned over irregular construction in areas near the Black Sea, which fall under the protection of NATURA 2000. The EC established that between January 2007 and October 2009, the Regional Inspectorate for Environment and Waters in the Black Sea city of Varna had issued over 327 building permits without making adequate assessment of their influence on the environment. ...

A system of merit-based pay is needed for the Bulgarian administrators working on EU projects, according to Bulgaria's newly-appointed EU Funds Minister, Tomislav Donchev. Donchev was confirmed by Parliament Thursday as a Minister in charge of the coordination of EU funds absorption. He is going to be in command of several small government directorates rather than a full-fledged ministry....

Bulgaria's Foreign Ministry is preparing a list of up to 20 diplomats to propose as members of the new European External Action Service. All EU member states are to submit their candidates to the EU High Representative for Foreign Policy, Catherine Ashton. Bulgaria hopes to impress the High Representative with its nominations and to receive some prestigious diplomatic positions. ...

Bulgaria's Ministry of Agriculture has received a letter from the European Commission notifying about a sanction of the amount of BGN over 49 M that the country must pay. The fine has been triggered by violations committed by the Ministry in direct payments to farmers in 2008. The violations stem from overlapping of declared land plots and the procedure for the selection of a contractor to create an aerial photograph map of farming lands in Bulgaria. ...

In January 2010, seasonally adjusted production in the construction sector fell by 2.2% in the Eurozone and by 2.0% the EU area, compared with the previous month. ...

The reforms of the ruling Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB) party managed to reinstate European trust in Bulgaria, according to Wilfred Martens, President of European People's Party (EPP). Martens is in Sofia Wednesday to participate in the international conference devoted to Bulgaria's best practices to combat corruption. The EPP President said that his statement is based on the fact the European Commission has released millions in EU funds that were previously blocked for Bulgaria, and on the stark change of the general attitude towards the country across Europe. ...

Bulgaria's Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov, has asked the leadership of the European People's Party to lobby in Brussels for the allocation of EU funds. This was announced by Borisov himself Tuesday night during a news conference together with the Chair of the EPP Wilfried Martens and the Secretary-General of the EPP Antonio Lopez. Borisov has commented that his GERB party has received solidarity and support from the EPP....

The European People's Party has no criticism for the Bulgarian government of PM Boyko Borisov, according to its Chair, Wilfried Martens. Martens was in Sofia Tuesday night for the presentation of his book, "Europe: I Struggle, I Overcome". "After eight years of liberal and socialist experiments, Bulgaria finally has a strong and reliable government....

The Bulgarian Members of the European Parliament from all political groups decided to request a meeting with the EU Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighborhood, Stefan Fule, regarding Spaska Mitrova's case. The information was reported by the Socialist MEPs press center. The Bulgarian MEPs intend to discuss violations of civil rights of people with Bulgarian self-awareness by authorities in Macedonia....

Europe's finance ministers have agreed how to help Greece in its battle to control its finances. After a meeting in Brussels, they revealed few details, except that they had ruled out any loan guarantees, the BBC reported. For weeks, the financial markets had wondered if the EU's promised support for Greece would ever be forthcoming. ...

Lifestyle

Bulgaria's unemployment rate has exceeded the threshold of 10%, which employers and economists consider to be a sign of an upcoming deterioration in the purchasing power and the labor market. The jobless rate stood at 10,26% in February with the total number of people who are unemployed towering to 380 244, up by 13,000 over the previous month, data of the Employment Agency shows. Nearly 40% of the people, who were laid off in February, worked in the industry or trade sectors....

Judge Tsoni Tsonev, Head of the Ethics Commission of Bulgaria's Supreme Judicial Council (VSS) informed Thursday that the case "Panayot Genkov" has not been closed yet. VSS have called Angel Hristov, one of the two notorious Galevi Brothers, to appear before them on Monday. If Hristov does not comply, the magistrates will request a police escort to bring him. ...

The average salary of women in Bulgaria is currently 15,7% lower than that of men according to a Confederation of Independent Bulgarian Unions (KNSB) report. The KNSB report published Thursday at a conference for gender equality also stated that women are the majority of the unemployed in Bulgaria and often become victims of human trafficking. It added that there is currently a "feminization of poverty" occurring in the country. ...

The European Commission is expected next week to propose rules on divorce that would initially apply in only ten member states of the European Union, including Bulgaria, the online edition European Voice reported. The Commission's proposal would provide domestic courts in the ten countries with criteria to determine which national law should apply in international divorce cases. It would affect couples of different nationalities, living apart in different countries, or living together in a country other than their home country. ...

The Retirees Union in the Bulgarian western city of Pernik begins Thursday the collection signatures in support of President, Georgi Parvanov, the Union's leader informs. The move comes in the heels of Bulgaria's ruling Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB) party beginning a procedure to impeach Parvanov over the controversy stemming from the President publishing a transcript from his conversation with Finance Minister, Simeon Djankov, without the latter's knowledge. GERB say the move violates the Constitution. ...

A large number of Bulgarians (61%) say their living standard has worsened in 2009, according to a poll conducted by the National Center for Study of Public Opinion (NZIOM). From the 1 214 respondents, only 5% stated they led a better life with most of them being college graduates and Sofia residents. The most hardships are faced by people 50 to 59 years of age, unemployed, living in villages or without education degrees, with 70% of them pointing out their living standard has worsened. ...

