7008 | 24 June 2025 | 13:19
The government has created a Defense Innovation Center, announced the press office of the Council of Ministers.
The Council of Ministers has adopted a decision to establish a Defense Innovation Center as part of "Sofia Tech Park" AD. It will serve as a testing point for new technologies and the development of prototypes, with a focus on drones and advanced defense systems, using the strategic location, infrastructure, and collaborative ecosystem of the park to stimulate technological progress, economic growth, and Bulgaria's role in defense innovation. Through partnerships with the Defense Institute "Prof. Tsvetan Lazarov "Tsvetan Lazarov" Center will coordinate scientific research and development activities with national military priorities, integrate expert experience, and jointly develop solutions that improve Bulgaria's defense capabilities and contribute to the goals of NATO and the EU security. The center is expected to promote cooperation between start-up companies, small and medium-sized enterprises, international companies, universities, and the government, positioning Bulgaria as a competitive player in the defense market, while also capitalizing on the resources of Sofia Tech Park AD and ensuring rapid development and market-relevant innovations. To ensure coordination of communication between institutions and the Defense Innovation Center, a Coordination Council with officials from the three institutions will be created by order of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Innovation and Growth, the Minister of Defense, and the Minister of Economy and Industry. The funding for the Center is expected to be provided through European shared management funds, to be included in the current revision of programs under the responsibility of the Ministry of Innovation and Growth.
Here are the solutions that the ministers made at their regular meeting:
The government appointed a senior national representative for sustainability at NATO and a strategic point of contact for critical underwater infrastructure at NATO.
The Council of Ministers adopted a decision to appoint a senior national representative for sustainability at NATO, as well as a strategic point of contact for critical underwater infrastructure at NATO. This decision is in line with the commitments made at NATO summit meetings, aimed at strengthening the sustainability and protection of critical infrastructure. With this, our country contributes to allied efforts to enhance the sustainability and protection of key infrastructure in response to contemporary security challenges. The functions will be taken over by the Secretary of the Security Council within the Council of Ministers, who will coordinate with the relevant state institutions.
The government approved an Annex to the contract with "Interion" AD for the implementation of an investment project in Kostinbrod.
The Council of Ministers approved the signing of an Annex to contract no.RD-02-29- 97/21.12.2023 between the Government and "Interion" AD for the implementation of the investment project "Expansion of an industrial plant for the production of chocolate products" in the city of Kostinbrod. The document extends the deadline for the project until 17.02.2026 (the expiration date of the issued certificate) due to delays in the execution of administrative procedures. Expenses of 9.5 million BGN have been incurred for the realization of the investment. In the extended deadline, "Interion" will complete the project and the requested investment of 10.5 million leva.
The Ministry of Economy has adopted a position and composition for the Bulgarian-Armenian intergovernmental commission for economic and scientific-technical cooperation.
The Council of Ministers has approved a decision on the position and composition of the Bulgarian delegation for participation in the 9th session of the Bulgarian-Armenian intergovernmental commission for economic and scientific-technical cooperation, which will take place from 16-18 July 2025 in Sofia. The Bulgarian delegation will be led by Mr. Tomislav Donchev, in his capacity as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Innovation and Growth of the Republic of Bulgaria and Chairman of the Bulgarian part of the intergovernmental commission. The Armenian delegation will be led by Mr. Mkhitar Ayrapetyan, Minister of High-Tech Industry of the Republic of Armenia and Chairman of the Armenian part of the intergovernmental commission. During the session, an analysis of the bilateral cooperation between Bulgaria and Armenia will be made, and current issues regarding Bulgarian-Armenian bilateral and trade-economic relations will be discussed, as well as the possibilities for expanding bilateral cooperation in various areas such as trade, economy, innovation and growth, investments, transportation and communications, agriculture, e-governance, education, science, healthcare, and culture, as well as other areas of mutual interest.
The Council of Ministers has approved a decision to endorse the draft of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Bulgarian Investment Agency (BIA) and the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO).
The Memorandum aims to support the development of bilateral economic cooperation. The main focus is on attracting and promoting investments from both sides. It is planned for BIA and JETRO to enhance the opportunities for expanding business contacts between potential investors from Bulgaria and Japan. The two parties will also exchange up-to-date information related to investment possibilities. The government with a Joint Declaration with Japan on important economic issues.
