Новости за 16.12.2025

The European Commission has proposed a significant change to its previously planned rules on new car sales, allowing vehicles with internal combustion engines to remain on the EU market beyond 2035. Under the revised approach, petrol and diesel cars, as well as hybrids, will still be permitted, provided manufacturers offset their remaining emissions through alternative measures such as the use of low-carbon steel produced in the EU and renewable fuels. Until now, EU legislation required all new... Читать дальше...

The Bulgarian Socialist Party is facing a deep internal crisis after the entire Executive Bureau submitted its resignation, while party chairman Atanas Zafirov chose to remain in office. The move affects the party’s closest leadership circle but does not include the chairman himself. The developments follow weeks of nationwide protests against the governing model and the subsequent resignation of Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov’s cabinet, in which the BSP was a coalition partner....

The countries of the European Union located along the Eastern Flank are intensifying coordination at a moment described as decisive for the continent’s security. Speaking in Helsinki at the first Eastern Flank Summit, Bulgarian Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov said the participating states have declared a clear and firm commitment to joint action aimed at strengthening the defense preparedness of the EU’s eastern borders. The meeting brought together leaders from eight member states, who discussed... Читать дальше...

On Wednesday, early temperatures will be between minus 5°C and 3°C, with the capital starting the day at about minus 3°C. In the first part of the day, fog and low cloud cover will form over plains and basins. Elsewhere across the country, the weather will be predominantly sunny, with occasional patches of mid- and high-level cloud....

As of 1 January 2026, Bulgaria will formally adopt the euro, marking the end of the Bulgarian lev as the country’s official currency. In line with this transition, the European Central Bank (ECB) will remove the lev from its list of reference exchange rates against other currencies. After the euro is introduced, the lev will no longer be included among the currencies for which the ECB publishes daily exchange rate data....

A recent national survey conducted by Alpha Research between 5 and 12 December 2025 shows that a significant portion of Bulgarians are seeking new political alternatives. The study, which included 1,000 adult respondents from across the country through face-to-face tablet interviews, reveals that 40.3% of citizens want a new party to emerge on the political scene, around which a future government could be formed....

Wizz Air, one of Bulgaria’s leading low-cost carriers, has announced the launch of direct flights between Sofia and Warsaw (Modlin). The new service will operate four times weekly on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. Tickets are now available for purchase through the airline’s website and mobile app. ...

Seven candidates have formally submitted their documents to compete for the position of European Prosecutor representing Bulgaria. The applicants include Mihaela Raydovska, Dimitar Belichev, Svetlana Shopova-Koleva, Plamen Petkov, Ivaylo Iliev, Desislava Pironeva, and Boyko Atanasov. The submission window ran from November 24 to December 12, with all applications handed in to the Ministry of Justice. ...

Parts of Bulgaria’s Socialist Party (BSP) are calling for the resignation of party leader Atanas Zafirov and the immediate convening of a congress. Zafirov currently remains at the helm of the party, but internal pressure has been mounting since the resignation of the government, in which he served as Deputy Prime Minister. Several party structures have publicly demanded both a congress and a leadership change, signaling growing dissatisfaction within the ranks....

The parliamentary committee responsible for budget matters approved an extension of the State Budget Law for the upcoming three months. The decision passed with 13 votes in favor, four against, and one abstention. This temporary measure ensures the continuity of state payments while the National Assembly prepares for a regular budget for 2026. ...

Yordan Tsonev, deputy chairman of the parliamentary group of DPS-New Beginning, declared during consultations with President Rumen Radev that the 51st National Assembly has effectively ended its political life and that early elections are necessary. Speaking on behalf of his party, Tsonev emphasized that while they will support the extension of the 2025 budget, their priority remains preparing for new elections and ensuring transparency in the electoral process. At the start of the meeting, President... Читать дальше...

The US military carried out lethal strikes on three vessels operated by designated terrorist organisations in international waters, killing eight alleged narco-terrorists, US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) announced on Tuesday. According to a post by SOUTHCOM, the strikes took place on Monday under the direction of US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth as part of Operation Southern Spear. The operation was conducted by Joint Task Force Southern Spear in the Eastern Pacific. ...

Bulgaria’s “Revival” party has ruled out participating in any attempts to form a new government under the 51st National Assembly, reiterating its demand for early elections in March. Party leader Kostadin Kostadinov, accompanied by MPs Tsoncho Ganev, Yordan Todorov, and Svetoslav Todorov, met with President Rumen Radev at the presidency on Dondukov 2 street to discuss the political situation and potential cabinet formation. During the consultations, Radev acknowledged the seriousness of the socio-economic... Читать дальше...

US President Donald Trump on Monday (local time) signed an Executive Order officially designating illicit fentanyl and its core precursor chemicals as weapons of mass destruction (WMD), marking a significant escalation in the federal government’s efforts to tackle the opioid crisis and target cartels and foreign networks responsible for the drug trade. According to a White House Fact Sheet, the Executive Order directs the US Attorney General to immediately pursue criminal charges, sentencing enhancements... Читать дальше...

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has indicated that the mass shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach was likely driven by “Islamic State ideology.” The attack, which targeted a Jewish Hanukkah festival, claimed the lives of 15 people and injured dozens more. Albanese said that while there is no evidence the father and son responsible were part of an organized IS cell, their actions appeared motivated by radical Islamist ideology. ...

With only days left before the euro replaces the lev, queues have begun forming across Bulgaria, particularly in front of coin-counting and exchange machines. Many people are trying to get rid of accumulated lev coins, especially stotinki, often stored in bags or even sacks, according to BGNES. One popular solution has been coin exchange machines located in large shopping centers....

The Prime Minister of North Macedonia, Hristijan Mickoski, has stated unequivocally that his government will not initiate constitutional amendments until conditions set by Skopje are met by both the European Union and Bulgaria. His comments come amid renewed discussions on the country’s stalled EU accession process. Under the negotiating framework unanimously approved by all EU member states, North Macedonia is required to amend its Constitution before formal accession talks can begin....

In November 2025, Bulgaria recorded an annual inflation rate of 5.2 percent, according to the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Monthly inflation for the same period reached 0....

Sofia Municipality has unveiled a detailed plan to connect the city with Vitosha Nature Park through four dedicated pedestrian and bicycle corridors. The concept, prepared by the municipal enterprise "Sofiaplan" as part of the broader "Vision for Vitosha" initiative launched by Mayor Vasil Terziev, aims to integrate the urban environment with the mountain while minimizing ecological impact. The plan combines environmental analysis, infrastructure proposals, and an actionable roadmap for priority routes. Читать дальше...

Michal Horvath, chief economist at the Slovak National Bank and executive director responsible for the institution’s monetary policy, emphasized that the adoption of the euro has acted as a stabilizing anchor through several major crises. Speaking in an interview with BNR, he noted that Slovakia joined the euro in 2009, still reeling from the fallout of the Lehman Brothers collapse, and years before then-ECB Governor Mario Draghi’s famous pledge to do “whatever it takes” to preserve the single currency, which reassured financial markets. Читать дальше...