Eastern Balkans

Romania's economy shows expansionary momentum with major investments in transport, energy, and manufacturing, while Bulgaria faces fiscal strain with a frozen minimum wage and rising fuel prices.

• 7Romanian market sees major business moves and fiscal changes
• 7€620: Radev’s Government Freezes Bulgaria’s Minimum Wage Until 2028? (UPDATED) - Novinite.com
• 5Biopharma, LONGi, and Super expand in Romania with new projects
• 5Bucharest expands transport and business infrastructure
• 4Otokar finalizes Automecanica takeover in Romania, prepares local production of COBRA II vehicles

Romania's government formation remains deadlocked after parliament rejected the Veștea cabinet, with President nominating Eugen Tomac and later Siegfried Mureșan as PM candidates; Bulgaria's new government halts arms supplies to Ukraine and faces domestic protests.

• 6Romanian president nominates EU deputy Eugen Tomac as PM
• 5Bulgaria to stop arms supplies to Ukraine
• 4Moldova's 'Plan B' for EU accession is to join Romania, says deputy PM
• 3Romanian PM-designate submits governing program, list of ministers to Parliament
• 2Romanian MEP Siegfried Mureșan put forward as PM proposal by center-right coalition

Security concerns escalate along the Black Sea coast with Ukrainian sea drones washing ashore in Romania, while Bulgaria raises defense spending to 3.5% of GDP and halts arms supplies to Ukraine, drawing scrutiny over spy tech exports.

• 25Ukrainian sea drone explodes in Romanian port after losing control
• 8Bulgaria’s New Government to Stop Supplying Weapons to Ukraine
• 5Ukraine strikes cargo ships and admits Romania drone blast
• 3Three more maritime drones found on Romanian coast, news site reports
• 2Romania’s Defense Council approves deployment of over 5,300 military personnel for overseas missions in 2027

Public discontent in Bulgaria crystallizes around anti-government protests and anti-Ukrainian sentiment, compounded by an oil spill contaminating beaches and a heat wave prompting state relief measures.

• 2Sofia Hires Foreign Drivers as Public Transport Faces Growing Staff Shortage - Novinite.com
• 2“A Reputational Disaster”: Oil Contaminates Popular Bulgarian Beaches, Pressure Mounts on Authorities - Novinite.com
• 2Nearly 1,850 Bulgarians Return Home Under “I Choose Bulgaria” Program
• 2“Cars Never Arrived”: Bulgarian Customers Accuse Sofia Dealership of Multi-Country Fraud Scheme - Novinite.com
• 2Family displaced by Russian drone crash to receive new apartment from Romanian wife of Piero Ferrari, mayor says