Foreigners Increasingly Interested In Bulgarias Spa Property Destinations 12/03/2008
The interest of foreign investors in the acquisition of property located in areas having mineral springs is growing, consultants from Home for You said. Velingrad, which has already established itself as a spa destination, is growing in popularity. Research shows it is among the top destinations for both foreign and Bulgarian investors. Agents said that Velingrad had the potential to develop into a European resort and into one of Bulgaria’s best spa resorts. Foreigners also continue showing interest in vacation property in Bulgaria’s coastal resorts. Mountain vacation property also registers interest, which tends to be strongest towards rural developments. Italian, Spanish, Austrian and German investors are showing increasing interest in property acquisition in Bulgaria.... more

Rila Hotel In Sofia Spotted For Construction 11/07/2008
Construction interests united the church, archaeologists and architects to start protesting against plans for a 22-storey building meant to replace Rila hotel in the heart of Sofia. In an interview with private broadcaster bTV on July 10, a representative of the St Nikolai ancient church behind the hotel said that the construction of the hotel in the 1940s caused a partial reduction of the church yard and cracking of one of the church walls. It is feared that new construction could further damage the church. Architects, for their part, said that the new building is envisioned with eight underground storeys, which was dangerous because the underground waters in Sofia were close to the surface. “I am sure this would cause sinking of some of the nearby buildings. I hope none of them... more

Most Roma Leave Voluntarily Illegal Sofia Ghetto Designated For ... - Sofia News Agency 08/05/2008
More than half of the Roma living in the illegally constructed shantytown in the Mladost 4 Quarter of the Bulgarian capital have moved out from the site voluntarily. Thus, they have obeyed the order of the District Mayor Petko Dyulgerov for demolition of the ghetto located on municipal property. "We are going to talk to the remaining Roma who include women and children so that they can find another accommodation", Dyulgerov said before the Bulgarian private Darik Radio. He also announced that the shantytown was visited by the local police in the morning, who warned its remaining inhabitants to leave as soon as possible. Yesterday Dyulgerov threatened that the illegal residents would be evicted with aid from the police unless they left before Wednesday morning. The seven dozens of... more

Danube Bridge 2 Construction Delayed By Four Months 15/03/2008
Construction on the second bridge across the Danube river between Bulgaria and Romania would be delayed by four months to September 2008, Bulgarian radio station Darik reported on February 19 2008. The reason for the delay of the project that would link Vidin in Bulgaria to Calafat in Romania, known as Danube Bridge 2, was that Spanish construction firm Fomento de Construcciones y Contratas (FCC) had not filed its technical project with the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works, from the Ministry claim, Darik quoted the ministry as saying. However, Simeon Evtimov, in charge of project development at the Transport Ministry, argued that since the project has already received a construction permit, that meant that all required technical paperwork had been filed. "FCC... more

Bulgarian Heating Plant Works Solely For Serbia 21/04/2008
Although it has a quota, the heating plant in Varna, Bulgaria has not sold even one kilowatt per hour of energy to the Bulgarian internal market because the price given by the State energy and water regulation commission does not satisfy the owner of the plant CEZ. The whole produced amount of electric energy is exported to Serbia. This became clear at an energy forum which started yesterday in the Bulgarian sea resort “St. Konstantin”. There is only one block working currently in Varna heating plant. In Bulgaria the consumption of electric energy in the first quarter of 2008 has increased with 7% compared to the same period last year. However, so far there is no danger in lack of electricity and it is hardly possible to have to import electricity from abroad, claimed Mardik Papazian,... more