Bulgaria Defense Minister, Nikolay Mladenov, has refuted claims that he is Bulgaria's reserve European Commissioner-Designate in case Rumiana Jeleva is rejected by the European Parliament.

Politics » Bulgaria in EU | January 13, 2010, Wednesday // 20:36

Bulgaria Probes Officials over EU Agriculture Funding Fraud

Prosecutors are examining eight projects under the EU Program for Rural Development in the State Fund 'Agriculture', Deputy Sofia City Prosecutor Bozhidar Dzhambazov confirmed Wednesday.

Politics » Bulgaria in EU | January 13, 2010, Wednesday // 19:22

EPP Mulls No-Confidence Vote for Slovakia EC Nominee

The European People's Party (EPP) is considering a no-confidence vote for the Commissioner-designate from Slovakia, MaroS Sef?ovi?.

Politics » Bulgaria in EU | January 13, 2010, Wednesday // 19:19

EP Puts off Further Decision on Bulgaria EU Commissioner Nominee

The Development Committee of the EP has put off its taking a decision on the Bulgarian EU Commissioner-Designate Rumiana Jeleva for one or two days.

Politics » Bulgaria in EU | January 13, 2010, Wednesday // 19:10

Bulgaria MEP Vigenin: Jeleva Too Weak to Be EU Commissioner

The nomination of Bulgarian EU Commissioner-Designate Rumiana Jeleva must be withdrawn, Socialist MEP Kristian Vigenin told Novinite.

Politics » Bulgaria in EU | January 13, 2010, Wednesday // 18:08

Bulgaria EC Hopeful Sold Thorny Company for BGN 5 000

The Bulgarian Commissioner-designate, Rumiana Jeleva, sold her disputed company Global Consult Ltd for BGN 5 000, the Bulgarian National Radio BNR reports.

Politics » Bulgaria in EU | January 13, 2010, Wednesday // 17:45

Greens MEP: I Won't Be Meeting Husband of Bulgaria EC Bidder Jeleva

The problems exposed during Tuesday's hearing of Bulgaria's EC-Designate Rumiana Jeleva are between her and the European Parliament and don't affect Bulgaria, Dutch MEP Judith Sargentini from the Greens/EFA party has told Novinite.

Politics » Bulgaria in EU | January 13, 2010, Wednesday // 15:35

GERB MEP: Bulgarians behind Assault on EC Bidder Jeleva

During her Tuesday's hearing at the EP, the Bulgarian EC-Designate Rumiana Jeleva met with "unacceptable atmosphere", Bulgarian MEP from the ruling party GERB Mariya Nedelcheva told Novinite.

Politics » Bulgaria in EU | January 13, 2010, Wednesday // 15:34

Bulgaria Nominee Jeleva Could Delay EU Commission Appointment

If the European Parliament rejects the nomination of Bulgarian Commissioner-Designate Rumiana Jeleva, the whole process of appointment of the new European Commission may be delayed until the spring.

Politics » Bulgaria in EU | January 13, 2010, Wednesday // 15:32

EU President Has Confidence in All Commissioners-Designate

Jose Manuel Barroso, EU Commission President, has not expressed any opinion on the controversy surrounding Rumiana Jeleva, the Bulgarian Commissioner-Designate

Politics » Bulgaria in EU | January 13, 2010, Wednesday // 15:28

MEP Parvanova: Jeleva Must Step down as Bulgaria Bidder for EU Commissioner

Bulgaria's Commissioner-Designate, Rumiana Jeleva, must step down after her unsuccessful hearing at the EP on Tuesday, Liberal MEP Antoniya Parvanova told Novinite.

Politics » Bulgaria in EU | January 13, 2010, Wednesday // 15:04

Bulgaria Socialist Leader: Jeleva Failure is Yellow Card for PM Borisov

Bulgaria's Socialist leader and former prime minister Sergey Stanishev has vehement;y criticized his arch enemy, current head of government Boyko Borisov, for the weak performance of the nominee for European Commissioner Tuesday evening.

