https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/rss Thu, 30 Jul 2026 02:37:06 +0300 en hourly 1 https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1176077-bulgaria-romania-moldova-launch-joint-wine-promotion-initiative https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1176077-bulgaria-romania-moldova-launch-joint-wine-promotion-initiative Wed, 29 Jul 2026 21:09:44 +0300 Bulgaria, Romania and Moldova are launching a large-scale joint presentation of their wines on the international stage under the common motto "Treasures of the East", the organizers from Vinul.ro, Romania’s longest-running specialist wine publication, told BTA on Wednesday. The trilateral initiative aims to position the three neighbouring countries as a single competitive wine and tourism region on the European and global map. The event will take place in Craiova, Southwestern Romania, from October 2 to 4. It is also linked to a new initiative of the Vinul.ro Awards of Excellence, which, for the first time, are opening their competition to wines from Bulgaria and Moldova. The award-winning wines will be included in the international Treasures of the East selection and subsequently promoted in Romania and on European markets. The programme will also include a Bulgarian-Romanian business forum, discussions on opportunities to enter the Romanian wine market, cross-border franchises and partnerships, and meetings with producers, tour operators, media representatives and influencers. For Bulgarian wineries, producers and tourism organizations, the event provides an opportunity for direct access to one of the largest consumer markets in the region and to an audience of around five million people on both sides of the Danube. "Romania is the neighbouring country with the largest and most developed wine consumption market in the region. There are no customs barriers to trade with Bulgaria, while an active Bulgarian community is also showing interest in cross-border commercial and cultural exchange," the organizers said. They described the forthcoming event in Craiova as a platform for promoting wines and gastronomic and wine tourism destinations from Southeastern Europe. Balkans Tatiana Marinova BTA correspondent Martina Gancheva https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/1175963-feasibility-study-begins-for-nato-funded-fuel-pipeline-linking-bulgaria-greece- https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/1175963-feasibility-study-begins-for-nato-funded-fuel-pipeline-linking-bulgaria-greece- Wed, 29 Jul 2026 18:04:26 +0300 The Council of Ministers approved the implementation of a feasibility study for the construction of a fuel pipeline on Bulgarian territory, the Government Information Service said on Wednesday. The funding, amounting to EUR 10 million, will be provided by the Ministry of Defence under the NATO Security Investment Programme. The project aims to expand NATO's fuel supply chain to the Alliance's Eastern Flank and connect Bulgaria's network to NATO infrastructure in Greece, Turkiye and Romania. The Council of Ministers designated state-owned gas transmission operator Bulgartransgaz EAD as the contracting authority responsible for taking all necessary steps to carry out the feasibility study. The company is the only state-owned enterprise to have implemented comparable projects and has extensive experience in developing and managing infrastructure, investment and technical projects of this scale. It will be tasked with selecting a contractor, signing the contract, and organising and coordinating the subsequent activities. In early May, Bloomberg reported that Türkiye had proposed the construction of a USD 1.2 billion military fuel pipeline from Turkiye to Romania via Bulgaria. The pipeline is intended to meet the energy needs of NATO's Eastern Flank. Bulgaria Momchil Rusev https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1175711-traffic-builds-up-on-north-macedonia-greece-border-routes-as-summer-season-peaks https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1175711-traffic-builds-up-on-north-macedonia-greece-border-routes-as-summer-season-peaks Wed, 29 Jul 2026 15:02:45 +0300 Local media in North Macedonia again reported increased traffic toward Greece on Wednesday. The summer holiday season, the traditional routes used by Serbian travellers heading to the Greek coast via North Macedonia, and the introduction of the European Union's Entry/Exit System (EES) are contributing to daily vehicle queues at the three North Macedonian border crossings with Greece. Cars are currently waiting around 40 minutes at the Bogorodica-Evzonoi border crossing, located on the main Skopje-Athens motorway and the busiest crossing for travellers heading to Greece. According to the North Macedonian Automobile Association, there are no significant delays at the country's other two border crossings with Greece: Medzitlija-Niki, near Bitola, which connects southwestern North Macedonia with Greece in the direction of Florina, and the Star Dojran-Dojrani crossing in the area of Lake Dojran. During the summer season, North Macedonian media report daily on