site.btaWeekly Roundup of Political Events: February 12-18

Sofia, February 12

The right-wing Democrats for Strong Bulgaria (DSB) party re-elects leader Atanas Atanassov at its 17th national conference. The party reaffirms its participation in the government coalition as part of the Democratic Bulgaria coalition. As he sums up the party accomplishments in his report to the delegates, Atanassov says the party now has members of the national and the European Parliament and representatives in central and local government. He stresses that the complex government coalition is faced with problems in the energy sector, the economy, health care and foreign politics.

Sofia, February 12

The VMRO-Bulgarian National Movement party elects three chairpersons at an extraordinary congress: Angel Dzhambazki, Iskren Vesselinov and Alexander Sidi. Opening the congress, former party leader Krassimir Karakachanov says the country is going through hard times due to COVID and the economic crisis. Reviewing the past three years, he says that as part of the power-sharing coalition in the Boyko Borissov cabinet, VMRO kept a hard line which "prevented a setback in the relations with North Macedonia".

Sofia, February 12

Sofia Mayor Yordanka Fandakova suspends the controversial Lukov March - a torchlit procession which has been taking place annually in February since 2003, to commemorate Hristo Lukov, a popular military commander, also known for his close links to the Third Reich and his activity as leader of the far-right Union of Bulgarian National Legions. Earlier in the day, a counter-procession mottoed "No Nazis in the Streets" takes place in Sofia.

Sofia, February 12

Bulgaria's Foreign Ministry issued a travel advisory for Ukraine in view of the deteriorating situation in and around that country. It urged Bulgarian citizens who are on the territory of Ukraine to take measures to leave the country and those temporarily or permanently residing in Ukraine to register for the "Travel to...." service on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria.

Sofia, February 13

On instructions from Foreign Minister Teodora Genchovska, the Foreign Ministry sets up a crisis centre to monitoring the situation in and around Ukraine round the clock and is ready to put into action its evacuation protocol. So far neither Bulgaria's diplomatic mission in Ukraine nor the Foreign Ministry's leadership has been asked to evacuate Bulgarian citizens. Bulgaria joins the EU declaration, meaning that Sofia is not withdrawing its diplomatic presence from Ukraine and continues supporting its territorial integrity, the Foreign Ministry says.

Sofia, February 13

The VMRO-Bulgarian National Movement party issues a declaration saying that Bulgaria and the Republic of North Macedonia have a common historical and cultural heritage and this is their future course.  VMRO urges the governments and political organizations of Bulgaria and North Macedonia to form a federation between the two countries based on their common cultural and historical heritage and common geopolitical interests.

Sofia, February 14

Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister for EU Funds and Minister of Finance Assen Vassilev heads a delegation on a working visit to the United States. On the delegation are Energy Minister Alexander Nikolov and top officials from the Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant, Bulgargaz and Bulgartransgaz. In Washington, DC, the Bulgarian delegation have meetings in the White House, the Department of State, the Department of Commerce, and the Department of Energy. They also confer with representatives of the US Trade and Development Agency, the Export-Import Bank of the United States, and other institutions. On the agenda of the talks are energy diversification, energy efficiency, smart green technologies and climate change. They hold talks with business representatives during a meeting organized by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the American Chamber of Commerce in Bulgaria, and with officials from the American-Central European Business Association (ACEBA) and the U.S. Nuclear Energy Institute. The visit of the Bulgarian delegation takes it to Pittsburgh, Houston, and Dallas.

Sofia, February 14

President Rumen Radev congratulates his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier on his re-election.  "I believe that amid the changed global environment, our countries will continue, in the spirit of solidarity, to strengthen and develop their strategic partnership," Radev's letter reads.

Dobrich, northeastern Bulgaria, February 14

The Turkish campaign of the Panamanian-flagged ship Vera Su, which was stranded off the Bulgarian coast in September 2021, receives a three-year suspended sentence after the court in this northeastern Bulgarian town approves his settlement with the prosecution service.  

Brussels/Strasbourg, February 15

The European Parliament refuses to waive the immunity of MEP Elena Yoncheva. The decision is taken in a secret vote, 418-264, with 11 abstentions. In 2019, the Bulgarian prosecution service requested that Yoncheva  is stripped of immunity on money laundering charges. The EP report states that Yoncheva had been heard by EP's legal affairs committee and that according to her the request to be stripped of immunity aims to undermine her activity as a politician and MEP.

Chisinau, February 15

The Embassy of the Republic of Moldova in Bulgaria presents a virtual exhibition entitled "30 Years of Bilateral Diplomatic Relations" to mark the anniversary in February.

Sofia, February 15

President Rumen Radev convenes a sitting of the Consultative Council on National Security to discuss risks and threats to the national security of Bulgaria, the state of the Armed Forces, and necessary measures.

Brussels, February 16 and 17

Bulgarian Defence Minister Stefan Yanev takes part in the two-day meetings of NATO Ministers of Defence held in NATO's HQ discussing the challenges to security in Europe with a focus on the situation in and around Ukraine, and the advancement of the defence and deterrence potential of the Alliance. Speaking to reporters, Yanev says that by June it will be clear which NATO forces will join military exercises in Bulgaria for a more intensive preparation. "Bulgaria is part of the decision making and part of NATO. Everything is done consciously in consensus with the allies," Yanev says. Taking part in a North Atlantic Council in Defence Ministers’ session with Georgia and Ukraine, Yanev reaffirms Bulgaria's support to Ukraine and Georgia and their territorial integrity and sovereignty in the internationally recognized borders.

