Mining unions join grain producers in protests
Two protests by coal mining unions simultaneously blocked the center of Sofia today and will likely continue tomorrow. Meanwhile, a march planned for today by grain producers against lifting the ban on grain being imported from Ukraine was postponed for Wednesday.
The coal miners, led by the two largest unions - KNSB and Podkrepa - were due to hold their protest in front of the Council of Ministers.
The coal mining unions had announced plans to gather in Sofia today after farmers had trailed their intention to do so.
Prime Minister Denkov met the unions' leaders today and promised that an agreement on a just transition for the regions around the coal plants will be prepared by the end of the month.
Iliana Ivanova's mandate as European Commissioner starts
The Council of the European Union appointed Iliana Ivanova as the new European Commissioner today, after she received a convincing majority of the votes of the deputies in the European Parliament.
Her term officially begins and will last just over 13 months until 31 October 2024, when the term of the entire von der Leyen commission ends.
Ivanova's entry into the commission comes after the resignation of Maria Gabriel, currently Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister. Article 246 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU stipulates that a vacant seat of European Commissioner shall be filled by a representative of the same country.
Nortal buys Questers for 8.5 million euros
Bulgaria-based Questers will have a new owner for the first time in just over five years. The IT company, whose Sofia office develops IT products for other businesses, was sold for 8.5 million euros to Estonian company Nortal. It had been part of the group of the British holding TPXimpact Holdings, which bought it in 2018.
Questers was founded by Bulgaria's Alexander Drangazhov and Britain's Robert Wershwitz. Its main activity is managing teams to design and build software solutions for business clients. Following the deal, Questers will merge with pwrteams, the Estonian software services outsourcing company.
Mining unions join grain producers in protests
Two protests by coal mining unions simultaneously blocked the center of Sofia today and will likely continue tomorrow. Meanwhile, a march planned for today by grain producers against lifting the ban on grain being imported from Ukraine was postponed for Wednesday.