queues forming at the border crossings between the two countries. In 2026, particular attention has been paid to expected delays resulting from the introduction of the European Union's automated IT system, which registers the entry and exit of non-EU and non-Schengen nationals across the bloc's external borders. The system was introduced gradually from October 12, 2025, and became fully operational on April 10, 2026. Aleksandar Senicic, director of Serbia's YUTA National Association of Travel Agencies, told the Tanjug news agency on Wednesday that although a strike by Greek customs officers on Monday had ended and no new strikes had been announced, major congestion was still expected at Serbia's border crossings with Bulgaria and North Macedonia as the summer season reaches its peak. Senicic said the heaviest crowds at border crossings typically occur between 6 a.m. and 1 p.m., when travellers are eager to reach their accommodation as quickly as possible. He therefore advised travellers to avoid these hours and, if possible, start their journey a day earlier or use alternative border crossings. A week ago, the Serbian daily Blic reported that an increasing number of Serbian tourists traveling to Greece's Ionian coast were choosing an alternative route via the Medzitlija-Niki border crossing between North Macedonia and Greece. The route is convenient for travellers from Serbia heading to Lefkada, Parga, Sivota, Preveza and other destinations in western Greece, as it often means shorter border waits and a more relaxed journey through the northwestern part of the country. Meanwhile, the bilingual portal Far posted a drone video on its Facebook profile showing a kilometres-long queue of vehicles approaching the Gradina-Kalotina border crossing. On this section of the motorway leading to Bulgaria, Serbian authorities are stopping vehicles before they reach the tunnels. Serbian tourists, however, prefer this route when their final destination is Northern Greece, as after crossing the border with Bulgaria they enter the Schengen Area and should not undergo further border checks before reaching Greek territory. Balkans Konstantin Karagyozov BTA correspondent Marinela Velichkova BTA correspondent Teodora Encheva https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1175673-bulgaria-invited-to-serexpo-2026-as-honoured-country https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1175673-bulgaria-invited-to-serexpo-2026-as-honoured-country Wed, 29 Jul 2026 14:47:00 +0300 Bulgaria has been invited to participate as honoured country at the upcoming SEREXPO 2026 business exhibition, which is scheduled to take place from September 16–20 this year in Serres, Northern Greece, according to Greek regional media. The Serres Chamber of Commerce and Industry announced that its chairman, Athanassios Maliaras, visited Sofia, where he met with Savvas Karafyllidis, chairman of the Bulgarian-Greek Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The announcement said that the meeting focused on the organization of the exhibition and the conditions for Bulgaria’s participation. Athanassios Maliaras, quoted in the statement, emphasized the efforts to give SEREXPO an increasingly international profile. According to him, the presence of representatives from Bulgarian companies and organizations will benefit their contacts with other participants through the organization of bilateral meetings. For his part, the chairman of the Bulgarian-Greek Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Savvas Karafylidis, noted that Bulgarian companies have a particularly strong interest in creating new opportunities for cooperation with Greek businesses, especially with enterprises from the Serres region. According to the organizers, more than 100 exhibitors participate in the exhibition every year, while the number of visitors reaches around 50,000 people. Balkans BTA correspondent Ivan Lazarov Petya Petrova https://www.bta.bg/en/bg-world/1175604-international-folk-festival-horo-se-vie-takes-place-in-bosilegrad https://www.bta.bg/en/bg-world/1175604-international-folk-festival-horo-se-vie-takes-place-in-bosilegrad Wed, 29 Jul 2026 14:04:07 +0300 A formal ceremony, parade and concert programme marked the opening of the first edition of the International Folk Festival Horo Se Vie in Bosilegrad on July 27. The event, organixed by the Municipality of Bosilegrad and the Bosilegrad Cultural Centre, will run until August 2 and bring together folk ensembles from Serbia, Bulgaria, North Macedonia and Montenegro. The festival began with a traditional parade through the town's central streets, culminating in a mass horo dance at the main crossroads. The official opening took place on the stage in the schoolyard, where the participants and guests were welcomed by Bosilegrad Cultural Centre Director Voislav Bozilov and Bosilegrad Mayor Vladimir Zaharijev. "We are opening a new festival. We want Horo Se Vie to become more than a festival - a place for new friendships, new artistic encounters and a symbol of Bosilegrad as a town that preserves its heritage while looking towards the future," Bozilov said. Seven