In the first quarter of 2024, Bulgaria’s economy expanded by 0.4%, as per an expedited evaluation by the National Statistical Institute (NSI), a slight deceleration from the 0.5% growth witnessed in the final quarter of the preceding year. The primary drivers of economic growth during the first three months of the current year were a…
“Toplofikatsia Sofia”, the capital’s heating supply company, has proposed a significant reduction in the price of thermal energy starting from July 1. According to their application to the Energy and Water Regulatory Commission (EWRC), the company aims to lower the price per megawatt-hour to 97.78 leva without VAT, which represents a 29.11% decrease from the…
According to Dimitar Radev, the Governor of the Bulgarian National Bank (BNB), Bulgaria will not meet all the requirements for joining the Eurozone by the time the convergence report is released in June. Radev made this announcement during a conference organized by the Association of Honorary Consuls, which focused on Bulgaria’s Eurozone accession. Radev attributed…
The Bulgarian National Bank (BNB) has initiated a trial minting process for 8 million euro coins, as announced by the BNB Governor Dimitar Radev during a conference on the euro’s introduction. Additionally, Radev stated that euro banknotes tailored to local requirements were currently undergoing printing. Governor Radev provided further details, indicating that the total quantity…
The seaside resorts of Bulgaria are facing an urgent shortage of lifeguards and medical personnel, exacerbated by new regulations mandating a higher presence of medical specialists at rescue stations. This shortage is not only causing uncertainty for hotels and restaurants along the coast but has also been a longstanding issue during the summer months in…
Countries neighboring Estonia are working on legislation regulating the sale and consumption of alcohol. Lithuania and Finland are set to lift some alcohol sale restrictions, while Latvia has rejected a proposal to raise the legal drinking age. The Latvian Saeima supported several legislative amendments during their second reading that would help reduce alcohol consumption, but…
A recent national survey conducted by the Market Links agency reveals that nearly half of Bulgarians, constituting 47% of respondents, hold reservations regarding the anticipated benefits of Bulgaria’s adoption of the euro. The survey, conducted among 1007 individuals aged 18 and above between April 27 and May 9, indicates a significant segment of the population…