Politics » Bulgaria in EU | January 13, 2010, Wednesday // 15:02

Bulgaria Nationalist Leader Echoes PM's Claims of Opposition Plot

The leader of Ataka, Volen Siderov, echoed Wednesday earlier statements of PM, Boyko Borisov, regarding the troubled hearing of the Bulgarian Commissioner-designate Rumiana Jeelva at the EP.

Politics » Bulgaria in EU | January 13, 2010, Wednesday // 14:44

Bulgarian Liberal MEP Reacts to Being Named by Candidate Jeleva

Bulgarian MEP Antoniya Parvanova has commented on the European Parliament hearing of Bulgarian Commissioner candidate Rumiana Jelava, in an interview on Nova Television.

Politics » Bulgaria in EU | January 13, 2010, Wednesday // 14:13

EPP Chairman Daul Stands up for Bulgaria EC Candidate

The EPP group distributed Wednesday an official declaration, signed by the party's Chairman, Joseph Daul, voicing support for Bulgaria's Commissioner-designate, Rumiana Jeleva.

Politics » Bulgaria in EU | January 13, 2010, Wednesday // 14:05

EP Pushes Barroso for Final Position on Bulgaria Nominee Jeleva

The coordinator of the European Parliament Commission for the hearing of Bulgarian Commisioner-Designate Rumiana Jeleva, has reportedly sent a letter asking Jose Manuel Barroso for his position on the case.

Politics » Bulgaria in EU | January 13, 2010, Wednesday // 13:43

Bulgaria Nominee Jeleva Refuses to Withdraw Bid for EU Top Job

Bulgaria's Foreign Minister Rumiana Jeleva, nominee for commissioner, said she will not withdraw her bid, even though her hearing at the European Parliament on Tuesday evening descended into disarray amidst claims that she was less than frank.

Politics » Bulgaria in EU | January 13, 2010, Wednesday // 12:34

Bulgaria PM: European Parliament Will Back Rumiana Jeleva

The prime minister has expressed confidence that the decision of the European Parliament will be favorable for Bulgaria's would-be European commissioner Rumiana Jeleva.

Politics » Bulgaria in EU | January 13, 2010, Wednesday // 10:12

Bulgaria Ruling Party MEP: This Is Not Fair Play

The failure of Bulgarian Commissioner-designate Rumiana Jeleva to secure confirmation after Tuesday hearing at the European Parliament has been attributed by her allies to "a dishonest and ugly campaign against her and her country.

Politics » Bulgaria in EU | January 13, 2010, Wednesday // 09:50

Bulgarian Jeleva Rejection Said to Trigger Institutional Crisis in Brussels

MEPs are unsatisfied by Bulgaria's would-be European commissioner's parliamentary performance, but they fear that her rejection may trigger an institutional crisis due to the European People's Party, insiders say.

Politics » Bulgaria in EU | January 13, 2010, Wednesday // 09:28

Bulgaria May Have to Pick Another Commissioner-Designate

Bulgaria may be forced to quickly come up with a new nomination for European Commissioner-designate after Rumiana Jeleva ran into trouble during the parliamentary confirmation hearing on Tuesday.

Politics » Bulgaria in EU | January 13, 2010, Wednesday // 09:04

Bulgaria PM: Balanced Budget, Eurozone Top Priorities

The maintenance of a balanced budget and efforts for preparing the country for accession to the euro-zone are the two top goals of the government, the prime minister said in his speech at the National Parliament.

Politics » Domestic | January 13, 2010, Wednesday // 11:44

Society

No Bulgarians Injured in Haiti Hellish Earthquake

Bulgaria's Foreign minister has received no information about Bulgarian nationals among the casualties in the 7.0-magnitude quake, which hit south of the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince, its spokesman announced.

Society | January 13, 2010, Wednesday // 10:47

Bulgaria Parliament Eases Laws on GM Crop Cultivation

The Bulgarian Parliament has approved amendments to the law on Genetically Modified Organisms at the first reading on Wednesday.

