Bulgarian authorities in charge of liaising with the European Commission concerning the spending of European Union financing had shown “negligence and arrogance”, according to Meglena Plougchieva, Deputy Prime Minister in charge of controlling Bulgaria’s use of EU funds. Plougchieva took the newly-created post on April 22, and on May 12 she gave her first extensive interview to private broadcaster Nova TV. The interview came after Plougchieva’s first trip to Brussels in her capacity as a minister on May 6-7, where she met Michael Leigh, Director-General of the EC’s directorate-general for enlargement. read more

Whether motivated by determination to muffle strident criticism from domestic opposition and the international community, or a desire to score political points ahead of the 2009 parliamentary elections, Bulgaria’s Government embarked on a long-delayed and holistic reform of the social security system. At a May 10-11 meeting in spa hotel Katarino near the Bansko resort, the tripartite ruling coalition approved a raft of critical changes in health care, pensions and social security contributions. read more

The meeting of the ruling coalition near Bansko mountain resort on May 10 and 11 disappointed in providing concrete results on the structural reforms within the Interior Ministry. The three ruling parties – the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), the National Movement for Stability and Progress (NMSP) and the Movement for Rights (MRF) – had to compare notes and agree on three issues: what to do with Interior Ministry’s Chief Directorate for Combating Organised Crime (CDCOC), to find the right place for the agency that will control the use of special intelligence methods and who will exercise control over the newly formed State Agency for National Security (SANS). read more

On May 11, the Serbian people went to the polls to have their say on the major issue for the country ever since Kosovo broke away in February, namely, which way to go – East or West. The results, however, turned out to be not as decisive as many would have wanted. For the time being, Serbia is not going anywhere before it walks the thorny path of hard coalition talks, compromise and political bargains. read more