Wetin dey happen for Bulgaria? Two big news just drop for dis March 2026, and dem dey show two different sides of di kontri. One side na serious matter about rule of law wey dey fall down, di oda side na money wey dey come in for green business. Make we yarn am one by one.
nn
First, di Civil Liberties Union for Europe (Liberties) just release im 2026 report on Monday. Di report dey yarn say Bulgaria dey among five EU member states wey dem classify as “dismantlers”. Wetin dat mean? Na to say di government dey actively weaken rule of law. Dem put Bulgaria join Croatia, Hungary, Italy, and Slovakia for dat category. Di report wey reach 800 pages say di rule of law don regress for all areas for Bulgaria – justice, anti-corruption, media freedom, and civil society checks and balances. Di picture dey bleak.
nn
Di report draw evidence from more than 40 NGOs for 22 kontris. Di executive director of Liberties, Ilina Neshikj, talk say after seven years of EU rule of law reports, findings show “not only backsliding, but also ongoing and deliberate efforts to undermine the rule of law.” She yarn say repeating recommendations without meaningful follow-up no go reverse dis trend. For media freedom matter, attacks on journalists don increase for Bulgaria, Croatia, Italy, Netherlands, and especially Slovakia.
nn
Di report also talk say EU mechanisms for addressing rule of law erosion dey largely ineffective. 93% of all recommendations for di EU executive’s own 2025 rule of law report na repeats from previous years. Out of 100 commission recommendations wey Liberties assess, 61 show zero progress, while 13 more dey deteriorate. Di senior advocacy adviser for Liberties, Kersty McCourt, talk say EU institutions for 2025 “normalised di use of exceptional, fast-track lawmaking, rolled back key fundamental rights protections, and led a concerted campaign against watchdog organisations.”
nn
Now, make we comot from dat serious matter go to di oda news. Di European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) just lend €20 million to Bulgaria copper fabricator Sofia Med. Dis loan na first of im kind for Bulgaria because e dey link sustainability performance to pricing. Na innovative loan wey benefit from EU guarantee under di InvestEU programme.
nn
Wetin Sofia Med dey do? Dem dey fabricate copper. Copper na critical raw material for green transition – e dey essential for electrification, renewable energy infrastructure, and e-mobility. Di loan structure na Sustainability-Linked Loan (SLL) with measurable green key performance indicators (KPIs) to promote recycling. Dem focus on increasing di use of secondary recycled content and enhancing water efficiency. Di project’s InvestEU first loss guarantee of just under 25% enable EBRD to offer Sofia Med financial incentive through adjusted loan pricing conditional on achievement of pre-agreed sustainability targets.
nn
Sofia Med AD na subsidiary of Viohalco, leading European non-ferrous metals manufacturer with operations for aluminium, copper, cables, steel and steel pipes, processing and trade. EBRD and Viohalco subsidiaries don get partnership for over ten years, including support for energy efficiency, expansion into green application products and oda GET-eligible investments for Bulgaria and Greece. Di EBRD’s Country Strategy for Bulgaria for 2025-30 support decarbonisation and increased energy and resource efficiency for industrials. EBRD don invest more than €5 billion for 320 projects for Bulgaria to date.
nn
InvestEU na flagship initiative of di European Union wey dey aim to support strategic investments for sustainable infrastructure, research, innovation and digitalisation, small and medium-sized businesses and social investment and skills. E provide guarantee mechanism to unlock financing wey fit no dey available otherwise, focusing on projects wey promote long-term growth and resilience. EBRD na one of di leading implementing partners of di InvestEU Programme.
nn
Meanwhile, for travel news wey touch Bulgaria, Holiday Pirates don share ranking of most budget-friendly wine locations across Europe. Bulgaria dey among alternative choices for those wey dey seek glass of wine under £4. For Bulgaria, you fit pay between £2.10 and £3.40 per glass. Skyscanner dey provide return flights to Bulgaria from £32. Portugal and Hungary lead di rankings with typical glass cost between £1.70 and £3.40.
nn
So Bulgaria dey face two different tunes. One tune dey play serious music about rule of law wey dey fall, di oda tune dey play money music for green business. Di kontri dey among top “dismantlers” for EU rule of law report, but e still dey receive innovative green financing from European institutions. Di contrast sharp well well.
Do you have a news tip for NNN? Please email us at editor @ nnn.ng