The Council of Ministers approved a Joint Declaration project by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Innovation and Economic Development of the Republic of Bulgaria, Mr. Tomislav Donchev, and Parliamentary Deputy Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan, Mr. Akiyoshi Kato. The Joint Declaration is expected to be signed during the Japan-Bulgarian Business Forum on "Infrastructure, Energy and Digitization", which will take place on June 25, 2025 in Sofia. It specifies that there is interest in exchanging information and experience in the field of energy transformation, innovations based on Bulgaria's highly qualified IT workforce, digital and railway connectivity, and identifying opportunities for joint initiatives to support Ukraine's recovery. The Japanese side expresses willingness to deepen cooperation by introducing modern Japanese technologies with the aim of avoiding critical problems such as energy security in the context of the war in Ukraine. In addition, the focus is on investments from Japanese companies in Bulgaria, as the two sides will be able to provide potential financial support for projects, including those related to infrastructure in Bulgaria. Last but not least, it is noted that the Japanese side, in cooperation with the Bulgarian one, is striving to strengthen the activities of the Japanese External Trade Organization (JETRO) in Bulgaria, with a focus on reopening the JETRO office in Sofia.
Projects for mineral water extraction and transportation facilities are included in the updated plan for state concessions.
Three new projects for extracting mineral water from drilling sites in Shipkovo, Provadia, and Stefan Karadzovo are included in the Updated Action Plan for State Concessions for the period 2021 - 2027. Three new transportation facilities are also included - Plovdiv Airport, Tutrakan port terminal, and Silistra ferry terminal. The Council of Ministers approved the revised Action Plan for State Concessions for the period 2021-2027, as adopted by the Coordination Council on Concessions. Due to the transfer of ownership of the "Georgi Asparuhov" sports complex to the Sofia municipality, the project has been excluded from the plan. In order to ensure public access and transparency in the state policy on concessions, the revised plan approved by the Council of Ministers will be published in the information section of the National Concession Registry at the address: https://nkr.government.bg.
The contract of the Bulgarian State Railways-Passenger Transport for the provision of public railway transport has been extended until December 2026.
The Cabinet of Ministers also extended the contract of the Bulgarian State Railways-Passenger Transport for the provision of public transport by railway. With the decision made, the contract between the Ministry of Transport and Communications and the passenger operator is extended until December 12, 2026. On June 2, 2025, the Ministry published for public discussion a draft of terms and procedures for awarding public transport services by rail. According to the schedule, it is expected that contracts with selected contractors will be signed by the end of 2025 and the starting date of execution for each of them will be December 13, 2026. The period from the contract signing to the effective date of execution is for the mobilization of the contractors. This measure aims to prevent the interruption of public transportation services for the country's population until the procedure for awarding public transport services by rail is completed.
The efficiency of the State-Public Advisory Commission on Road Safety is increasing. The Council of Ministers has adopted a Regulation on the composition, financing, functions, tasks and procedures for the operation of the State-Public Advisory Commission on Road Safety.
The document has been prepared in accordance with the provisions of the Road Traffic Act and aims to optimize the work of the Commission and increase its effectiveness as an advisory body to the Council of Ministers. With the adoption of the regulation, the following is ensured: • Clear regulation of the composition, functions and procedures of the Commission, with the aim of improving its organizational structure; • Streamlining procedures to ensure efficiency, clear distribution of powers and responsibilities of the relevant institutions, as well as a strengthened ethical commitment to protect the public interest; • Increased coordination in the implementation of the national road safety policy through the establishment of a sustainable mechanism for dialogue, partnership and long-term strategic vision; • Improved planning and monitoring of safety measures with a focus on reducing road traffic injuries. The regulation will contribute to enhancing the expert and coordinating capacity of the Commission, which supports the Council of Ministers in the formulation of policies and decision-making in the field of road safety. Among the main tasks of the Commission are providing opinions on draft legislative acts related to road traffic, assessing measures taken by competent authorities, and proposing budgetary expenses necessary for ensuring road safety.
