The state has rapidly increased its presence in the economy. Together with state-owned companies, its share in GDP rose from 35 percent in 2005 to 70 percent in 2015. The state’s expanded presence in the economy has deepened monopolistic tendencies in the “economic space uncontrolled by the state,” the FAS lamented. Source: Moskow Times
Under nationalist pressure, Bulgaria’s government looks set to oppose any move to deprive Hungary of its voting rights in the EU, due to fears of democratic backsliding. Bulgaria’s government, led by Boyko Borissov, will soon draft a position opposing a pending vote to initiate the Article 7 process that could take away Hungary’s right to vote in the Council of the EU. Source Balkan Insight
President Donald Trump said on Tuesday the United States is considering a request from Poland for a permanent U.S. military presence in the fellow NATO country, acknowledging that he shares Poland’s concerns about possible Russian aggression. Source: Reuters
Russia’s Vladimir Putin has taken a more conciliatory tone, after his Defense Ministry held Israel “completely” accountable for a jet shot down over Syria. Putin spoke of a “tragic chain of accidental circumstances.” Source: Deutsche Welle
