Europe Bulgaria Political chaos has created a media vacuum in which citizens are vulnerable to disinformation and Kremlin-led narratives proliferate; with highest rate of news avoidance and lowest media literacy in Europe, a better enforcement of existing rules is needed
Europe Bulgaria A sharp rise in counterfeit banknotes circulating has been registered, with the second quarter of 2025 seeing a record of fakes circulating, especially in the 100 leva bills, as Bulgaria stands on the verge of adopting the euro
Europe Bulgaria Admirers of traditional Bulgarian carpet craftsmanship gathered for the "Iglika Kilim Fest," a celebration that turned the local meadows into an open-air museum of kilim, antique hand-woven rugs; 965 rugs were displayed across a ten-acre area
Europe Bulgaria Centrist, anti-corruption political party We Continue the Change is facing unprecedented challenges, with its key figures targeted by institutions, potentially leaving pro-Russian nationalists as the only ‘opposition’ left in Bulgaria
Europe Bulgaria Young healthcare professionals protesting for higher pay could easily be replaced by foreign medics 'happy to work for $500 a month', said MP Toshko Yordanov, sparking controversy and drawing criticism
Europe Bulgaria 18th Sofia Pride was held in Knyaz Alexander I Square with the theme “We are people, not propaganda” in response to growing rhetoric that presents LGBTI rights as a threat; organisers remind that behind every identity and cause stand real individuals
Europe Bulgaria A convergence report on Bulgaria’s readiness to adopt the Euro from 2026 has been issued by the European Commission, while over 100 anti-Eurozone demonstrations were held, claiming that changing the Lev would represent a loss of national identity
Europe Bulgaria Bulgarians should be allowed to vote on whether the country ditches the lev in favour of the euro, according to President Rumen Radev; critics say the proposed plebiscite is more about his post-presidency political ambitions
Europe Bulgaria Illegally-built Roma homes in Sofia have been flattened despite European Court of Human Rights ruled demolition shouldn't proceed until a legal challenge is resolved; The 2016 decision to demolish follows Spatial Planning Act and locals were notified
Europe Bulgaria Nationalist and anti-fascist marches were held in Sofia on the same day: far-right factions gathered to commemorate controversial general Hristo Lukov in the annual so-called Lukov March while a “No Nazis on our streets” demonstration was held earlier
Europe Bulgaria With house prices in Bulgaria's ten largest cities having risen by 25-26% over the past two years, more and more people are buying real estate, with or without loans, fearing that house prices will rise further after the country joins the Eurozone
Europe Bulgaria Bulgaria had the highest total fertility rate in the EU in 2023 with 1,81 live births per woman, followed by France (1,66) and Hungary (1,55), according to Eurostat data released on Friday 7 March 2024
Europe Bulgaria Bulgaria's Central Energy Repair Base is carrying out repairs to the Pljevlja thermal power plant, Montenegro's only coal-fired plant, which generates about a third of the country's electricity and plays a key role in the energy infrastructure