The government has disposed of properties. The government has provided free of charge 46 properties under state ownership to the National Company "Railway Infrastructure" (NCRI) for management. They are located in the city of Dragoman, Sofia region. This will allow the implementation of a project with national significance "Modernization of the Sofia - Dragoman railway line, section Petarch - Dragoman" from the project "Modernization of the Sofia - Dragoman railway line, part of the Trans-European railway network". The Council of Ministers allowed the establishment of a perpetual limited burden right of way over an area of 5 055 sq.m. through the territory of a land plot in the village of Dospay, Samokov municipality, Sofia region, with identifier 23039.6.34, owned by "Irrigation Systems" EAD. The establishment of the burden right is in favor of "GBS-Real Estate" AD, Sofia. The government has given consent for the sale of real estate owned by "Zeminvest" EAD, Sofia. The sale of assets will be carried out through an electronic auction, with the starting prices not being lower than the market value of the properties. The assessments have been prepared by an independent appraiser certified by the Chamber of Independent Appraisers in Bulgaria. "Zeminvest" AD is a commercial company with 100% state ownership. The state's rights as the sole owner of the company's capital are exercised by the Minister of Agriculture and Food. The Council of Ministers has adopted a decision to gratuitously grant management of property - exclusive state property, representing the Archaeological Reserve "Ancient City of Nikopolis ad Istrum", which has the status of an archaeological reserve of "national importance" and is listed under No.12 in the Appendix to Art. 50, para. 1 of the Cultural Heritage Act. 3 of the"List of Archaeological Reserves", with a mode of permanent use "for architectural monument of culture", thoroughly described in Act for Exceptional State Ownership No. 1831 from August 12, 2024, of Veliko Tarnovo Municipality, Veliko Tarnovo Province for a period of 10 years. The activities related to the preservation of the immovable cultural value, as well as the implementation of other scientific, cultural, educational and tourist activities, will be carried out by the Regional Historical Museum - Veliko Tarnovo, in accordance with the requirements of the Law for Cultural Heritage. The relationships between the museum and Veliko Tarnovo Municipality will be regulated by contract. The government has granted for gratuitous management to the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency a property that is not currently in use by the State Aviation Operator. This ensures access to the field for the future border veterinary medical control base, which will inspect goods arriving by air. The property is located in the area of "Slatina" within the boundaries of Vasil Levski Sofia airport.
The consolidated annual report for internal control in the public sector for the year 2024 has been accepted.
The Council of Ministers has accepted the Consolidated Annual Report for Internal Control in the Public Sector for the year 2024. An analysis of the data on the situation of financial management and control and internal audit in the public sector has been conducted, providing information on the activities of the audit committees and the specialized unit within the Ministry of Finance. The Law on Financial Management and Control in the Public Sector requires the heads of public sector organizations, with the exception of the Supreme Judicial Council and the Court of Audit, to annually submit to the Minister of Finance information on the functioning, adequacy, efficiency and effectiveness of the financial management and control systems. Within the established time frame, information was received on financial management and control from the leaders of all 316 organizations in the public sector (ministries, municipalities, commissions, agencies, and other central administration bodies, whose leaders are the primary budget managers). According to the provided data and development trends, the leaders of 59% of reporting organizations in the public sector have assessed the financial management and control systems in their organization as "very good", while 39% have assessed them as "good". Annual activity reports on internal audit for 2024 have been submitted. Information has been received from 19 ministries (including information about 10 secondary budgetary authorities, trading companies and state enterprises with established internal audit units), 115 municipalities and 21 other primary budgetary authorities. For the reporting year, internal auditors have made a total of 4,862 recommendations for improving audited activities and processes. There has been an increase in the relative share of implemented recommendations, which demonstrates the increased real benefit of internal audit. The consolidated report is prepared on the basis of Art. 20, para. 2 of the Law on Financial Management and Control in the Public Sector and, after its adoption, is presented to the National Assembly and the Supreme Audit Office.
Position of the country approved for the meeting of the Board of Directors of the Black Sea Trade and Development Bank Government approved the position of Bulgaria for the meeting of the Board of Directors of the Black Sea Trade and Development Bank on July 9th, 2025 and authorized the country's director to vote accordingly. The Black Sea Trade and Development Bank is an international financial institution of the participating countries in the Black Sea Economic Cooperation. Its activities are focused on financing and promoting regional projects from the public and private sectors, as well as encouraging commercial activity among shareholder countries.
An agreement has been approved in connection with the establishment of the structure of the International Organization of La Francophonie in Sofia.
The Council of Ministers approved a Draft Decision of the Council of Ministers to approve the Amendment Agreement to the Additional Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Bulgaria and the International Organization of La Francophonie (IOF) regarding the establishment of a structure of the Organization and its privileges and immunities on Bulgarian territory, signed on October 9, 2015 in Yerevan. Bulgaria has been a full member of the International Organization of La Francophonie (IOF) since 1993. Our country is recognized as one of the driving forces behind Francophonie in the Central and Eastern European region, thanks in part to the Francophone Regional Center for Central and Eastern Europe (FRCCIE) in Sofia. The capital of Bulgaria was chosen as its headquarters due to the successes of Bulgarian Francophonie - the unique French language teaching system in bilingual high schools, the development of Francophone departments in universities, and the successful functioning of the Francophone Institute of Administration and Management in Sofia. The agreement regulates the provision of privileges and immunities to employees of FRCCIE by the Bulgarian government, as well as the free right to use and immunity of premises and assets necessary for the organization's functioning. The headquarters of the Francophonie Regional Center for Central and Eastern Europe (FRCCE) in Sofia will be changed, following the approval of the project. This change fulfills our country's obligations under Article 2 of the Agreement between the Republic of Bulgaria and the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF). By fulfilling these commitments, Bulgaria will reaffirm its position as a leading factor for La Francophonie in the Central and Eastern European region.
