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

Chisinau, March 12

The chairperson of the parliamentary committee for Bulgarians abroad, Antoaneta Tsoneva and MP Ivaylo Mirchev (Democratic Bulgaria) arrive in the Moldovan region of Taraclia which is home to a large ethnic Bulgarian community. They meet with local government officials and the Bulgarian consul to the region, Angel Marinkov, to discuss local issues, the refugee flow from Ukraine and the situation of ethnic Bulgarians. The two MPs also go to Bolhrad, Ukraine, and take relief aid there.

Antalya, March 12

Bulgarian Prime Minister Kiril Petkov meets with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan; the two leaders participate in the second edition of the Diplomacy Forum. They discuss the goodneighbourly relations between the two countries and the shared wish to energize cooperation in the energy sector, in the economy in general, in infrastructure and defence. Earlier in the day, Petkov participates in a panel on the second day of the Diplomacy Forum. 

Sofia, March 12

The Union of Democratic Forces (UDF) party reelects Rumen Hristov as its leader.

Brussels, March 12

"Bulgaria is not anymore a soft country that has only balancing acts," Bulgarian Prime Minister Kiril Petkov says in an interview for POLITICO Europe. "We want everybody to see Bulgaria as a strong NATO member, EU member, not hedging, not unpredictable, speaking in one voice."

Sofia, March 13

Bulgarian Energy Minister Alexander Nikolov says in a televised interview that at this point, Bulgaria is not holding talks with Russia's Gazprom on a new long-term natural gas agreement because of the tense situation over the ongoing war in Ukraine. Negotiations can start in the second half of the year, but only provided the war has ended by that time, Nikolov specifies. Bulgaria's effective contract with Gazprom will expire at the end of 2022.

Sofia, March 13

The 11-member second group of the 30th Bulgarian Antarctic Expedition returns to Bulgaria after successfully achieving its two principal objectives: to build the foundations of a new research laboratory at the base and to implement seven scientific projects under the National Polar Research Programme, financed by the Ministry of Education and Science.

Sofia, March 13

The 7th National Meeting of GERB unanimously re-elects Boyko Borissov leader of the formerly ruling and now opposition party for a new four-year term. His nomination is approved by 943 votes. Borissov was informal leader of the party since its establishment on December 3, 2006 and has been its official chairperson since January 10, 2010.

Sofia, March 14 

Top officials of the specialized prosecution office (SPO) and representatives of the European Commission (EC) in charge of preparing the annual rule of law report on Bulgaria, have a video conference call. The call discusses SPO's work in countering high-level corruption and the bill on the proposed closing of the specialized units in the judicial power in Bulgaria.

Sofia, March 14

Aid provided to businesses to offset high electricity prices will remain available after March, it emerges after a meeting between Prime Minister Kiril Petkov and employer organizations. 

Sofia, March 14

Bulgarian Defence Minister Dragomir Zakov and Turkish Ambassador to Bulgaria Ailyn Sekizkok discuss bilateral relations in the field of defence.

Sofia, March 14

President Rumen Radev holds a working meeting with Defence Minister Dragomir Zakov, Chief of Defence Admiral Emil Eftimov, and Bulgarian Air Force Commander General Major Dimitar Petrov. Radev raises the issue of taking urgent measures to ensure the protection of Bulgarian airspace by Bulgarian fighter jets with Bulgarian crews. 

Brussels, March 14

The European Commission expects Bulgaria to refund another 28.7 million euro of the EU budget money it has received for co-financing the building of guesthouses. 

Sofia, March 14

Bulgarian Vice President Iliana Iotova confers with Lee Sang-hwa, Republic of Korea's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Public Diplomacy. They discuss deepening cooperation in high technology, tourism, education, culture and sports.

Sofia, March 14

Prime Minister Kiril Petkov talks to US Vice President Kamala Harris over the telephone. The conversation is initiated by Vice President Harris, who thanks Petkov and the Bulgarian Government for the humanitarian aid this country is providing to Ukraine, as well as for accepting people fleeing the war.

Sofia/Abu Dhabi, March 15

Bulgarian Ambassador to the UAE Bogdan Kolarov confers on H.E. Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh, UAE Minister of State, the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry's Golden Laurel Branch.

Bucharest, March 15

Bulgarian President Rumen Radev pays a working meeting to Bucharest. "Whatever the background, whatever the pretext for the war in Ukraine, nothing can justify the assault on the country's national sovereignty, the casualties, the destruction and the enormous suffering," says Radev at a press conference with Romanian President Klaus Iohannis.

Sofia, March 15

The Council of Europe must develop a set of tools to support Russians who oppose Vladimir Putin's regime, Hristo Ivanov tells delegates at an extraordinary plenary session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) in Strasbourg. "We need to send a message that we support the Russians who oppose Putin. This organization must develop a new set of tools to help these Russians so that they are not left alone," says Ivanov, who is the head of the Bulgarian delegation to PACE.

