Bulgarians Prefer EU and NATO Over Russia, New Poll Reveals
A recent survey in Bulgaria reveals a clear preference among citizens for the European Union and NATO over Russia, with nearly twice as many respondents supporting the Western alliances
Bulgaria's economy has jumped 12 places up in the World Economic Forum's competitiveness ranking and is now placed 62nd.
Among all 144 countries included in the report, only Kazakhstan and Ecuador have moved more positions up the ranking.
The Balkan country is no longer EU's least competitive member state, as it is followed by Slovakia (71st), Romania (78th) and Greece (96th).
Bulgaria's previous best ranking was in 2010, when it was placed 71st.
The most significant factor for the country's improvement in terms of competitiveness is its macroeconomic environment, which is currently ranked 31st out of 144 countries.
Corruption and the inefficient government bureaucracy remain the most problematic factors for doing business in the country, followed by the inadequate supply of infrastructure.
Switzerland, for the fourth consecutive year, tops the overall rankings in The Global Competitiveness Report 2012-2013, released Wednesday by the World Economic Forum.
Singapore remains in second position and Finland in third position, overtaking Sweden (4th). These and other Northern and Western European countries dominate the top 10 with the Netherlands (5th), Germany (6th) and United Kingdom (8th). The United States (7th), Hong Kong (9th) and Japan (10th) complete the ranking of the top 10 most competitive economies.
Boyko Borissov, leader of GERB, defended the government’s progress on Bulgaria’s path to the eurozone
Bulgaria could adopt the euro as its official currency from January 1, 2026, if it successfully meets the necessary criteria for joining the eurozone
The municipal councils in Kozloduy and Krivodol have become the first in Bulgaria to implement dual pricing for municipal services, taxes, and fees
According to a recent survey by the European Investment Bank Group (EIB), nearly 80% of Bulgarian companies have taken steps to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions
Ukraine's parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, has passed a law allowing the purchase of two Russian-made nuclear reactors originally intended for Bulgaria's Belene Nuclear Power Plant
Bulgaria’s draft budget for 2024 raises questions about its realism and whether it is a mere strategy to appease the European Commission and the European Central Bank
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