The Ministry of Energy will sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources of Oman to establish a framework for deepening bilateral relations in the field of energy, based on equality and mutual benefit.
This is the main goal of the Memorandum of Understanding project between the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Bulgaria and the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources of the Sultanate of Oman, approved by the Cabinet at today's meeting as a basis for negotiations. The cooperation provided for in the project includes promoting the participation of companies from both countries in energy trade, as well as the implementation of new investments for renewable energy production and the construction of energy storage facilities. It also involves sharing knowledge and best practices between companies and institutions in the natural gas and oil industries, collaborating on the global liquefied natural gas market, promoting joint energy investments between the two countries, involving qualified specialists from both countries in energy projects, and more. The exchange of energy policies, best practices, and technologies, as well as publicly available energy information, training, and the transfer of expert experience are also among the areas of cooperation outlined in the project. Oman shows a deep interest in Bulgaria's experience in the field of diversifying energy supplies, as well as in the production of renewable energy sources. On its part, Oman's oil and gas industry, which are potential areas of cooperation, are leading in the country's economy, contributing to 72% of its gross domestic product. With today's decision, the Council of Ministers authorized the Minister of Energy to conduct negotiations and sign the memorandum.
"TI ES ING" Ltd. is the new concessionaire of the "Loma-1" field.
The Sofia-based company "TI ES ING" Ltd. is the new concessionaire of the "Loma-1" field, from which construction materials - aggregates, are extracted. The Ministerial Council decided on its meeting today, approving the change requested by the previous concessionaire. The "Loma-1" deposit is located in the Vidin region. The concession for it was granted in June 2018 for a period of 35 years to "Road Company" LTD, Sofia. The possibility for transfer of rights and obligations under a concession is regulated in Article 25, para. 1 and para. 2, item 2 of the Law on Underground Resources. With its decision today, the Ministerial Council authorized the Minister of Energy to sign an additional agreement with the parties within one month for the transfer of rights and obligations under the provided concession.
The social retirement pension will become BGN 333.48 from July 1st.
The government decided to increase the social retirement pension from BGN 307.07 to BGN 333.48 as of July 1st. The change will lead to an increase in pensions not related to work, as their amount is determined by law based on the social pension for old age. These are pensions for military and civilian disability, social disability pension, and personal pension. The sizes of the normatively established supplements to pensions will also be raised - for foreign aid and for war veterans.
The state supports with over 5 million leva the activity of national representative organizations for and by people with disabilities.
The government approved the purpose of subsidies for national representative organizations for and by people with disabilities for the 2025 budget. They are provided for the execution of activities to ensure the rights of people with disabilities, improve their lives, and promote their full inclusion in society. The funds provided by the government cannot be used for economic or investment activities. The provision of financial support from the state is regulated by the Law on People with Disabilities. According to the Law on the State Budget of the Republic of Bulgaria for 2025, the total amount of the subsidy is 5,099,400 Bulgarian leva. The funds will be distributed among 21 national representative organizations for and with people with disabilities. The amount of the subsidy for each of them is individual and is based on their proposals for funding activities that contribute to improving the quality of life and social inclusion of people with disabilities.
Approved changes to the Ordinance on Working Time, Rest and Holidays
The government has adopted changes to the Ordinance on Working Time, Rest and Holidays. They regulate the procedure for fathers (adoptive fathers) to use the leave provided for in the Labor Code due to pregnancy and childbirth, raising a child up to the age of 2 or adopting a child up to the age of 5, when the mother (adoptive mother) is deprived of parental rights or the exercise of parental rights is granted to the father (adoptive father) in accordance with the provisions of the law. With the proposed changes, the texts of the ordinance are synchronized with the Labor Code, clear rules are regulated to avoid difficulties in practice and the emergence of labor disputes. The new regulations change the way leave is used in the event of the death of a relative. It is determined that the two days of leave provided by law can be used by the employee or the worker at once or in parts within a period of 8 days after the death. Other changes regulate that for activities related to maintaining emergency readiness at the Kozloduy NPP, the restrictions on the maximum duration of time for which the worker is at the disposal of the employer outside of working hours will not apply. This creates additional opportunities for organizing activities related to maintaining emergency readiness at the Kozloduy NPP. This is also related to preventing potential risks in activities related to ensuring nuclear safety and radiation protection of the population.
The "National Association of Socially Responsible Employers" was not recognized as a national representative organization.
The government refused to recognize the "National Association of Socially Responsible Employers" as a national representative organization for people with disabilities. The reason is that the organization does not meet two criteria set in the Law for People with Disabilities. The association has not set goals and tasks directly related to the social inclusion of people with disabilities in the last 5 years.
In addition, the organization has not carried out activities in their support, which is why it does not have the necessary 5-year experience required by law.