Eight Bulgarian cities are staging protest rally Wednesday as the Parliament is expected to vote on final draft of the Genetically Modified Organisms Act later during the day. "Bulgaria free of GMO" slogans will be raised by rallies in Sofia, Pleven, Plovdiv, Veliko Tarnovo, Varna, Kyustendil, Ruse, and Rudozem. The GMO legislation has been in disputed in Bulgaria over the last two months, and despite the many amendments designed to exclude the possibility that GMOs will be allowed on Bulgarian soil, the protesting NGOs and civil society coalitions believe that the law in question still does not provide sufficient guarantees....

Bulgarian judge Panayot Genkov and alleged mafia boss Angel Hristov never shared a table in a Sofia restaurant. This information has been revealed Wednesday morning by Judge Tsoni Tsonev, head of the Ethics Commission of the Supreme Judicial Council (VSS), speaking on BNT 1. A new judicial system scandal was about to unfoil amidst reports on Tuesday that judge Genkov and one of the two so called Galevi Brothers, Angel Hristov, were spotted sharing a table in a restaurant in Sofia. ...

The construction of the second metro line in the Bulgarian capital Sofia has been stopped over the discovery of a unique archaeology site. On Monday the builders came across a medieval church located in the very downtown of Sofia, next to the Tzum retail center. This led to a temporary termination of the construction work. ...

The anti-corruption watchdog at the Bulgarian Supreme Judicial Council (VSS) is going to question the magistrate from the Supreme Administrative Court, Panayot Genkov, over alleged ties with the underworld. The questioning comes on the heels of media reports that Genkov had been seen sharing a table in a popular Sofia restaurant with Angel Hristov better known as one of the notorious Galevi brothers. VSS further published the official rebuttal of Genkov, who says he had been in the same restaurant with Hristov, but was never on the same table and does not personally know him. ...

Sports

South African team Mamelodi Sundowns plans to impose a fine on its former coach, legendary Bulgarian footballer Hristo Stoichkov, if he fails to prove allegations of corruption in the country's football federation. "Mamelodi Sundowns Football Club is committed to good relations and to cooperate with SAFA, the PSL and other Stakeholders of football in South Africa. Depending on the outcome of the Premier Soccer League disciplinary proceedings against Hristo Stoichkov, Sundowns may take further appropriate action," reads an official statement on the site of the club. ...

Italy's Trentino BetClic, led by Bulgarian Radostin Stoychev and including two Bulgarian players, is on top of the charts again after wining the regular season in A1. Trentino couldn't have hoped for a better last home game as it swept Treviso 3:0 and secured top spot in the regular season. Thanks to this win, Trentino remained unbeaten at home in the league and became champions of the regular season for the third time. ...

Legendary Bulgarian footballer Hristo Stoichkov has resigned as the coach of South African team Mamelodi Sundowns. Stoichkov is leaving offended because the team did not offer him an extension of his contract, according to South African media. The 44-year-old Bulgarian coach took over Mamelodi Sundowns in July 2009, and led the team to the second position in the South African championship. ...

Bulgaria soccer star Dimitar Berbatov has written in his new blog how much he appreciates the support of his fans, and how proud he is when they enjoy his success. The Bulgarian national tem captain caused controversy only a week ago, when he published his first blog entry, entitled "Haters". Now, he has explained that the entries are part of a trilogy, with the second piece entitled "Friends and Supporters". ...

Bulgaria's Euro 2012 qualifying fixtures will be decided by a random draw after the nations in Group G failed to agree on acceptable dates. At a near five-hour meeting England, Wales, Bulgaria, Montenegro and Switzerland failed to reach an agreement. "We were close to achieving the most important principles of our strategy for the program....

Bulgaria captain and Manchester United star Dimitar Berbatov has backed the Red Devils to take the English Premiership title. Berbatov, speaking after scoring in United's 3:0 thumping of Fulham on Sunday, said that "there can only be one winner and I think it is going to be us." ...

Manchester United have defeated 3:0 Fulham eight rounds before the end of England's Premier League. After missing several opportunities throughout the match, Bulgaria's striker Dimitar Berbatov scored the third goal in the 89th minute by heading the ball. This is his tenth goal with United for the season. ...

Slovakia’s Ambassador to Bulgaria, Karol Mistrik, has triumphed in the contest for the Ski Cup of Bulgaria’s Foreign Minister Nikolay Mladenov. A total of 34 foreign diplomats, including the Ambassadors of Austria, Germany, Japan, Slovakia, and Ukraine, and two Bulgarian Ministers – Economy Minister Traikov and Regional Development Minister Plevneliev – participated in the contest. Ambassador Mistrik won the Transitional Cup of the Foreign Minister by achieving the best time on the 600 m-track in the Bulgarian mountain resort of Bansko in the contest which took place Saturday. ...

Bulgarian track and field short-distance runner, Vania Stambolova, won the bronze in the 400-meter run at the World Indoor Athletics Championships in Doha. Stambolova's result of 51.50 seconds ranked her third, after Russia's Tatyana Firova, who took silver in a personal best time of 51....

Bulgaria star Krassimir Balakov and ex German international Fredi Bobic starred in the 'Burgas for Haiti' charity soccer match on Wednesday. Balakov, the current manager of Chernomorets Burgas and Bobic (current Director of Chernomorets) followed their guest appearances in the March 7 charity match against Haiti in Germany, with another aid-targeted game to help with the aftermath of the Haiti earthquake. 'Stars of Balakov' won 12:5 against 'the Lords of Football', with Balakov scoring 1 and Bobic shooting in a quick hat-trick....