Bulgaria's Hotel Sector Faces Workforce Shortages and High Taxes Ahead of 2025 Season
Veselin Danev, chairman of the Bulgarian Hotel Association, highlighted a major issue in Bulgaria’s tourism sector: a significant decline in the workforce
Bulgaria does not view mandatory tax measures in corporate taxation as a path to boosting competitiveness, stated Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Ludmila Petkova before the Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN) meeting in Brussels.
Petkova highlighted that Bulgaria carefully reviewed the measures proposed in the report by Mario Draghi, including tax breaks, clean energy credits, and incentives for research and development. The Finance Ministry clarified that while Bulgaria backs initiatives aimed at reducing administrative burdens, streamlining procedures, and encouraging cross-border investments, the country insists that tax policy independence is essential for fostering each member state's unique economic and social goals.
The Ministry's statement added that Bulgaria sees tax harmonization as just one possible approach to increasing EU-wide competitiveness and believes that other methods should also be explored.
At the ECOFIN gathering, members agreed on a legislative package addressing VAT in the digital age, intended to tackle VAT fraud, assist businesses, and encourage digitalization, according to the Finance Ministry's release.
Additionally, Petkova held discussions with Polish Finance Minister Andrzej Domanski, who pledged Poland’s support for Bulgaria’s efforts to join the Eurozone and offered organizational assistance in the accession process.
Bulgaria has officially started its preparations to assume the presidency of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR)
Ahead of the upcoming Three Seas Initiative Summit in Warsaw, Bulgarian President Rumen Radev held a telephone conversation with Polish President Andrzej Duda
The European Commission has highlighted the significant economic benefits of Bulgaria and Romania’s full integration into the Schengen Area
The European Commission has issued fines totaling €700 million to U.S. tech giants Apple and Meta
Christo Grozev, a Bulgarian investigative journalist, testified before the European Parliament's special committee for the protection of European democracy
On April 16, Bulgaria formally requested the European Commission to modify its Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP) in line with Article 21 of the Recovery and Resilience Mechanism (RRM) Regulation
Google Street View Cars Return to Bulgaria for Major Mapping Update
Housing Prices Soar in Bulgaria’s Major Cities as Demand and Supply Strain Increase