Freedom Struggles: Bulgaria Stuck Two Decades Behind in Global Index
The 2024 Human Freedom Index (HFI), compiled by the Cato Institute and the Canadian Fraser Institute, evaluates personal and economic freedoms across 165 countries
In a significant affirmation of Bulgaria's path towards Eurozone accession, European Commissioner for Economy Paolo Gentiloni has confirmed the European Commission's support for Bulgaria's admission to the Eurozone in 2025. The confirmation came during a meeting with Bulgaria's acting Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Lyudmila Petkova, who is currently on a two-day visit to Brussels, according to reports from the Finance Ministry.
In the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Petkova underscored the caretaker government's priorities, emphasizing the ongoing efforts to fulfill the necessary criteria for joining the Eurozone and the implementation of the country's Recovery and Sustainability Plan.
Petkova also outlined Bulgaria's intentions to execute the measures outlined in the second tranche of payments and to update the Recovery and Sustainability Plan, particularly focusing on the REPowerEU chapter. As part of these efforts, a meeting is scheduled for the following day with the leadership of the Working Group on Recovery and Sustainability from the European Commission.
The European Commission's support for Bulgaria's Eurozone accession in 2025 signals a significant step forward for the country's economic integration with the European Union, providing a boost to Bulgaria's aspirations for enhanced economic stability and growth.
Preliminary data from Frontex indicate a sharp 38% decrease in irregular border crossings into the EU in 2024, bringing figures to their lowest level since 2021, when migration was still influenced by the COVID pandemic. Despite ongoing migration pressure
Switzerland has agreed to join the EU’s Military Mobility Initiative, a project designed to streamline the movement of military personnel and equipment across EU member states
The European Union is increasingly concerned that the president-elect, Donald Trump, might reverse key policies and sanctions implemented by President Joe Biden
From January 1, 2025, Germany has introduced two important updates that will benefit students and job seekers
The latest European Commission survey reveals a decline in both economic and consumer sentiment across the European Union, with Bulgaria showing a similar trend by the end of 2024
The Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) in the Eurozone rose by 2.4% year-over-year (YoY) in December, up from a 2.2% increase in November
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