EU greenlights Bulgaria joining the euro
The European Union gave Bulgaria the green light to join the euro, but political ructions in Sofia threaten to torpedo its accession.
The European Commission and European Central Bank's approval for Bulgaria to become the 21st country to join the common currency marks a significant step for the Balkan nation, which joined the EU in 2007 and has pegged its lev currency to the euro since 1999.
Yet domestic enthusiasm for the euro has waned, with half of Bulgarians now skeptical of the currency union and far-right parties demanding a delay or dismissal of the plans.
'For Bulgaria, the main hurdle is not the economic criteria, but the political dynamics… of whether or not to join,' Eurointelligence said.
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Politico
19 minutes ago
- Politico
Graham wants to punish Russia with ‘bone-crushing' sanctions. It could backfire.
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an hour ago
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Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Baltic states issue statement backing Ukraine's EU, NATO membership
The parliamentary foreign affairs committees of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania issued a joint statement on June 6, affirming their firm support for Ukraine both in its defense against Russia and in its pursuit of EU and NATO membership. Following their meeting in Lithuania on June 6, the Baltic states reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Ukraine's EU integration, stating their goal of concluding accession talks and welcoming Ukraine as a full EU member by Jan. 1, 2030. Ukraine applied for EU membership in 2022 and was granted candidate status within months. Accession talks began in June 2024, with European leaders setting 2030 as a target for Ukraine's potential accession. Despite broad EU support for Ukraine's accession, Hungary remains a major obstacle. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban announced on March 7 that his government would conduct an opinion survey on Ukraine's potential EU membership. In their statement, the Baltic states also urged the 2025 NATO Summit in The Hague to take "concrete political steps" toward Ukraine's membership in the alliance. They argued that Ukraine's NATO accession would 'consolidate a just and lasting peace not only in Ukraine but also in all of Europe" and help uphold the rules-based international order globally. "Ukraine's NATO membership would provide a more effective and enduring framework for safeguarding Euro-Atlantic security," the statement reads. Ukraine applied for NATO membership in September 2022, months after the outbreak of the full-scale war. The country has not received a formal invitation, as the 32 members have not reached a consensus. The statement also reaffirmed the Baltic countries' pledge to support Ukraine 'until its full victory,' and welcomed expanding defense cooperation between Ukraine and like-minded partners. It encouraged inviting Ukraine to join the U.K.-led Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF), calling it a meaningful step toward deeper regional security integration. "We call upon the Foreign Affairs Committees of other national parliaments, international parliamentary assemblies, governments, and responsible institutions to endorse this statement and to adopt corresponding actions that would ensure continued and determined support for Ukraine's victory, reconstruction, and full integration into the Euro-Atlantic community," the statement read. Read also: Nordics, Baltics urge concrete steps toward Ukraine's EU membership We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