folk ensembles performed on the opening night of the festival: the Radi Radev Shopski Ensemble from Elin Pelin, the Skopje Folk Song and Dance Ensemble, the Kiril and Methodius Cultural and Artistic Society from Strumica, the Levac Cultural and Artistic Society from Rekovac, the Pervaz Cultural and Artistic Society from Trgovište, as well as the folk ensembles of the Bosilegrad Cultural Centre and the Mladost Sports Club. The performers showcased the richness of the folk songs, dances and traditions of their respective regions and were greeted with prolonged applause by the large audience. The festival's concert programme continues every evening from 8:00 p.m. on the stage in the schoolyard. Before the concerts, the participants parade through the central streets of Bosilegrad, while each festival evening concludes with a mass horo dance bringing together performers and audience members alike - a symbol of friendship, unity and shared respect for the folk heritage of the Balkans. BG World Momchil Rusev BTA correspondent Aleksandar Dimitrov https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1175595-bulgaria-and-serbia-run-joint-campaign-urging-drivers-to-drive-safely https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1175595-bulgaria-and-serbia-run-joint-campaign-urging-drivers-to-drive-safely Wed, 29 Jul 2026 14:02:14 +0300 A joint Bulgarian-Serbian campaign under the name Drive Fresh will be launched in order to urge drivers to drive safely, Bulgarian and Serbian officials told a press briefing at the Kalotina-Gradina border control check point on Wednesday. The campaign is organized by the State Agency Road Safety and Serbia's Road Traffic Safety Agency, in partnership with the Traffic Police and Border Police under the Bulgarian Ministry of the Interior and the Traffic Police Directorate under the Serbian Ministry of the Interior. Lachezar Bliznakov from Bulgaria's General Directorate National Police reported that a discussion on traffic problems between Bulgarian and Serbian police officers showed that both countries experience identical problems. The goal of the campaign is preventative, as leaflets setting out the rules are distributed, so that drivers can familiarize themselves with the laws of both countries and know, for example, that they must take breaks. Bliznakov reiterated that fines for offences committed by foreign nationals must be paid on the spot. He stated that there is no shortage of rest areas for cars. Branko Stamatovic, head of Serbia's Road Traffic Safety Agency, reported that the Kalotina-Gradina border control check point is one of the busiest during the summer season. As there are increasing numbers of Serbian citizens travelling through Bulgaria, and the flow of traffic from Bulgaria to Serbia is also significant, it is essential to drive carefully and take breaks every two hours. The campaign materials are available in English, German, Turkish, and Serbian. Slavisa Lakicevic, the head of the Traffic Police Administration within Serbia's Interior Ministry, urged drivers to take breaks every two hours or every 200 km. He reported that the summer months see the sharpest rise in road deaths, and in Serbia, there are two road deaths every day. Lakicevic added that over the summer, more than 10 million cars pass through Serbia in transit. The Drive Fresh will run until September 15 and will cover almost all of Serbia's border crossings with its neighbouring countries. Balkans Marin Kolev Simona-Alex Mihaleva https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1175514-severe-drought-threatens-romania-danube-water-levels-hit-critical-lows https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1175514-severe-drought-threatens-romania-danube-water-levels-hit-critical-lows Wed, 29 Jul 2026 13:36:30 +0300 Extreme drought is threatening crops in several parts of Romania, where rainfall has been scarce, Romania's Adevarul daily reported on Wednesday. In Dolj County, one of Romania's largest agricultural regions, irrigation systems have been shut down for more than two weeks because of exceptionally low water levels in the Danube River. As a result, more than 55,000 hectares of farmland cannot be irrigated. Local residents said the situation means poverty to them, while farmers said that some crops can no longer be saved, even if rain falls in the coming days. Farmers in Iasi County are also facing difficulties, Digi24 reported, saying that sunflower crops have been attacked by crows and that attempts to drive the birds away have proved ineffective. Romania's National Water Administration warned that at the beginning of August, the Danube's flow rate will be three times lower than the multiannual average, approaching the historic lows recorded in 1985. Water use restrictions, particularly for irrigation, remain in force for the Calarasi-Cernavoda section of the river. The authority said that the entire Danube basin is experiencing severe drought conditions, with no signs of improvement. Unit 1 of the Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant has also been shut down as an additional measure to maintain the operation