Bulgarian leader backs Western Balkans nations joining EU
SOFIA โ Addressing an EU enlargement summit Tuesday, Bulgaria's leader pledged his support for the Western Balkan countries on the path of being integrated into the European Union. Bulgaria is one of the EU's 27 nations. Both declarations, which aim to further bring the region in line with EU norms and standards, were signed online during the summit. โLetโs not forget that the Western Balkans together represent a market of about 20 million people. The next summit will be held next year in the German capital, Merkel told participants at the end of the forum.
Thousands in Bulgaria's streets demanding government resign
Protesters shout "Resignation" in downtown Sofia, Bulgaria, on Wednesday, July 29, 2020. Tens of thousands of people took to the streets Wednesday in cities across Bulgaria for a third consecutive week to demand the resignation of the government and the chief prosecutor. (AP Photo/Valentina Petrova)SOFIA Tens of thousands of people took to the streets Wednesday in cities across Bulgaria for a third consecutive week to demand the resignation of the government and the chief prosecutor. In a video on Facebook, Borissov said everyone has the right to demonstrate, but not to block roads and intersections. Borissov has been in power since 2009 and his third term is scheduled to end next March
Elbows? Masks? Presents? Let this divisive EU summit begin!
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, so often a study in gravity at such meetings, was all merriment when she saw Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov with his mask slipped. Other leaders were trying out various versions of the elbow bump, with Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel almost turning it into an elbow duel. With 27 leaders coming in with diverse demands the two-day summit might not even be enough to settle their differences. Summit host and European Council President Charles Michel was first in the room, and was soon bumping elbows with Borissov and others as they arrived. European Parliament President David Sassoli first went for a zen-like bow but soon got his elbow out like his chums did.