Sofia, March 15

Minister of Finance Assen Vassilev takes part in a regular meeting of the ECOFIN Council in Brussels which discusses the economic consequences of sanctions against Russia over its military aggression against Ukraine. "Bulgaria supports the sanctions imposed on the Russian Federation in all areas. We are ready to discuss the adoption of additional restrictions in order to end the war against the Ukrainian people," says Vassilev.

Sofia, March 15

The 16th Annual Business Meeting with the Government, organized by Capital weekly, takes place at Sofia Tech Park. The focus of the meeting is the crisis in Ukraine and its ramifications for Europe and Bulgaria. Speakers include Prime Minister Kiril Petkov, eight government ministers, Energy and Water Regulatory Commission Chair Stanislav Todorov, and political scientist Ivan Krastev.

Brussels, March 15

A spokesperson for the European Commission says that the Commission and the Bulgarian government have agreed a new extension of the assessment of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. "The assessment was to be finalized on March 15 after three extensions. The fourth extension brings us to April 15," says Spokesperson Veerle Nuyts.

Sofia, March 15

Health Minister Asena Serbezova participates in an extraordinary informal video conference of the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO). The only item on the agenda is EU's coordinated and solidarity response to the health consequences of the war in Ukraine.

Ruse, on the Danube, March 15

Prime Minister Kiril Petkov visits a border checkpoint in Ruse, which is one of the points where documents are issued to those fleeing the hostilities in Ukraine upon entering Bulgaria where he announces that Tuesday is the first day when the entire registration system for Ukrainian refugees is working in full coordination.

Sofia, March 16

The share of pessimists in Bulgaria is now higher than that of optimists, confidence in the Government is decreasing, and the first political force, Continue the Change is losing public support, show survey data from a Trend study.

Brussels, March 16

Minister of Defence Dragomir Zakov participates in an extraordinary meeting with his NATO counterparts dedicated to the war in Ukraine. Zakov says that the increased presence of NATO forces on the eastern flank is being prepared at the level of the entire Alliance.

Sofia, March 16

Bulgaria's Economy and Industry Ministry will approach the Council of Ministers with a proposal to adopt a decision declaring force majeure for all sectors, effective retroactively from February 24 to March 31, 2022, Economy and Industry Minister Korneliya Ninova tells  the National Assembly Economic Policy and Innovation Committee.

Sofia, March 16

Bulgarian President Rumen Radev holds a meeting with Israeli writer and politician Michael Bar-Zohar. Commenting on the rescue of Bulgarian Jews from concentration camps in 1943, which was the topic of discussion, Radev says that in the darkest hour in European history, the Second World War, a small nation rescued its Jewish community giving a lesson in humanism to the whole world.

Sofia, March 16-17

Prime Minister Kiril Petkov thanks visiting European Chief Prosecutor Laura Kovesi for their comprehensive discussion, which is held "in a very constructive spirit and with the joint ambition that we will work together to ensure that Bulgaria is not the venue of violations, corruption and any type of crimes related to EU funds". On the second day of her visit to Sofia, Kovesi meets with Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev, Justice Minister Nadezhda Yordanova and Interior Minister Boyko Rashkov.

Sofia, March 17 

The unemployment rate in 2021 was 5.3 per cent (5.5 per cent for men and 5.0 per cent for women),  according to the findings of a Labour Force Survey by Bulgaria's National Statistical Institute.

Sofia, March 17 

Boyko Borissov says that GERB advocates providing immediate support for Ukraine, and if the topic is raised in Parliament, the party will vote for it in a video conversation on Facebook with Ukrainian President (2014-2019) Petro Poroshenko.

Sofia, March 17

The Health Ministry says that the green certificate requirement is waived for all kinds of activities and events in Bulgaria as of Monday, March 21.

Sofia, March 17

Foreign Minister Teodora Genchovska holds a working breakfast with the ambassadors of the EU and NATO countries and the head of the European Commission Representation to Bulgaria. The participants discuss a wide range of matters, including multilateral cooperation, the situation in Ukraine and current developments in the Western Balkans.

Sofia, March 17

Bulgarian President Rumen Radev and his Polish counterpart Andrzej Duda discuss over the phone the threats that the war in Ukraine poses to this region and the millions of people looking to evade the conflict. To manage the migratory pressure from the growing number of Ukrainian refugees, a constant dialogue and coordinated effort from the Eastern European countries is required, the two heads of state concur.

