The Balkans Archives

Newly sworn-in President Nicușor Dan pledged sweeping reform, fiscal discipline, and anti-corruption efforts, while navigating a fractured parliament.

The Romanian Constitutional Court upheld Nicușor Dan's win in Sunday's presidential election.

Rassemblement National leader Jordan Bardella has already called for an investigation into alleged French interference in Romania’s presidential election.

George Simion will challenge the presidential election results at the Constitutional Court, accusing France and Moldova of interference.

Despite delays and limited outreach, Bulgaria’s EU-funded assistive technology programme offers life-changing support to people with disabilities. NGOs are calling for broader access and long-term sustainability.

After Sunday’s surprise win, Nicuşor Dan faces no honeymoon – just economic woes, a fragile government, and a populist-packed Parliament.

Borissov said his and Bulgaria’s “good neighbourly relations” with Turkey and ties to President Erdoğan guarantee border security and curb illegal migration.

“Store for the People” promises essential foods at no more than a 10% markup, prioritising Bulgarian-made products.

Addressing supporters, Dan said Romanian society had shown great strength, but that hard economic ties were ahead.

Romania’s worst measles outbreak in years is unfolding amid low vaccination rates and rising political influence from anti-vaccine figures ahead of Sunday’s presidential election.

Bulgaria earns more than $300 million annually from transiting Russian gas to Serbia and Hungary.

Bulgaria will shift from EU cohesion funds to private investments and long-term concessions to rebuild critical infrastructure, PM Rosen Zhelyazkov announced Wednesday.

On Monday, President Radev submitted a referendum request to Parliament, but Speaker Natalia Kiselova (BSP, PES) rejected it as inadmissible, leaving him no legal avenue to appeal.

Political backing for Serbia's EU accession is "unequivocal", the country's president said, despite having attended Putin's military parade last week.

The move fulfils part of a compromise deal aimed at securing its entry into the Schengen Area.

The move sparked a political storm in Sofia. Critics accused Radev of fuelling fears over the euro and resisting Bulgaria’s full EU integration.

With the euro trading at 5.1222 lei, up 0.45% from the previous rate of 5.0991 lei, Romania's national currency fell to a record low.

Bulgaria has reacted sharply to the Russian president’s statements in a documentary broadcast on the Russian state television Russia-1.

The Bulgarian intelligence agency warns that AMR, future epidemics, a shortage of medical personnel, and medicine scarcity could endanger national security.

The issue has become particularly pressing because Romania plays a key role in the EU’s strategic plan to nix energy imports from Russia, as outlined on Tuesday. 

Following the runoff election on 18 May, the newly elected president will begin party negotiations to form a new governing coalition.

George Simion has comfortably won the first round of Romania’s presidential election, setting up the 18 May run-off as a referendum on the country’s future: one aligned with Europe, or one leaning towards isolationism.

Aleksandar Vučić felt "intense chest pain" and was discharged after a few hours in hospital, Serbian officials said.

A Biden era decision to allow Romanians visa-free entry for 90 days was paused by Trump's team in March – and has now been reversed.