Bulgaria’s banking sector is bracing for an increase in non-performing loans (NPLs), as the cost of covering potential bad debts has nearly doubled in 2024. According to the Bulgarian National Bank (BNB), the provisions for impairment of financial assets reached 578 million leva as of the end of November 2024, a significant rise compared to…
A new train route between Vilnius and Tallinn was launched on January 6, extending the Vilnius-Riga service that had been running for over a year now. Rail operators from the three Baltic countries – LTG Link, Vivi and Elron – have aligned their train schedules to make it possible for passengers to travel from Vilnius…
Starting from January 1, travelers with children no longer need to provide declarations of consent from absent parents when crossing into Greece and Romania, as announced by Chief Commissioner Anton Zlatanov, Director of the Border Police. This change applies to travel to these two countries, following the removal of land border checks between Bulgaria, Romania…
According to the State Treasury Service, the general fund of the state budget received UAH 2,177 billion in 2024. Among the payments controlled by the tax and customs authorities, the following main revenues were received: – UAH 466.1 billion – value added tax on goods imported into the customs territory of Ukraine; – UAH 271.1…
In 2024, the European Union became the largest donor of financial assistance to Ukraine, having provided $17.3 billion under the Ukraine Facility instrument. The relevant statement was made by the Finance Ministry. “The European Union provided Ukraine with the largest amount of financial assistance under the Ukraine Facility for 2024-2027. The total amount of support…
The Bulgarian economy faces a significant workforce shortage, with over 250,000 vacancies across various sectors. The most acute deficits are found in construction and healthcare, where there is a lack of specialized professionals and managerial staff. As a result, businesses are bracing for rising labor costs as they compete to retain qualified workers. Companies are…
While Lithuania has reported a rise in tax evasion by foreign nationals using platform apps to make a living, the issue is not, authorities say, as major in Estonia, thanks in part to a tightening of regulation. Estonia’s efforts to address tax evasion by platform workers are ongoing, but undeclared wages still result in EUR…