The government proposes to the National Assembly to familiarize itself with the international standard for safe and healthy working environment. The government has made a decision to propose to the National Assembly the Convention No. 191 of the International Labor Organization (ILO) on safe and healthy working environment, as well as Recommendation No. 207 to it, and Recommendation No. 208 on quality grooming. The documents were adopted during the 111th session of the ILO International Labor Conference held in June 2023 in Geneva, Switzerland. The adoption of Convention No. 191 is related to the inclusion of safe and healthy working environment as the fifth fundamental principle of the ILO. Until now, the freedom of association and effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining have been defined as such; the elimination of all forms of forced or compulsory labor; the effective elimination of child labor and the elimination of discrimination in employment and profession. With the adoption of Convention No.191 and Recommendation No.207 to it, a revision of the preambles and provisions of a number of international labour standards of the ILO is made in order to determine a safe and healthy environment as a fundamental principle of the organization. Through them, Convention No.155 and Convention No.187 of the ILO are defined as fundamental conventions of the organization. Recommendation No. 208 on quality apprenticeship aims to support the opportunities for people of all ages to acquire skills and qualifications in the face of the rapidly changing demands on the labor market. The purpose of the procedure for adopting an act is for the National Assembly, as the legislative body, to be informed about the instruments adopted by the International Labour Organization. The goal is to create public awareness for the adoption of more effective measures at a national level, which correspond to the principle of safe and healthy working conditions. The procedure does not create any other legal obligations for the state.
"MBAL TRAKIYA" EOOD has been designated as a university hospital.
The Council of Ministers has adopted a decision to designate "MBAL TRAKIYA" EOOD, . Stara Zagora gains the status of a university hospital. According to the Law on healthcare institutions, university hospitals are multi-profile or specialized and they carry out activities in the following areas: clinical training of students and doctoral candidates in medicine and/or dental medicine and/or pharmacy; clinical training of students in specialties from the professional field "Healthcare"; postgraduate training of doctors, dentists, pharmacists, and specialists in healthcare. The Council of Ministers, upon the proposal of the Minister of Health, determines which healthcare facilities or their clinics/departments acquire the rights of university hospitals/clinics or departments for the duration of the approval. The proposal of the Minister of Health is based on a motivated request from the respective rector of a higher education institution, coordinated with the head of the medical facility.
Deputy Minister Atanas Kostadinov will represent Bulgaria in the commissions for the protection of the Black Sea and the Danube River.
The Council of Ministers has designated Deputy Minister of Environment and Water Atanas Kostadinov as Bulgaria's representative in the Commission for the Protection of the Black Sea from Pollution and in the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River. The Commission for the Protection of the Black Sea from Pollution was established under the Convention for the Protection of the Black Sea from Pollution, of which the six countries from the Black Sea region (Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania, Russian Federation, Turkey and Ukraine) are parties. Each country participates in the Commission with one representative, who may be accompanied by deputy representatives, advisors, and experts. The work of the Commission and its advisory groups consists of annual meetings of the Commission and working meetings of the advisory groups, which discuss coordinated actions for the protection of the marine environment and living resources, taking into account the economic, social, and health aspects of the problem. The Convention on Cooperation for the Protection and Sustainable Use of the Danube River has been in force for Bulgaria since April 6, 1999. The executive body of the Convention is the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR), which includes representatives from 15 contracting parties: Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Republic of Slovenia, Republic of Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova, Ukraine and the European Commission. The work of the ICPDR is supported by a Secretariat, based in Vienna, Austria. The main task of the ICPDR is transboundary coordination in the development and implementation of the Management Plan for the International Danube River Basin, in accordance with the requirements of the Water Framework Directive. Within the Ministry of Environment and Water, Deputy Minister Atanas Kostadinov is responsible for developing, coordinating and implementing the water management policies. Deputies of the Bulgarian representative in the two commissions will be the director of the Black Sea Basin Directorate, Mr. Yavor Dimitrov - in the Commission for the Protection of the Black Sea from Pollution, and Ms. Rumelia Petrova, director of the Danube Basin Directorate - in the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River.
Additional expenses/transfers for 2025 have been approved.
The Council of Ministers has adopted a draft decision of the Council of Ministers approving additional expenses/transfers for 2025 in the amount of BGN 16,040,000, distributed as follows: 1. additional expenses in the amount of BGN 12,000,000 from the budget of the Ministry of Youth and Sports for financing activities under programs; 2. additional transfer in the amount of BGN 40,000 from the budget of the Isperih municipality for the completion of a sports field in the village of Yonkovo, Isperih municipality. 3 additional transfers of 4,000,000 BGN to the budgets of the municipalities of Stara Zagora, Burgas, Plovdiv, Gabrovo, Montana, Vratsa, Dobrich and Pernik for the functioning of youth centers created under programs financed by the Financial Mechanism of the European Economic Area. The additional expenses/transfers are provided from the expenses allocated for this purpose in the central budget for 2025 in the amount of 9,000,000 BGN and 7,040,000 BGN for restructuring expenses/transfers in the central budget for 2025.
