Bulgaria has lost some EUR 20 B as a result of the brain drain in the past 20 years, according to the participants in a conference on migrant labor treatment in Sofia Friday.

Business | June 22, 2012, Friday // 15:46

Bulgaria Govt Drags Its Feet over ASO Plan

Bulgaria's government has delayed once again the adoption of a plan for the analogue switch-off, which is scheduled to be wrapped up by September 1, 2013.

Business | June 22, 2012, Friday // 10:17

Bulgaria Hopes to Sell 50.5% in Bourse by End-2012

Bulgaria hopes to find an investor for its only stock exchange by the end of this year after failing to do so by the beginning of the summer as initially planned.

Business » Finance | June 22, 2012, Friday // 11:31

Sogelease Bulgaria Launches 'Leasing Protection' to Guarantee Security in Unforeseen Circumstances*

The leasing company of Societe General Expressbank - Sogelease Bulgaria, in cooperation with Societe Generale Insurance, launched a brand new joint project on the market, focused on customer care – "Leasing Protection".

Business » Finance | June 22, 2012, Friday // 10:39

Moody's Downgrades 15 Major Banks

The credit ratings agency Moody's has downgraded 15 banks and financial institutions, some of the world's biggest, citing concerns about the stability of the global financial system.

Business » Finance | June 22, 2012, Friday // 07:25

Bulgaria Drops License Requirement for 10 MW Power Plants

Power plants with a total installed capacity of up to 10 MW will not need a license for electricity and heat production, according to amendments to Bulgaria's Energy Act passed at second reading by Parliament.

Business » Energy | June 22, 2012, Friday // 16:15

Russia Yet to Offer Construction of Bulgaria's Kozloduy N-Plant Unit

Russia is yet to send an official letter declaring it would build Unit 7 of Bulgaria's sole nuclear power plant, Kozloduy, according to Bulgarian Economy and Energy Minister Delyan Dobrev.

Business » Energy | June 22, 2012, Friday // 15:28

E.ON, CEZ Bulgaria Units to Launch IPOs in Late Summer

Bulgaria's government is expected to list its 33% minority stake in E.ON and CEZ power distributors at the end of summer or the beginning of the autumn in a bid to enliven the local stock exchange and boost revenues.

Business » Energy | June 22, 2012, Friday // 12:26

Workers of Bulgaria's Largest Military Plant Rebel over Unpaid Salaries

Workers in VMZ Sopot, Bulgaria's largest military plant, have threatened to resort to civil disobedience unless they receive their delayed salaries.

Business » Industry | June 22, 2012, Friday // 16:05

Tight-Fisted Sofia-Based Cos Turn Choosey about Office Space

As Bulgaria's capital Sofia has put on offer a bumper crop of office space, companies based here become choosier about the working place they want to buy or rent, a survey shows.

Business » Properties | June 22, 2012, Friday // 08:34

Bulgaria Expects 10% Growth of Foreign Tourists Summer 2012

Bulgaria will see a 10% growth in the number of tourists visiting it this summer, according to Delyan Dobrev, Minister of Economy, Energy and Tourism.

Business » Tourism | June 22, 2012, Friday // 11:47

Politics

Bulgarian FinMin Proposes Fast Naturalization for Large Investors

Deputy Prime Minister Simeon Djankov has suggested a fast-track procedure for granting Bulgarian citizenship to foreign businessmen who have invested over BGN 200 000 in the country.

Politics » Bulgaria in EU | June 22, 2012, Friday // 19:02

EU Removes Bulgaria, Germany from Deficit Blacklist

EU's Economic and Financial Affairs Council has decided to close the excessive deficit procedures for Bulgaria and Germany, thus confirming that they have reduced their deficits below 3% of GDP.

Politics » Bulgaria in EU | June 22, 2012, Friday // 17:00

German Experts Predict Harsh CVM Report on Bulgaria

The European Commission's upcoming Co-operation and Verification Mechanism report will be negative for Bulgaria, German experts believe.

Politics » Bulgaria in EU | June 22, 2012, Friday // 16:25

Bulgaria Sees EU's Lowest Price Levels 2011

Bulgaria had the lowest price levels for consumer goods and services amon all EU member states in 2011, according to Eurostat data.

Politics » Bulgaria in EU | June 22, 2012, Friday // 14:45

Bulgaria's Djankov Renews Criticism at European Central Bank

Bulgaria's Finance Minister Simeon Djankov has called for radical changes in the European Central Bank as EU officials meet in Luxembourg to discuss a bailout for Spanish banks and the way ahead for Greece's emergency lending program.

