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CINGO’s Expert Council invites Bulgaria to revise its Law on Interest Representation
The Expert Council on NGO Law – a body of the Conference of INGOs – is publishing its Opinion on the Compatibility of the Bulgarian Law on Interest Representation with European Standards. The...
Bulgaria’s early parliamentary elections offered voters a genuine choice, but were marked by high levels of polarisation and negative rhetoric, international observers say
Bulgaria’s 19 April early parliamentary elections were marked by an increase in participation and were administered transparently and efficiently, despite gaps in the legislative framework and a last-minute amendment on the number of polling stations abroad, that undermined the stability of the...
PACE to observe the early parliamentary elections in Bulgaria
A 13-member delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), headed by Chris Said (Malta, EPP/CD), will travel to Bulgaria from 17 to 20 April to observe the early parliamentary elections, alongside observers from the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human...
Council of Europe anti-torture Committee visits Bulgaria
A delegation of the Council of Europe's Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) carried out a periodic visit to Bulgaria from 27 January...
Commissioner asks Bulgarian lawmakers to reject amendments that would undermine the human rights of LGBTI people
Letter - In a letter to the President of the National Assembly of Bulgaria, published today, Commissioner O’Flaherty asks Bulgarian lawmakers to refrain from adopting proposed amendments to the...
Council of Europe expert group examines Bulgaria’s efforts to protect vulnerable persons from human trafficking and to ensure effective sanctions for human-trafficking offences
Report notes a rise in identified victims of forced labour, increase in foreign victims
Parliamentary Assembly decided to close the post-monitoring dialogue with Bulgaria
At its plenary session in Strasbourg, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) decided today to close the post-monitoring dialogue with Bulgaria and to follow the developments in the country in the framework of its periodic reviews. It welcomed the fact that Bulgaria had...
One third of spending on European original films and series is made by global streamers
The European Audiovisual Observatory has just published a new report on investment in original European films and series made by the main media players in Europe. This new study reveals that total spending on European original works (excluding news and sports rights) amounted to EUR 25.1 billion...
Monitoring Committee proposes to close the post-monitoring dialogue with Bulgaria
The Monitoring Committee, meeting on 9 September in Paris, proposed to close the post-monitoring dialogue with Bulgaria and to follow the developments in the country in the framework of its periodic reviews. It welcomed the fact that Bulgaria had overcome the political crisis and instability...
Foreign nationals detained in Bulgaria pursuant to aliens legislation: new report from CPT
The European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) has published a report on its ad hoc visit to Bulgaria, carried out from 16 to 23 September 2024, together with the response of the Bulgarian authorities. The aim of the visit was to assess...
Post-monitoring visit of Parliamentary Assembly rapporteurs to Bulgaria
Deborah Bergamini (Italy, EPP/CD) and Yves Cruchten (Luxembourg, SOC), co-rapporteurs of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) for the post-monitoring dialogue with Bulgaria, will make a fact-finding visit to Sofia on 2-3 July. They are due to meet the Speaker of the...
Money laundering and terrorist financing: MONEYVAL publishes progress reports on Bulgaria, Cyprus and Republic of Moldova
The Council of Europe Committee of Experts on the Evaluation of Anti-Money Laundering Measures and the Financing of Terrorism (MONEYVAL) has published this week follow-up reports on Bulgaria, Cyprus and the Republic of Moldova reassessing their technical compliance with the 40 Financial Action...
PACE President, ending working visit, praises ‘constructive attitude’ shown by Bulgarian authorities
PACE President Theodoros Rousopoulos has ended a two-day working visit to Bulgaria by welcoming the constructive attitude of the Bulgarian authorities as regards ongoing reforms and current political and institutional developments, including within the framework of Bulgaria’s ongoing post...
Council of Europe Congress Rapporteur welcomes Sofia’s commitment to social housing in implementing European Court judgments
Gudrun Mosler-Törnström (Austria, SOC/G/PD), Standing Rapporteur on Human Rights of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, has welcomed the commitment of the local authorities in Sofia, Bulgaria, to develop a comprehensive, long-term social housing plan. She...
Congress Rapporteur on Human Rights visits Bulgaria
Congress Standing Rapporteur on Human Rights Gudrun Mosler-Törnström (Austria, SOC/G/PD) carried out a visit to Bulgaria on 3 June to hold a political dialogue with local authorities on the execution of judgments of the European Court of Human Rights in the country at local level. She held...
Bulgaria: Emergency shelter, access to basic services and adequate housing measures needed for Roma left homeless in Sofia
Letter - In a letter addressed to the Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria published today, Commissioner O’Flaherty raises concern about the situation of numerous Roma left homeless...
Demolition of Roma houses in Sofia: Statement by Council of Europe Congress’ Standing Rapporteur on Human Rights
Gudrun Mosler-Törnström (Austria, SOC/G/PD), Standing Rapporteur on Human Rights of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, has made the following statement: “I am deeply concerned by recent reports of the demolition of Roma houses in Sofia's Zaharna Fabrika...
Balkan Cities Summit: Congress Spokesperson urges municipalities to prioritise green infrastructure
“Cities are the heart of economic and social development, and play a vital role in creating sustainable urban environments,” stressed Meropi-Spyridoula Ydraiou (Greece, EPP/CCE), Congress Spokesperson on the Environment and Climate Change, at the B40 Balkan Cities Network Summit in Sofia...
Anti-racism commission assessed the implementation of its priority recommendations by Bulgaria, France and Greece
The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) has published its conclusions on whether and how Bulgaria, France and Greece are implementing its recommendations provided in 2022. The recommendations concerned rights of LGBTI persons, including intersex children, situation of Roma...
Bulgaria: anti-corruption body assesses implementation of recommendations to prevent corruption in central government and law enforcement agencies
The Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) has published the first report assessing Bulgaria’s compliance with its recommendations to prevent corruption and promote integrity in central government and law enforcement agencies, addressed to Bulgaria in 2022. GRECO concludes...
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