The government has determined a new remuneration for the executive director of the National Revenue Agency.
By its decision, the government updates the basic monthly salary of the executive director of the National Revenue Agency (NRA). This is the first change in the basic monthly salary for the person holding this position since October 2023. The specifics of the work and responsibilities of the executive director for the successful implementation of the main strategic and operational goals of the revenue agency, related to revenue collection, voluntary compliance with obligations of taxpayers and the development of e-services provided by the NAP, have been taken into account. The balance in salary levels, in line with the hierarchy of positions in the agency, will also be maintained after the increases of the basic monthly salaries of employees of the National Revenue Agency in 2024 and 2025, respectively by 10 and 5 percent.
The government has approved changes to the Rural Development Program for the period 2014-2020.
The government has approved the eighteenth amendment to the Rural Development Program for the period 2014 - 2020, with which funds will be redistributed between different priorities and areas. The main focus is the transfer of funds to the budget of measure 4.2 "Investments in Processing/Marketing of Agricultural Products" in the amount of nearly 20 million euros. With these funds, the budget for the last conducted reception under the measure in 2024 was negotiated for all eligible applications for support based on a Decision by the Council of Ministers from May 5th, 2025. As a result of the supported additional project proposals, a significant environmental impact is expected to be achieved from production in the country and investments related to reducing harmful emissions by using technologies for heat energy production and renewable energy sources. The decision ensures a balanced and efficient allocation of the financial resources under the Rural Development Program 2014-2020 in accordance with the set strategic goals and priorities at both national and European levels. The changes will facilitate the implementation of the Program and the successful completion of the programming period. Compensation for legal aid increases The Council of Ministers today approved changes to the Regulation on payment for legal aid, which foresee an increase in compensation for legal aid.
Since the adoption of the Regulation in 2006, the amount of attorney fees has only been changed once, in 2021. At that time, the maximum fees were increased by a different percentage, with the maximum being 40%, while the minimum fees remained unchanged. As a result, lawyers have expressed dissatisfaction with the size of their fees. There has also been an increase in cases of lawyers declining to take on legal assistance cases, as well as being removed from the National Registry for Legal Aid. This hinders the normal functioning of the legal aid system and leads to dissatisfaction and mistrust among citizens. With this decree, the lowest fees for legal aid are increased double, while the highest and most recently updated fees in 2021 are increased by 26%. For the rest, the inflation rate will be applied, calculated from 2009 and 2015. The ordinance is also supplemented by providing fees for new legal means for the protection of citizens, introduced with the latest amendments to the Legal Aid Act in 2022 - consultations and preparation of documents for proceedings on issuing individual administrative acts and their challenge under administrative procedure, as well as representation before non-judicial bodies and in non-judicial procedures.
Bulgaria responds to European Commission request: Access to data on administrative cases is regulated by national legislation, not by the EU General Data Protection Regulation. Access to data on administrative cases is primarily regulated by national procedural rules, while the General Data Protection Regulation 2016/679 of the EU is only applicable as a secondary measure. This was clarified today, after the government adopted a position of Bulgaria in a preliminary ruling request before the Court of Justice of the European Union in Case C-205/25, "Bayerisches Landesamt fur Datenschutzaufsicht". The questions raised concern the right of the complainant to receive complete information from the supervisory authority for the protection of personal data in an appeal procedure against a filed complaint. Our position on the cited case is that even though the supervisory authority has the status of personal data administrator, in cases where it acts as an administrative authority, the provision of materials in administrative proceedings must be carried out according to the corresponding procedural rules established in national legislation, rather than being based on the right of access of the data subject under the General Data Protection Regulation.
