Bulgaria
North Macedonia vote may delay move to free EU impasse
Upcoming elections may revolve around the constitutional amendments Bulgaria requires for continuing EU accession talks
North MacedoniaAustria still stalls Bulgaria-Romania Schengen deal
Vienna’s reiterated demands dash hopes in Sofia and Bucharest of partial admission into the Schengen zone
AustriaBulgaria will stop refining Russian crude in March
Lukoil has been importing and refining extra quantities of Russian crude in Bulgaria to circumvent the EU’s ban
BulgariaRightward shift may not help Bulgaria’s Socialists
Leader of fading Socialists rails against “extreme liberalism” as she sides her party with right-wing nationalists
BulgariaProspects for Black Sea security in 2024
Russia’s naval superiority in the region is in doubt as its fleet is being eliminated by Ukrainian missiles and drones
RussiaRiot will test, not end, Bulgarian governing coalition
Intra-coalition difficulties have spilled over into the recriminations following rioting in Sofia
BulgariaBulgaria’s grand coalition may survive local polls
Ex-Prime Minister Borisov's party suffered setbacks in the Bulgarian local elections, notably to reformist candidates
BulgariaPoland, Czechia and Hungary may join euro, but not yet
Non-euro CEE countries either can join but lack the political will, or have the will but fail the economic criteria
Eastern Europe