Ukraine: state budget receives funds for stocking water bodies from commercial fishing auctions

For the first time the state budget of Ukraine has received funds for stocking water bodies from auctions for commercial fishing. Previously, only local budgets received this money. This was announced by Vitalii Koval, Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food. According to him, the new budget programme “Measures for the introduction of aquatic bioresources into…

Bulgaria: housing loans continue to surge

Despite the measures imposed by the Bulgarian National Bank (BNB), housing lending in Bulgaria continues to rise rapidly. In November 2024 commercial banks approved housing loans totaling 923 million leva, marking an increase of nearly 5% from October 2024 and 22.5% compared to November 2023, according to BNB data. This follows a similar upward trend…

Bulgaria: increase in Israeli tourists is expected after Gaza ceasefire

Israeli Ambassador to Bulgaria Yossi Levi-Sfari expects an increase in Israeli tourists to Bulgaria following the recent Gaza ceasefire agreement. He emphasized that Israel’s citizens preferred nearby and friendly destinations for their vacations, and Bulgaria fit this description perfectly. The diplomat pointed to the long-standing historical ties between the two nations and noted that multiple…

Bulgaria: 2028 is seen as realistic for Eurozone entry amid economic and political challenges

Bulgaria’s potential membership in the Eurozone continues to generate mixed messages, influenced by coalition politics and unmet criteria. According to Simeon Dyankov (deputy prime minister and minister of finance from 2009 to 2013), the chance of entering the Eurozone until January 2026 is negligible. Dyankov expressed skepticism that the coalition led by Temenuzhka Petkova could…

Bulgaria: country awaits price stability milestone to seek eurozone readiness report

Bulgaria will request a convergence report from the European Commission regarding its readiness to join the Eurozone once the country fulfills the price stability criterion, according to Finance Minister Temenuzhka Petkova. She explained that while Bulgaria meets most of the required criteria for eurozone membership, the sole remaining hurdle is related to price stability. Eurostat…