Bulgaria's Retail Sales Surge as EU Faces Decline
Retail sales across the European Union showed a decline in December, with both the eurozone and the EU reporting decreases
The European Commission has approved an allocation of nearly 4.1 billion euros to Ukraine as part of the first pillar of the country facility, bringing the total funding under this mechanism to 16.1 billion euros. The funds are intended to support Ukraine's ongoing reforms and recovery efforts amid the ongoing challenges it faces.
The Council of the EU confirmed that Ukraine has successfully met the nine reform benchmarks required for the release of the second quarterly payment. These benchmarks cover various critical areas, including improvements to the business environment, labor market reforms, regional policy adjustments, energy market regulations, environmental protection measures, and anti-corruption efforts outlined in Ukraine’s reform plan.
Under the country facility, up to 50 billion euros in grants and loans will be provided to Ukraine between 2024 and 2027. This funding aims to aid the country’s reform agenda and its broader economic stability during a challenging period.
The European Commission has launched investigations into Chinese e-commerce giants Temu and Shein over concerns related to consumer protection
Teodora Georgieva, the head of the Bulgarian office of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), raised serious concerns at a legal conference in Sofia on Tuesday, accusing Bulgarian authorities of obstructing investigations
Bulgarian MEP Andrey Novakov stated in an interview with BNR that there have been no discussions about deploying European military units to Ukraine
Sweden and Latvia are preparing to seek compensation for the damages caused by the fiber optic cable disruption in the Baltic Sea, as confirmed by the Prime Minister of Latvia
The European Union is preparing to impose retaliatory measures on the United States if President Donald Trump follows through on his threat to levy tariffs on the bloc
Gas supplies to Transnistria have resumed after a month-long disruption, restoring heating to apartments in the breakaway region
Bulgaria's Perperikon: A European Counterpart to Peru's Machu Picchu
Bulgarians Among EU's Least Frequent Vacationers, Struggling with Affordability