Europe Bulgaria The shadow economy remains high, at 33% and Bulgaria shows the highest tolerance for the shadow economy compared to the rest of the European Union according to a study by the Institute of Philosophy and Sociology of Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
Europe Bulgaria The cost of driving courses will rise even further, with prices exceeding 2.000 leva (1.000 euro); Yonko Ivanov, president of the Union of Car and Motorcycle Instructors, explained that they must adapt to European standards and technological advances
Europe Bulgaria In December, registered unemployment in Bulgaria reached a record low, falling below 150.000 for the first time, marking a registered unemployment rate of 5,23%
Europe Bulgaria Encroachments in Bulgarian forest areas decreased by over 60% in 2024 compared to 2023, said the Ministry of Agriculture and Food; 631.000 inspections were carried out in 2024
Europe Bulgaria In the historic town of Koprivshtitsa, 591 songbirds of a protected species died due to stress caused by fireworks on New Year's Eve, environmentalists from 'Green Balkans' reported
Europe Bulgaria In the Justice and Home Affairs Council of the European Union the last vote took place for Bulgaria's full entry into the Schengen area; the vote established the abolition of land controls as of 1 January 2025
Europe Bulgaria The draft budget for 2025 foresees an increase in funds for education from 4,1% to 4,8% of the country's gross domestic product, +0,7% compared to last year
Europe Bulgaria Foreign direct investment recorded a positive net inflow of €1,24bn in the first nine months of 2024, equivalent to 1,2% of the GDP, according to data from the Bulgarian National Bank, a decrease of 63,3% compared to the same period in 2023
Europe Bulgaria General Bulgarian car fleet shows an ageing trend, with over 70% of the vehicles on the road being over 15 years old, and only 4,6% of cars less than five years old
Europe Bulgaria Belene Island Foundation, an NGO, wants to honour with a memorial the 15.000 people considered enemies of the communist regime who were interned in Persin, many of whom died as a result of forced labour
Europe Bulgaria An additional agreement with Skoda will be signed for the purchase of five new electric trains to expand the railway fleet
Europe Bulgaria In the first half of the year, Sofia recorded a 12% increase in tourist arrivals compared to the same period last year; the number of registered overnight stays also increased by 10%, with almost 60% of foreign visitors
Europe Bulgaria Speeding remains the most common offence, with 302.949 violations recorded in Sofia this year, over 32.000 more than the previous year