Society » Environment | January 13, 2010, Wednesday // 18:07

Sports

Lyuboslav Penev Resigns as CSKA Sofia Coach

CSKA Sofia coach Lyuboslav Penev has resigned from his post along with the whole coaching staff of the top Bulgarian club.

Sports | January 13, 2010, Wednesday // 16:41

Crime

Bulgaria Prosecutor: Journalist Was Killed over Leads to Witnesses

Bulgaria's controversial journalist, Bobi Tsankov, was killed because he had pointed out to the prosecutor's office possible witnesses against the notorious Marguin brothers.

Crime | January 13, 2010, Wednesday // 18:26

Bulgaria Economic Police Raid State Agriculture Fund Head Office

Bulgarian 'Economic Police' have raided the head office of the State Fund 'Agriculture' in Sofia to check for signs of abuse and unlawful use of funds.

Crime | January 13, 2010, Wednesday // 14:38

Gunman Set to Implicate Bulgaria in Pope Assassination Attempt

The gunman who attempted to assassinate Pope John Paul II in 1981, Mehmet Ali Agca, has said he will answer questions after he is released from jail in Turkey next week.

Crime | January 13, 2010, Wednesday // 14:11

Bulgaria Court Orders Arrest of Missing Top Criminal Boss

The Sofia Court ordered Wednesday a state-wide search warrant and the arrest of Nikolay Marinov aka the Little Marguin.

Crime | January 13, 2010, Wednesday // 12:49

New Broad Daylight Bank Robbery in Bulgarian Capital

Two masked and armed attackers have robbed a unit of a bank in downtown Sofia, police said.

Crime | January 13, 2010, Wednesday // 11:22

Lifestyle

Bulgarian Entrant Will Broadcast Live Eurovision Song Selection

Bulgarian National Television (BNT) has announced online that singer Miro (Miroslav Kostadinov), will perform five songs shortlisted for the country’s Eurovision entry, live on air.

Lifestyle | January 13, 2010, Wednesday // 17:18

Views on BG

EurActiv: Bulgarian EU Hopeful Bites the Dust in Parliament

Bulgarian commissioner-designate Rumiana Jeleva flopped at a hearing in the European Parliament yesterday (12 January), failing to counter accusations of conflict of interest and giving disappointing answers on policy issues.

Views on BG | January 13, 2010, Wednesday // 13:11

EUobserver: Future of Bulgarian Nominee Hangs in the Balance

The future of Bulgarian commission nominee Rumiana Jeleva hangs in the balance after MEPs opted to ask Jose Manuel Barroso if she lied about her ownership of a company.

Views on BG | January 13, 2010, Wednesday // 11:11

FT: Disillusioned by Bulgaria and Romania, Brussels Raises the Bar to Entry

If you raise the subject of the European Union's Balkan expansion plans with officials in Brussels, it does not take long before talk turns to corruption and organised crime.

Views on BG | January 13, 2010, Wednesday // 08:39

NYT: Bulgaria Nominee to EU Aid Post Gets a Grilling

The candidate for European commissioner for humanitarian aid became the first of the bloc’s nominees to run into trouble during parliamentary confirmation hearings this week, as critics accused her of failing to reveal the extent of her business interests

Views on BG | January 13, 2010, Wednesday // 08:28

European Voice: Bulgaria Jeleva Fails to Come Clean

MEPs unsatisfied by Bulgaria's would-be European commissioner's Parliamentary performance.

Views on BG | January 13, 2010, Wednesday // 08:15

Euronews: Bulgaria's Choice of Commissioner Finds Many MEPs Wary

The European Parliament's Liberals, Socialists and Greens have shown themselves to be the most wary of Bulgaria's nominee for commissioner, Rumiana Jeleva.

Views on BG | January 13, 2010, Wednesday // 08:11

FT: Fierce Exchanges over Bulgarian Brussels Aid Post

Rumiana Jeleva, the Bulgarian delegate for the European Commission post in charge of humanitarian aid and crisis response, struggled on Tuesday to set out her qualifications for the job amid a torrent of questions from members of the European Parliament.

Views on BG | January 13, 2010, Wednesday // 08:00