Sofia, February 16

Members of vulnerable social groups have received 3,025 free legal consultations under a project of the Justice Ministry's National Office for Legal Assistance (NOLA), it transpires during a meeting between Deputy Justice Minister Borislav Ganchev and Zlatina Yovcheva, the newly elected President of the Bar Association of Stara Zagora. In many cases, the beneficiaries live below the poverty line and seek advice on parents' rights, child support, welfare benefits, utility services, and domestic violence. Deputy Justice Minister Ganchev says his ministry is working on a domestic violence bill together with a wide range of institutions and NGOs. He vows to monitor the work on the Stara Zagora project and provide assistance.

Sofia, February 16

The Executive Bureau of the Bulgarian Socialist Party National Council releases an official position reiterating that the party strictly adheres to the Agreement on Joint Governance of Bulgaria 2021-2025 in the part relevant to energy. The text of the Agreement does not preclude the construction of Belene N-plant, providing an analysis shows the viability of the project, the position says, and calls on the coalition partners to abide by the commitments undertaken. The position comes in response to repeated public statements of Prime Minister Kiril Petkov related to the n-plant, in which he says that it will not be built.

Sofia, February 16 

The Counter-Corruption and Unlawfully Acquired Assets Forfeiture Commission is investigating Deputy Minister of Environment Toma Belev for conflict of interest. Besides him, the executive director of Kozloduy NPP Nasko Mihov and his deputy Alexander Nikolov are being checked. The signal against Belev is based on the fact that he remains chairman of the management board of the Association of Parks in Bulgaria. The proceedings for conflict of interest against the management of the nuclear power plant are based on a signal for concluding contracts with companies indirectly related to them.

Sofia, February 16

The government sets up a Council for Civil Society Development which is to be chaired by Kalina Konstantinova, Deputy Prime Minister for Good Governance. The new Council will work on the passage of a volunteering bill which has been discussed for many years now but is yet to be enacted. Other areas of work will be support to the state in the elaboration and implementation of policies in support to the development of civil society, creation of an adequate public model for financing of civic organizations so that they can enhance the support they provide to people, and a model for sharing of the expertise of the civic organizations who come up with workable studies and recommendations which fail to reach the relevant institutions. 

Sofia, February 17

President Rumen Radev and Environment and Water Minister Borislav Sandov discuss options for cooperation in the field of climate diplomacy and environmental protection. In Radev's words, in the area of ecology, Bulgarian citizens expect cleaner air, protection of biodiversity, no more barbaric felling in forests and water pollution, and conservation of Bulgaria's nature. Thus far only fictitious environmental policies have been conducted, he argues and outlines as a challenge the handling of the European Commission's infringement procedures against Bulgaria in the environment sector. Other topics discussed include the transition to green economy, and fighting climate change.

Sofia, February 17

In response to the Russian Duma's move for recognition of the self-declared Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics as independent and a note verbale on the matter received from the Ukrainian Embassy in Sofia, Bulgaria’s Foreign Ministry states that: Bulgaria consistently supports Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders, including its territorial waters; Bulgaria supports Ukraine's European perspective; Bulgaria does not recognize and condemns the unlawful annexation of Crimea.

Svilengrad, February 17

Transport and Communications Minister Nikolay Sabev and Turkish Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Adil Karaismailoglu discuss ways to ease cross-border traffic between the two countries and to cut the lines of waiting lorries. Other topics on the agenda include the liberalization of the market for permits for cargo and rail transport, and redirecting a portion of the cargo carried by road to maritime and rail transport. The two sides sign a joint statement.

Plovdiv, February 17

President Rumen Radev tells reporters that the government should ensure that politics and geopolitics do not kill the Bulgarian economy. What is needed are urgent, reliable, sustainable measures and solutions, not just good intentions, the head of State says. He also urges the government to approve the construction of Belene NPP.

Toulouse, February 17

Bulgarian Innovation and Growth Minister Daniel Lorer takes part in an informal EU Competitiveness Council Meeting on Space to discuss space traffic management and the future satellite-based connectivity system proposed by the EU. Minister Lorer tells the meeting that Bulgaria supports the new initiatives and insists that all EU members should be able to participate in commercial and research projects under the programmes.

Brussels, February 17

Prime Minister Kiril Petkov participates in his first meeting with the government and parliament leaders of the EU Member States. Petkov is in Brussels to take part in the European Union - African Union summit. Petkov discusses with French President Emmanuel Macron Bulgaria’s plans to clean up corruption, to improve the judiciary, and options for cooperation in infrastructure. Macron welcomes the constructive Sofia-Skopje dialogue.

Sofia, February 18

President Rumen Radev calls on the government to deal urgently with bread production problems. Radev says that urgent measures are needed, though not all of them have to do with direct financial support. There is more to it than money, such as how to tighten control and fight the grey economy more effectively, Radev says.

Sofia, February 18

The Environment and Water Ministry says it is working to remove irregularities which have given rise to two decisions of the EC to open infringement procedures against Bulgaria related to protection against invasive alien species and management of flood risks. The EC infringement procedures against Bulgaria in the area of environment are 18 and the team of the Environment Ministry has a clear plan how to resolve six of them in the first six months in the tenure of the new government, and a total of 12 by the end of the year.

Brussels, February 18

During the two-day summit of European Union and African Union leaders in Brussels, Prime Minister Kiril Petkov tells journalists that for the time being, Bulgaria is still not trusted regarding the matter of its joining the Schengen Area, adding that this country must regain its credibility. GERB-UDF MP and former interim Foreign Affairs Minister Daniel Mitov says that Bulgaria has upheld all the criteria, and it is impossible for institutions such as the EP, the EC, the other Schengen member states supporting Bulgaria, to all have been deceived at the same time, as the Bulgarian PM claims. Petkov meets with the leaders of Germany, France, Egypt, and Rwanda to discuss matters regarding economic partnership.