of Unit 2. The regions most vulnerable to drought are Crisana, Oltenia, Muntenia, Dobruja and Moldova. Balkans Veneta Litkova BTA correspondent Martina Gancheva https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1175291-tempe-train-crash-trial-adjourned-until-september https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1175291-tempe-train-crash-trial-adjourned-until-september Wed, 29 Jul 2026 07:27:01 +0300 The trial over the 2023 Tempe train crash, which claimed the lives of 57 people, has been adjourned until September after prosecutors formally filed charges against the 36 defendants, eKathimerini reported. When proceedings resume after the summer recess, the court is expected to begin examining evidence. Prosecutors are expected to call their witnesses, including relatives of the passenger train's driver, who was among those killed in the collision. According to the indictment, the prosecution's case will centre on the allegation that the defendants were aware of serious deficiencies in the railway safety systems on the Larissa–Neoi Pori section of the network. Prosecutors argue that they knew the signalling, remote control and European Train Control System (ETCS) had been out of operation since 2019, while the GSM-R railway radio communication system had been functioning only partially since 2018. The trial began in April, with hearings being held in a specially adapted courtroom at the University of Larissa. Thirty-three of the defendants face felony charges of disrupting rail safety, an offense that carries the possibility of a life sentence. They have also been charged with offenses including involuntary manslaughter and causing bodily harm through negligence, eKathimerini noted. On February 28, 2023, a head-on collision between a freight train and a passenger train on the main Athens–Thessaloniki line killed 57 people, most of them university students. It was the deadliest rail accident in Greek history. The tragedy sparked widespread public outrage and demonstrations across Greece, with protesters accusing successive governments of delaying the installation of essential railway safety systems. Relatives of the victims have also accused the authorities of attempting to conceal evidence.  Balkans BTA correspondent Ivan Lazarov Yoana Vodenicharova https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1175132-all-186-passengers-evacuated-from-cruise-ship-stranded-on-danube-near-vidin https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1175132-all-186-passengers-evacuated-from-cruise-ship-stranded-on-danube-near-vidin Tue, 28 Jul 2026 18:35:48 +0300 Bulgarian border police completed the evacuation of all 186 passengers from the Swiss-flagged cruise ship Viking Ullur after it ran aground on the Danube near Vidin, Border Police told BTA on Tuesday. The vessel was stranded at river kilometre 817, opposite Gomotartsi and about 25 km upstream from Vidin. The ship ran aground early Tuesday due to low water levels. It was carrying 186 passengers from EU countries and 52 crew members. Passengers ran out of food and drinking water after the vessel, which had been scheduled to take on supplies in Vidin, was unable to reach the port. The ship’s agent dispatched the French-flagged Vivaldi to pick them up, but it could not get close enough, prompting Border Police to intervene. After clearance from the River Supervision Directorate in Lom and a further assessment, the passengers were evacuated by a patrol boat from the Vidin Border Police Vessels Base. Passengers’ luggage was still being transferred on Tuesday. The fate of the 52 crew members remained unclear, as Viking Ullur could stay stranded for an extended period depending on navigation conditions and refloating options, Border Police said. Initial reports placed the stranded cruise ship on the Danube near Salcia in Mehedinti County, southwestern Romania. It left Drobeta-Turnu Severin on Monday evening bound for Vidin, Bulgaria. Several attempts to refloat it on Monday evening and Tuesday morning failed. Balkans BTA Correspondent Silvia Ivanova Kaloyan Kirilov https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1175063-four-areas-on-greek-island-of-paros-evacuated-as-wildfire-breaks-out https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1175063-four-areas-on-greek-island-of-paros-evacuated-as-wildfire-breaks-out Tue, 28 Jul 2026 17:31:31 +0300 Four areas on the Greek island of Paros have been evacuated because of a wildfire, Greek news outlet Proto Thema reported on Tuesday. According to the authorities, the fire is burning low vegetation and waste. At this stage, it does not threaten residential buildings, but residents of the four areas received evacuation alerts through Greece's national 112 emergency warning system as a precaution. Dozens of firefighters supported by fire engines are battling the blaze. Two firefighting aircraft and one helicopter have also been deployed. Additional firefighting crews are travelling to Paros by ferry from the nearby island of Naxos to reinforce the operation. