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Penka wandered away from her herd near the Bulgarian village of
Mazarachevo last month and walked out of the bloc into
neighboring Serbia.
When she was returned two weeks later, authorities said she
would have to be put down as she had violated guidelines under
which animals entering the European Union have to have papers
verifying their health.
Penka's plight prompted protests on social media, particularly
in Britain where eurosceptic campaigners and publications held
her up as a victim of Brussels bureaucracy.
Animal rights campaigners, including former Beatle Sir Paul
McCartney, signed petitions asking Bulgaria to save the
five-year-old animal.
The Bulgarian Food Safety Agency agreed to review the case and
said on Monday that lab tests had given her a clean bill of
health.
"It is expected the animal will be allowed back to her former
home in the village of Mazarachevo by the end of the week," the
agency said in a statement.
"I read the moos today oh boy! HUGE HUGE HUGE PENKA NEWS. SHE
WILL LIVE!!!!!!!!!," tweeted James Crisp, a journalist with
Britain's Daily Telegraph newspaper, mangling one of the
Beatles' best known songs as he celebrated the announcement.
Animal rights group Four Paws said there were many more Penkas
out there as dozens of stray animals crossed in and out of the
European Union on a daily basis.
"It will be really cruel to kill all those animals. I do hope
that if there is a gap in European legislation, Penka's case
will help to solve this issue," said group spokesman Yavor
Gechev.
(Reporting by Angel Krasimirov; Editing by Andrew Heavens)
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