The Measures for Protection of Children with Talents Program for 2025 has been adopted by the Council of Ministers. The Ministerial Council has adopted a resolution for the acceptance of the Measures for Protection of Children with Talents Program for 2025, which includes government, municipal, and private schools. The adoption of the Program achieves the necessary specification of measures and clarification of the list of national and international competitions, Olympiads and contests for which funds have been allocated for the year 2025, in accordance with the Regulation on the conditions and procedure for providing protection to children with demonstrated talents. The program provides support for the creative, scientific, and sports talents and needs of children with proven skills in the fields of art and science, ranked first, second, or third place in a competition, Olympiad, or competition at the national or international level, or winners of a gold, silver, or bronze medal at an international Olympiad, competition, or contest in the field of science. In the field of sports, support is given to those ranked first, second, or third in the Olympic Games, World Championships, European Championships, Balkan Championships, or first place in the finals of a national individual championship or student games through a one-time financial aid of up to 195 lev and one-year scholarships of 135 lev per month. The 2025 Program aims to provide financial support to a total of 2500 students from state, municipal, and private schools who have won prizes at national and international competitions, Olympiads, and contests, in accordance with Bulgarian legislation. The selected competitions, Olympiads and contests take place throughout the calendar year of 2025 and have proven high criteria for selecting winners, motivating children to achieve high levels of creativity, scientific and sporting success. The adopted 2025 Program is a logical continuation of the Programs since 2005 in order to provide support for children with exceptional talents. Its effective and consistent implementation is part of the care for the development of the spiritual, creative, and physical potential of young people in Bulgaria. The Cabinet adopted the report on the results of Bulgaria's participation in the meeting of the EU Council "Justice and Home Affairs". The report focused on the section "Justice", which took place on June 12th in Luxembourg, marking the end of the Polish Presidency. Ministers of Justice reached a common approach on a directive for harmonization of certain aspects in the field of insolvency. This will promote cross-border investments within the single market through targeted harmonization of insolvency procedures. A partial common approach has been approved for a draft regulation that will guarantee the rights of adult persons in need of protection or support. Minister Georgi Georgiev informed his colleagues that in the past few days, various checks initiated by the government in Bulgaria have revealed unlawfully operating homes for the elderly. Serious violations have been uncovered in some of them, raising the question of the need for a categorical strengthening of protection for vulnerable elderly people, while also working to criminalize such activities in unlicensed facilities. The Presidency and the Commission presented the current state of the EU's accession process to the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. In connection with the European Public Prosecutor's Office, current information was presented regarding the procedures for selecting a new European Chief Prosecutor and new European prosecutors from seven member states, including Bulgaria. A draft law amending and supplementing the Law on Financial Instruments Markets has been approved. The Council of Ministers has approved a draft law amending and supplementing the Law on Financial Instruments Markets (FIML). The changes introduce requirements and measures for implementing legislative acts of the European Union - Directive (EU) 2024/790 and Regulation (EU) 2024/791, Directive 2014/65/EU and Regulation (EU) 600/2014 into Bulgarian legislation. The goal is to improve the quality and content of data, whose distribution and disclosure will increase the transparency of the capital market. Requirements for annual summarization and publication of the top five execution venues and information on the quality of execution are eliminated, while requirements for data quality and trade synchronization are strengthened. Changes to position limits and position management in commodity derivatives are also included, with updates to administrative measures. Measures are also foreseen to harmonize settlement requirements for financial instruments and rules for the organization and activities of central securities depositories (CSDs), in order to promote secure, efficient, and seamless settlement. In this regard, the powers of the Commission for Financial Supervision are being updated, as well as the requirements for the leadership of the Central Depository and qualified shareholders. A requirement is also established for the central depositories to prepare plans for recovery and organized liquidation, instead of the need to prepare restructuring plans. In accordance with Directive (EU) 2024/2994, the regulations for transactions with transferrable securities and derivative transactions entered into by collective investment companies and investment intermediaries, which have been cleared by a central counterparty (CC), are being amended. Some restrictions on counterparty risk when using a licensed Central Counterparty (CCP) will be removed, and changes are proposed in order to manage the risks of concentration of exposures to CCPs and to counterparties in transactions with derivatives that go through central clearing. In connection with Article 3 of Directive (EU) 2023/2864 and the upcoming establishment of a European Single Access Point, providing centralized access to publicly available information on financial services, capital markets and sustainable development, transitional and final provisions are proposed for amendments to the Public Offering of Securities Act. These provisions define the Financial Supervision Commission (FSC) as the body responsible for collecting data on the information disclosed in accordance with Article 100t(1) of the Public Offering of Securities Act, and specify the scope, content and format of the information. The draft law provides for targeted technical corrections in the Law on Financial Instruments Markets, the Law on the Financial Supervision Commission and the Law on the Introduction of the Euro in the Republic of Bulgaria, in order to ensure full harmonization with Directive (EU) 2019/2034 and Regulation (EU) 2019/2033. Changes have been adopted in the Road Traffic