Brussels/Sofia, March 17

Environment Minister Borislav Sandov takes part in the first EU Environment Council for this year. One of the main topics discussed by the EU environment ministers is the legislative proposals made by the European Commission concerning climate, which are part of the 'Fit for 55' legislative package. Minister Sandov confirms Bulgaria's commitment to work towards creating the necessary conditions for implementing the European Green Deal's priorities and objectives, as well as those of the European Climate Law. In the context of the war in Ukraine, the Green Deal is not a problem, but a solution, says Sandov. The Bulgarian Environment Minister confers with the head of the Directorate General for the Environment, Florika Fink-Hooijer. The two discuss Bulgaria's progress on fulfilling its commitments in the environmental sector in view of closing the infringement procedures initiated against this country. 

Sofia, March 17

The Energy Ministry proposes an increase of the state aid ceiling for non-household consumers of electricity from 250 to 300 leva/MWh as of April.

Sofia, March 17 

GERB party leader and former prime minister Boyko Borissov, former finance minister in Borissov's cabinet Vladislav Goranov, and former government PR and current GERB media adviser Sevdelina Arnaudova are detained by the police late in the evening for 24 hours as part of a large-scale law enforcement operation in connection with 120 cases of the European Public Prosecutor's Office in Bulgaria, which concern alerts about violations related to EU funds, public procurements, agricultural subsidies fraud in the construction sector, and COVID-19 recovery funds. Prime Minister Kiril Petkov writes in a Facebook post later in the day, "Noboby is above the law," without giving any further details. 

Sofia, March 18

The GERB-UDF parliamentary group announces in a statement from the rostrum of the National Assembly that they will focus their effort on holding early parliamentary elections as "the only way out of the deadlock". The decision is in response to the "lawlessness" they say reigns in the country. The group's statement comes hours after the arrest of GERB leader and former prime minister Boyko Borissov and other party members. GERB-UDF invite all Bulgarian citizens who hold democratic values to protest. Members of GERB and MPs of GERB-UDF themselves protest in front of the Council of Ministers building, demanding Borissov's immediate release and accusing the Interior Ministry of police arbitrariness.

Sofia, March 18 

Acting on a proposal by the competent Bulgarian authorities coordinated with Prime Minister Kiril Petkov, Bulgaria declares ten Russian diplomats accredited to this country personae non gratae. They are given 72 hours to leave Bulgaria. The Foreign Ministry says the competent authorities hold information that on Bulgarian territory, the Embassy officers were engaged in actions incompatible with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

Sofia, March 18 

The construction of the gas pipeline between Bulgaria and Greece will be completed at the end of June, Prime Minister Kiril Petkov tells reporters during an inspection of the construction of the Greece-Bulgaria interconnector by the village of Malko Kadievo near Stara Zagora, together with the Minister of Energy. Petkov points out that he has very good communication with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

Stara Zagora, South Central Bulgaria, March 18 

Approached by reporters, President Rumen Radev says that "anyone who makes the decision to provide weapons [to Ukraine], thus involving Bulgaria in the war, would have to be able to face the nation and explain the risks," and adds that the price is always paid by the people rather than their politicians.  Radev, who is Commander-in-Chief of the Bulgarian Armed Forces, believes that a potential decision to provide Ukraine with air-defence systems must first be approved by the National Assembly. Prime Minister Kiril Petkov, who is also in Stara Zagora Region, comments that sending weapons to Ukraine "cannot be a decision taken by the Prime Minister or the Council of Ministers [alone], but consensus must be achieved". He adds that so far no one from the US side has approached him requesting weapons. 

Sofia, March 18 

Vice President Iliana Iotova and the Rector of the Francophone University Agency (Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie, AUF), Prof. Slim Khalbous, discuss strengthening the role of Bulgaria and Bulgarian higher education establishments in French-speaking countries, as well as closer cooperation with universities in Africa and Asia.

Sofia, March 18

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin arrives on a two-day working visit at Bulgarian Defence Minister Dragomir Zakov's invitation. Austin's visit clearly shows that Bulgaria is a reliable NATO ally, Minister Zakov says after the two meet Bulgarian and US servicepersons who are taking part in a six-month Joint Training at the Novo Selo Training Area in Southeastern Bulgaria. Zakov describes the visit as "significant", adding that for the first time a Bulgarian battalion is training at Novo Selo, which will be under the operational command of the NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe. "Fears should not be instilled that we have allies on our soil, these are not foreign forces, but allied forces," Zakov says.

Sofia, March 18 

In a position in connection with a series of provocative and malicious anti-Bulgarian comments by politicians and public figures in the Republic of North Macedonia in recent days, the Foreign Ministry in Sofia expresses concern that these lead to a malicious campaign against Bulgaria, aimed at igniting anti-Bulgarian sentiments. What's even more concerning is that there are attempts at intentionally taking advantage of the tragic events in Ukraine, resulting from the Russian military aggression, the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry says.