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Balkans Veneta Litkova BTA correspondent Ivan Lazarov https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1174980-brussels-voices-concern-over-reciprocal-media-representatives-entry-bans-by-serb https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1174980-brussels-voices-concern-over-reciprocal-media-representatives-entry-bans-by-serb Tue, 28 Jul 2026 16:07:50 +0300 The European Union has expressed concern over reciprocal entry bans imposed on journalists by Serbia and Montenegro, stating that measures restricting media work are not in line with the values expected of EU candidate countries. The European Commission told Radio Free Europe that countries in the enlargement process must act in accord with fundamental European values, including respect for democratic principles, fundamental rights, freedom of expression, and media freedom. “ Progress on the EU path requires a clear commitment to these values. Therefore, measures that can limit the work of journalists are of concern. Partners in the enlargement process are expected to ensure that journalists can freely do their work, without unjustified and unfounded restrictions,” an EC spokesperson told RFE. It is further stated that the European institutions are aware of reports about reciprocal entry bans on journalists between Serbia and Montenegro and will continue to closely monitor developments. The reaction from Brussels came after a number of Montenegrin journalists were denied entry into Serbia. These bans followed Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic’s announcement of reciprocal measures in response to the decision by authorities in Podgorica to ban the entry into Montenegro of the editor-in-chief of the pro-government tabloid Informer, Dragan Vucicevic. Citing information from security services, Vucic announced that Vucicevic had been prohibited from entering Montenegro, describing Podgorica’s decision as a “major mistake.” On July 23, the director of the Montenegrin media outlet RTV Podgorica, Vladimir Otasevic, was denied entry into Serbia at the border crossing between the two countries. At the beginning of July, journalist Petar Komnenic from TV Vijesti was first denied entry into Serbia, and several days later, the executive director of BIRN (Balkan Investigative Reporting Network) in Montenegro, Vuk Maras, was also banned from entering the country. At the end of May, the regulatory body for electronic media in Montenegro (AMU) decided to limit the reception and rebroadcasting of Informer TV from Serbia in the territory of Montenegro for six months. The decision was justified by claims that the media outlet’s content insults the dignity of the Montenegrin people, denies Montenegrin national identity, incites hate speech and discrimination, and insults the dignity of citizens and institutions of Montenegro. Several international media freedom organizations condemned the previous bans preventing Montenegrin journalists from entering Serbia. The European Federation of Journalists assessed that such measures pose a risk to investigative journalism, while Reporters Without Borders and the International Press Institute called on Serbian authorities to lift the bans. European institutions are also approaching this issue from a regional perspective. Brussels recalls that good neighbourly relations and regional cooperation remain key elements of the European Union’s enlargement process. “That is why we encourage both Serbia and Montenegro to avoid steps that could further increase tensions and instead engage constructively in resolving outstanding issues,” the European Commission spokesperson said. Balkans Petya Petrova BTA correspondent Teodora Encheva https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1174751-romanian-social-democrats-challenge-caretaker-cabinet-in-court https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1174751-romanian-social-democrats-challenge-caretaker-cabinet-in-court Tue, 28 Jul 2026 12:25:46 +0300 Romania's Social Democratic Party (PSD) has filed a criminal complaint against the caretaker government of Ilie Bolojan, according to Romanian and international media reports. The PSD accuses the outgoing cabinet of exceeding its constitutional powers by taking decisions beyond the scope of its authority. The party has referred the matter to the Prosecutor General's Office. At the same time, the PSD has asked the Bucharest Court of Appeal to suspend the implementation of several government decisions adopted last week. Among them is the approval of the National Biodiversity Strategy, a key requirement under Romania's Recovery and Resilience Plan that unlocks EUR 972.4 million in funding. The Social Democrats argue that, after being removed from office, the government is limited to handling routine administrative affairs and is not authorized to adopt policies with long-term implications. The PSD said it will challenge every subsequent government decision in court as soon as it is published in the Official Gazette. Bolojan's government has been in a caretaker capacity since May 5, when it was ousted in a vote of no confidence tabled jointly by the PSD and the