Act regarding fines for using national roads without paying a vignette or toll fee, to be proportional to the severity of the violation. For vehicles over 3.5 tons, a minimum and maximum amount will be set for each case, while fines for cars under 3.5 tons will depend on the price of the annual vignette. This is included in the government-approved draft Law amending the Road Traffic Act. The fine for cars up to 3.5 tons that drive on the national road network without paying the vignette fee is expected to be double the value of the annual vignette or 194 BGN. According to the mitigating circumstances provided in the draft law, if the offender pays the vignette fee within the same calendar day after committing the violation, a penalty of 97 BGN or the cost of the annual vignette will be imposed. Currently, the fine for unpaid vignette fee is 300 BGN. For vehicles over 3.5 tons that pay tolls for using the national roads, a differentiated system of penalties is envisaged. If the violation is committed by a natural person as the driver of the vehicle, three administrative sanction elements are included. The first fine is for unpaid road tax within the calendar day and is expected to be between 116 and 1800 BGN. The second is for a driver who has paid tax for another section of the paid road network. In this case, a fine of 87 to 1500 BGN will be owed. The third fine will be imposed in the event of partially paid road tax as a result of falsely declared data regarding the vehicle category, number of axles, total technical permissible mass and EURO environmental category. In this case, a penalty of 78 to 1300 BGN is anticipated. When determining the amount of the punishment, the maximum fee for the corresponding vehicle category, according to Article 106, paragraph 5 of the Roads Act, has been taken into account. The text of the Law stipulates that fines for violations by a natural or legal person as the owner of a vehicle will be in the same amount. Therefore, for unpaid road tolls within a calendar day, a fine of 116 to 1800 BGN is envisaged. If a road toll has been paid for a different section of the paid road network and a violation is established in another section, the perpetrator will owe a fine of 87 to 1500 BGN, and for falsely declared data regarding the category of the vehicle, the number of axles, the total technical allowable maximum weight and the Euro emissions category - from 78 to 1300 BGN. The proposed changes in the approved legislation were made as a result of a decision by the Court of Justice of the European Union, initiated by a preliminary reference from the Administrative Court - Haskovo, to address discrepancies between the existing punishment system in Bulgaria and the rights of the European Union regarding the use of paid road network. The government has taken measures to accelerate the procedures for traffic offenses. The package of legislative changes adopted by the government aims to speed up criminal proceedings and proceedings related to road traffic injuries. Proposals for changes in the Criminal Procedure Code provide for the interrogation of material witnesses to be carried out through video conferencing or telephone conference, when experts are prevented from appearing before the court for valid reasons or when they request it from the court. For proceedings in which the expertise has been assigned to several material witnesses, it is expressly provided that the interrogation of each of them can be carried out through video conferencing or telephone conference. The purpose of expanding the cases in which the interrogation of material witnesses can be conducted remotely is to limit the cases of postponement of cases due to the absence of material witnesses. The requirements for experts in the field of forensic automotive expertise are increasing, with the introduction of an exam to recognize their qualifications, as well as an annual increase in their professional qualifications. Exceptions to these rules will only apply to those holding the academic positions of "associate professor" or "professor" at higher education institutions, research organizations or the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. The regulatory changes also provide for lists of accredited individuals to be updated and supplemented twice a year by committees responsible for approving the lists of accredited individuals, which will also meet twice a year. The Ministry of Justice is proposing an update to the fees related to procedures for Bulgarian citizenship. The Ministry of Justice is proposing an amendment to Rate No. 1 of the State Fees Act, which collects fees from the courts, the prosecution, investigative services, and the Ministry of Justice. The aim is to align the amount of state fees paid in citizenship-related procedures with the institution of citizenship as part of state sovereignty, national security, and national identity. The changes envisage a ten-fold increase in the fees for applications for acquisition and restoration of Bulgarian citizenship. A five-fold increase in fees is being proposed for requests for release of Bulgarian citizenship and for issuing citizenship certificates. For some other activities related to issuing various certificates for Bulgarian citizenship, the fees will be doubled. An amendment to the Tourism Act has been approved by the government. The Council of Ministers has adopted a draft decision approving the amendment to the Tourism Act. The reasons for amendments to the Tourism Act (TA) are driven by the need to bring the law in line with the Codes of Liberalization of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development in order to equalize requirements for foreign tour operators, travel agents, hoteliers, restaurateurs, ski schools, providers of balneotherapy (medical SPA), SPA, wellness and thalassotherapy services in certified centers, and persons practicing the professions of "tour guide", "mountain guide" and "ski instructor" from OSCE member states outside the European Union, compared to Bulgarian providers of tourism services in order to prevent discrimination. In compliance with the Roadmap for the Actions of the Republic of Bulgaria towards joining the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), adopted by Decision No. 789 of the Council of Ministers in 2017, an Agreement was concluded between the Government of the Republic of Bulgaria and the OECD for conducting a review for the country's accession to the Code of Liberalization of Capital Movements and the Code of Liberalization of Current Invisible Operations, ratified by law and promulgated in the State Gazette, issue 16 of 2019, in force since February 8, 2019. The measures set out in the Roadmap are being implemented through amendments to the Tourism Act.
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