Politics » Bulgaria in EU | June 22, 2012, Friday // 14:22

EP Recognizes Bulgarian Costa Concordia Hero

Bulgarian cruise ship technician Petar Petrov is among the 37 European Union citizens designated with the European Citizen's Prize.

Politics » Bulgaria in EU | June 22, 2012, Friday // 13:18

President Plevneliev Among Wealthiest People in Bulgaria

Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev and first lady Yuliana Plevnelieva own five houses – including a villa in Halkidiki, Greece – and more than BGN 1.8 M in bank deposits, according to the President's property declaration.

Politics » Domestic | June 22, 2012, Friday // 17:58

Bulgarian Socialists Accuse Ruling Party of 'Social Fracturing'

Left-wing Coalition for Bulgaria has accused center-right party GERB of "social fracturing over a set of highly contested amendments to the Forestry Act.

Politics » Domestic | June 22, 2012, Friday // 15:22

Bulgarian MPs Postpone Voting on Controversial Forestry Act

Bulgaria's Parliament will vote on the much debated amendments to the country's Forestry Act next week, it has been announced.

Politics » Domestic | June 22, 2012, Friday // 11:19

Society

Bulgarian PM's (Ex) Girlfriend Makes Him Happy with Free Ski Resort Passes

A controversy has arisen in Bulgaria after one of the country's top ski resorts Pamporovo – owned by Tsvetelina Borislavova, a businesswoman and ex girlfriend of Prime Minister Boyko Borisov – granted free lift passes to Borisov and his Cabinet.

Society | June 22, 2012, Friday // 16:30

Bulgarian Police Bust 'Anonymous' Hacker

Bulgarian police authorities have arrested an alleged member of the loosely associated Anonymous hacktivist group.

Society | June 22, 2012, Friday // 14:11

UNESCO: Building New Ski Facilities in Bulgaria's Pirin Is Inadmissible

Bulgaria must not allow the construction of new ski facilities and ski zones on the territory of the Pirin National Park, according to a recent report of UNESCO's World Heritage Committee cited by the "For the Nature" Coalition.

Society » Environment | June 22, 2012, Friday // 17:47

Dangerous Scorcher to Push Mercury Up to 38C in Bulgaria

Beach time has settled in full force in Bulgaria to the joy of thousands of holiday makers along the Black Sea coast, but the heat will be potentially dangerous on Friday.

Society » Environment | June 22, 2012, Friday // 08:22

Bulgaria Welcomes Cypress Hill, Sean Paul, Fatboy Slim

The second edition of Bulgaria's Elevation music festival opens on Friday at the military airfield in the village of Dobroslavtsi near Sofia, featuring a string of top global music names.

Society » Culture | June 22, 2012, Friday // 07:49

18 Bulgarian Districts Offer Dangerous Drinking Water

18 out of Bulgaria's 28 districts have substandard drinking water, according to an analysis of the country's water resources requested by the Ministry of Environment and Water.

Society » Health | June 22, 2012, Friday // 20:57

First IVF Baby Mother Dies

Lesley Brown, who gave birth to the world's first test tube baby, paving the way for millions of women to become mothers, has died after a brief illness. She was 64.

Society » Obituaries | June 22, 2012, Friday // 08:04

Sports

PM Scores 4 to Bulgarian Champs in Pathetic PR Friendly

Bulgarian lower-tier team Vitosha Bistritsa and the country's reigning football champions Ludogorets Razgrad finished 6:6 in a football friendly apparently intended to showcase the "star qualities" of Prime Minister Boyko Borisov.

Sports | June 22, 2012, Friday // 12:21

Germany Crush Greece in 2nd Euro 2012 Quarter-final

?Germany have defeated Greece 4:2 in the second quarter-final of the European Football Championship.

Sports » Euro 2012 | June 22, 2012, Friday // 23:40

Greece Prays for 'Minor Miracle' against Germany

Greece forward Dimitris Salpingidis has admitted his team needed a "minor miracle" to defeat Germany on Friday in the Euro 2012 quarterfinals at Arena Gdansk.

Sports » Euro 2012 | June 22, 2012, Friday // 09:27

Crime

Former Bulgarian Intelligence Head Prosecuted for Embezzlement

Sofia Military District Prosecutor's Office has launched an investigation on embezzlement of funds by the former head of Bulgaria's National Intelligence Service, a Prosecutor's Office official announced.

Crime | June 22, 2012, Friday // 15:07

World

Breivik Trial Over, Verdict Due on August 24

The trial of mass murderer Anders Behring Breivik ended in Norway with a walkout by families of victims in protest at his attempts to justify the massacre.

World | June 22, 2012, Friday // 17:39