nationalist Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR). The PSD subsequently failed to secure a new parliamentary majority, while President Nicusor Dan declined to nominate the party's leader, Sorin Grindeanu, as prime minister. The political crisis has deepened as Romania approaches the August 31 deadline for adopting legislation required under the Recovery and Resilience Plan. On Tuesday, lawmakers interrupted their summer recess and began a five-day extraordinary parliamentary session to pass a package of bills needed to meet key milestones under the plan. The financial stake for Bucharest amounts to nearly EUR 4 billion in non-repayable EU funding. Caretaker Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan has called for maximum mobilization to overcome the political tensions surrounding the reform agenda and avert heavy financial penalties from Brussels. PSD leader Sorin Grindeanu, however, said the party will support only those Recovery and Resilience Plan milestones that include the amendments sought by the Social Democrats. Balkans Valentin Evstatiev BTA correspondent Martina Gancheva https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1174711-north-macedonia-s-pm-says-there-will-be-no-constitutional-changes-in-form-curre https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1174711-north-macedonia-s-pm-says-there-will-be-no-constitutional-changes-in-form-curre Tue, 28 Jul 2026 12:09:55 +0300 There will be no changes to North Macedonia’s Constitution "in the form currently demanded," said Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski on the Rishtazi podcast. The Government’s goal is to find a sustainable solution that will lead North Macedonia to its ultimate goal - EU membership, he added. Mickoski stated that “throughout this entire process, matters must be viewed from the perspective of principles, and those principles must apply to everyone.” In response to a question regarding the negotiating framework adopted by North Macedonia's government - which stipulates that amendments to the country’s constitution that include the Bulgarian community are a prerequisite for the start of EU accession negotiations - Mickoski said that he is aware of “what the previous government agreed to, but in Bulgaria, too, the previous government agreed to something called respect for human rights.” “Now, based on the principle that ‘we are inside, you are outside and want to come in,’ we are obligated to accept what has been agreed upon. On the other hand, what a Bulgarian government has accepted - which is called respect for human rights (...) - there are a dozen rulings by the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg regarding the Macedonian community in Bulgaria: to respect its human rights, to allow the registration of clubs and organizations, and so on. This is something that should be respected but is not. This is called harassment and has nothing to do with the Copenhagen Criteria or with EU values (...) This is a policy of double standards. I am sorry, but I am not a fan of this type of policy,” stated North Macedonia's Prime Minister. In his words, the goal of North Macedonia's Government is not simply to begin negotiations for EU membership, but to become part of the EU. He said that in the country “there is a perception of corruption” and cited a survey according to which 80% of citizens say that corruption exists in North Macedonia, but when asked whether they had been victims of corruption or knew someone who had been a victim of corruption at the municipal level, fewer than 5% of respondents answered in the affirmative, and at the central level, the percentage was under 3%. Therefore, a Report Corruption hotline will be launched in cooperation between the Ministry of the Interior and a “well-known international non-governmental organization where citizens who have been asked for a bribe will be able to report it, said Mickoski. Balkans Dimitrina Solakova BTA correspondent Marinela Velichkova https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1174503-skopje-hospital-delivers-baby-of-61-year-old-woman-father-aged-71 https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1174503-skopje-hospital-delivers-baby-of-61-year-old-woman-father-aged-71 Mon, 27 Jul 2026 18:56:00 +0300 A 61-year-old woman and her 71-year-old husband in North Macedonia became parents for the first time following a successful and complex in vitro fertilization procedure at a hospital in Skopje, according to local media reports. Dr. Organdziski Hospital has described this as an “exceptional medical success” given the parents’ age and the complexity of the process leading up to the pregnancy. The patient underwent uterine reconstruction, and donated eggs were used for the procedure. The hospital reports that both the mother and the newborn boy are in good health. Balkans Dimitrina Solakova BTA correspondent Marinela Velichkova https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1174461-around-300-unexploded-world-war-ii-bombs-defused-in-area-of-old-athens-airport https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1174461-around-300-unexploded-world-war-ii-bombs-defused-in-area-of-old-athens-airport