Politics
News on Bulgaria’s domestic and foreign policy, political parties, institutions, elections, and legislative initiatives.
A condemnatory sentence against a prominent representative of the Bulgarian community in North Macedonia has provoked a sharp reaction from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria defines the verdict of the Basic Court in Bitola against Ljupčo Georgievski as categorically unacceptable, stressing that this is another violation of the rights of Bulgarians in North Macedonia. The authorities in Skopje are accused of deliberately creating an atmosphere of intolerance and stigmatization of the Bulgarian community.
The police organized training to combat child crime.
The main directorate "National Police" conducted training for employees, focused on good practices for inter-institutional cooperation, work with unaccompanied foreign children, and the psychological aspects of aggressive behavior in children. The lecturers were experts from various institutions, including the Institute of Psychology - Ministry of Interior, the State Agency for Child Protection, and UNICEF.
The Bulgarian government is accelerating the preparations for membership in the OECD.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is organizing a meeting of the Interdepartmental Coordination Mechanism, where the progress of Bulgaria's accession to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development is being discussed. OECD representatives confirm the possibility of an invitation for membership in 2026, provided that Bulgaria fulfills the remaining requirements.
The Minister of Internal Affairs calls for changes in police practices after a tragic incident
The Minister of Interior Daniel Mitov held an emergency meeting with the leadership of the Regional Police Directorate in Varna to discuss the issues of police misconduct and lack of discipline among the uniformed personnel. Mitov emphasized that police officers are not just people in uniform, but representatives of the state, and that their negligence or rudeness undermine public trust in institutions. He supported the wish of Yavor Georgiev's mother for a new autopsy and stated that no one trains officers to act in the manner shown in the recording of Yavor's arrest.
The Bulgarian Parliament unanimously supports the European integration of North Macedonia.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria, Georgi Georgiev, officially informed his counterpart from North Macedonia about the decision of the National Assembly, which confirms the country's commitment to the European path of the Western Balkans. Deputy Minister Elena Shekerletova handed the decision to the Ambassador of North Macedonia in Sofia, emphasizing the broad consensus in Bulgaria on this issue.
Burgas and Reykjavik - Cultural partners in strengthening international relations
A cultural delegation from the Municipality of Burgas visited Iceland within the framework of a cultural cooperation project. Representatives of the two maritime cities exchanged valuable experience and inspiration for the development of cultural policy. The meetings and initiatives underscored the importance of culture as a driving force for strengthening international relations.
Experts are investigating a phishing attack posing as the National Health Insurance Fund.
Employees of the Cybercrime Directorate at the General Directorate of the National Police are working on signals of withdrawn funds from bank cards as a result of a phishing campaign that is being distributed in the form of emails in the name of the National Health Insurance Fund. Cyber experts warn users to be cautious when providing personal data and banking information.
The European Commission will propose greater flexibility in the military procurement of the Member States.
The European Commissioner for Defence Andrius Kubilius announced that the European Commission will propose next week greater flexibility for the governments of the Member States in military procurement, as well as simplifying access to European funding.
The new ambassador of Peru presents his credentials in Bulgaria.
The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria received the copies of the credentials of the new Ambassador of Peru. The two discussed the state and prospects for the development of Bulgarian-Peruvian relations, including opportunities for intensifying political dialogue and strengthening cooperation in areas such as tourism, investment, culture and education.
Strengthening the long-standing ties between Bulgaria and Chile
The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria Nikolay Pavlov held a meeting with the newly appointed Ambassador of Chile Julio Bravo. The two discussed deepening the bilateral partnership, including upcoming political consultations and the prospects for the development of relations between the European Union and Chile.
Minister Mitov discussed with US officials the progress of Bulgaria towards a visa-free regime with the USA.
Minister of Interior Daniel Mitov held meetings with representatives of the US Department of Homeland Security and the US Bureau of Diplomatic Security. The main topic of the discussions was the progress of Bulgaria towards inclusion in the US Visa Waiver Program, as well as cooperation on security issues and the fight against human trafficking and illegal migration.
Minister Mitov and the Deputy Director of the FBI discussed the new security challenges
The Minister of Internal Affairs Daniel Mitov and the Deputy Director of the FBI Daniel Bongino held a meeting, where they discussed the common challenges facing the Euro-Atlantic security system, stemming from the changed geopolitical situation. The conversation included topics such as cybersecurity, the fight against drug trafficking, and joint training.
The Titans' Battle: How Trump and Musk Can Harm Each Other
The tension between President Donald Trump and tech magnate Elon Musk is escalating, with the two potentially using various means to harm each other. Musk may direct his financial resources against Trump, embroil him in scandals, and use his companies to create inconveniences for the administration. In turn, Trump has levers of power that he can use to limit Musk's business ventures, initiate investigations against him, and revoke his access to classified information.
Minister Mitov and Director Murphy discussed the strengthening of cooperation between the Ministry of Interior and the DEA in the fight against drug trafficking.
The Minister of Internal Affairs Daniel Mitov and the Acting Director of the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Robert Murphy held a meeting in Washington, where they discussed the intensification of joint efforts to counter the production and distribution of drugs, including the dangerous fentanyl. The two discussed opportunities for training Bulgarian officials and technical support for the police.
Border Police demonstrate the use of drones for guarding the maritime border
The General Directorate "Border Police" and the European Border and Coast Guard Agency - Frontex conducted a demonstration near Sozopol for tactical border surveillance with unmanned aerial vehicles. The aim of the pilot project is to evaluate the effectiveness of drones in improving security and response to illegal activities at the border.