Mon, 27 Jul 2026 18:16:00 +0300 About 300 bombs from World War II have been discovered during work on a project to restore the site of the former Athens International Airport in the southern suburb of Elliniko, the online edition of the Kathimerini newspaper reported on Monday. The publication recalls that the unexploded ordnance from World War II is related to the wartime history of the airport, which operated as a military base. The bombs discovered were defused by a specialized unit of the Greek army. The publication adds that about 270 tonnes of petroleum hydrocarbons, accumulated in the soil or groundwater, have been extracted from the site so far. The pollution is related to decades of fuel storage and activities at the former airport, including leaks from underground tanks and fuel facilities. The site clearance operation, worth several million euro, has been underway for the past few years as part of an investment project and is expected to be completed soon. Infrastructure works have been carried out on the site, including stormwater drainage, new water supply, clearing and other activities necessary for its redevelopment, the publication stated. The 620-hectare site will be redeveloped and will include residential projects, hotels, commercial areas, sports facilities and a 200-hectare park. Balkans BTA correspondent Ivan Lazarov Atanas Malakchiev https://www.bta.bg/en/news/economy/1174354-rescale-project-opens-to-smes-in-northwestern-southwestern-bulgaria https://www.bta.bg/en/news/economy/1174354-rescale-project-opens-to-smes-in-northwestern-southwestern-bulgaria Mon, 27 Jul 2026 16:09:00 +0300 The Bulgarian Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion Agency has opened applications for the Rescaling the Regions (RESCALE) project, which aims to support small and medium-sized enterprises in Northwestern and Southwestern Bulgaria, the agency said on Monday. The programme offers a six-stage development process combining practical training, expert support and networking opportunities to help businesses improve competitiveness, adopt innovation and expand into international markets. The project focuses on internationalisation, digitalisation, the green economy and tourism. Eligible applicants are SMEs registered or operating in the regions of Vidin, Montana, Vratsa, Sofia Region (excluding the city of Sofia), Pernik and Kyustendil. RESCALE is funded under the INTERREG VI-A IPA Bulgaria–Serbia Programme and is implemented by the Bulgarian Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion Agency together with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia and the Science and Technology Park Niš. Economy Kameliya Tsvetanova Filip Pavlov https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1174325-bulgarians-in-serbia-rally-in-support-of-veterinarian-after-nationalism-allegati https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1174325-bulgarians-in-serbia-rally-in-support-of-veterinarian-after-nationalism-allegati Mon, 27 Jul 2026 15:46:00 +0300 More than 200 representatives of the Bulgarian national minority in Serbia took part in a protest in Tsaribrod (Dimitrovgrad) under the slogan "You Will Not Divide Us", organizers said on Monday. The rally was held in support of veterinarian Aleksandar Vasov after he was accused of nationalism and chauvinism by Nebojsa Bakarec, an MP from the ruling Serbian Progressive Party. The allegations were published last week by several Serbian media outlets. Participants said the protest was a message against hate speech and ethnic division. Speakers from Tsaribrod, Pirot, Bela Palanka, Nis and Bulgaria expressed solidarity with Vasov and support for unity and mutual respect in Serbia. Vasov said that he would file a defamation lawsuit against Bakarec to defend both his reputation and that of the Bulgarian national minority in Serbia. He rejected the accusations and said he openly supports Serbia's academic community and the student movement but does not belong to any political party. He added that he would consider it an honour to stand as an independent parliamentary candidate if invited by the student movement, praising its role in the anti-government protests that followed the deadly collapse of the Novi Sad railway station canopy in November 2024. Vasov thanked protesters for their support, saying the rally demonstrated that democracy in Serbia has strong foundations and continues to develop. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic recently said parliamentary elections would be held by the end of 2026 and that he would step down as president to lead the ruling Serbian Progressive Party's candidate list. Balkans Veneta Litkova BTA Correspondent Teodora Encheva https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1174219-tap-water-in-gostivar-north-macedonia-still-unsafe-to-drink-despite-improved-q https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1174219-tap-water-in-gostivar-north-macedonia-still-unsafe-to-drink-despite-improved-q Mon, 27 Jul 2026 14:40:32 +0300 Tap water in the city of Gostivar, Republic of North Macedonia, is now safe for personal hygiene but not for drinking or cooking, North Macedonia's Minister of Internal Affairs and Chair of the General Crisis Management Centre, Pance Toskovski, reported at a press conference on Monday. An epidemic and a state of emergency were declared in Gostivar after thousands of residents sought medical assistance due to stomach problems. Authorities suspect the outbreak was caused by contamination of the city's water supply with coliform bacteria. Following hyperchlorination of the city's water supply system, laboratory tests now show that the level of contaminants has been significantly reduced. The General Crisis Management Centre has not specified when the water will be safe to drink. Bottled water will continue to be supplied to the city. The country's media have raised questions about the project to modernize Gostivar's water supply system, funded by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs and the German Development Bank. Three managers of the public utility company Komunalec, who are in custody on suspicion that their actions led to the contamination of the city's water supply, have said that the project is "98% complete", but that they have been waiting for two years for approval from the State to construct an additional 600 metres of pipeline, which would fully connect the system, local media reported. Investigators believe the contamination may have been caused by three illegally installed pumps that diverted water from the Vardar River into the city's water supply system in an attempt to increase water pressure.   Balkans Kristina Ivanova BTA correspondent Marinela Velichkova https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1174090-romanian-f-16s-scramble-after-drone-briefly-enters-airspace https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1174090-romanian-f-16s-scramble-after-drone-briefly-enters-airspace Mon, 27 Jul 2026 11:27:00 +0300 A drone briefly entered Romanian airspace before heading towards Ukraine, the Romanian Ministry of National Defence said on Monday. Two F-16 fighter jets were scrambled from 86th Air Base in Fetesti at 08:53 local time, the same as in Sofia, to monitor it. The ministry said the target crossed the border and headed towards Ukraine after briefly entering national airspace. Explosions occurred on Ukrainian territory shortly afterwards. Residents of north-eastern Tulcea County received an alert warning of objects falling from the sky. The message urged them to remain calm and take shelter in basements or civil defence shelters. If none was available, residents were advised to stay indoors, away from windows and exterior walls. Romania could invoke NATO’s Article 4 following the incursion, Romanian Foreign Minister Oana Toiu told Digi24. Article 4 allows any ally to request consultations when it considers its territory, political independence or security threatened. Toiu said military and diplomatic coordination with NATO allies was continuing, citing the deployment of the Merops counter-drone system and allied air-policing support. On Sunday, a Romanian Air Force F-16 shot down a drone over Romania’s territorial waters in the Black Sea after it entered the country’s airspace without authorization. This was the third such incident in three days, after a drone was shot down over south-eastern Buzau County on Friday and another over Tulcea County, near the Danube Delta, on Saturday. In 2025, the Romanian Parliament passed a law authorizing the country to shoot down drones that violated its airspace. Romania has a 650-km land border with Ukraine. In May, a Russian drone crashed into an apartment block in Galati, near the border with Ukraine, injuring two people. The incident marked the first time an attack related to the war in Ukraine struck a populated area in a NATO member country and caused injuries, Reuters noted. Romania recorded a total of 33 Russian drone incursions into its airspace between the start of the war in Ukraine and Monday. Balkans BTA correspondent Martina Gancheva Kaloyan Kirilov https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1174150-two-bulgarians-found-dead-in-separate-sea-incidents-off-greek-coast https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1174150-two-bulgarians-found-dead-in-separate-sea-incidents-off-greek-coast Mon, 27 Jul 2026 13:14:27 +0300 The bodies of two Bulgarian men were recovered from the sea in separate incidents off the coast of Alexandroupolis, in North-eastern Greece, the news portal in.gr reported on Sunday night On Sunday morning, a 73-year-old Bulgarian was pulled unconscious from the water at the EOT beach, the Hellenic Coast Guard reported. He was given first aid by a lifeguard and taken to the hospital in Alexandroupolis, where he was pronounced dead. On the same day around midday, another Bulgarian, aged 82, was pulled from the sea at Delfini beach. He also received first aid from the lifeguards and was taken to hospital, where doctors confirmed that he had passed away. The Coast Guard has ordered autopsies of the deceased to establish the causes of death. Balkans Kristina Ivanova Petar Kadrev