Bulgaria plans to inject nearly 27 million leva into Irrigation Systems EAD to fund repairs at the Pyasachnik dam pumping station, Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov told the National Association of Grain Producers. The cabinet will vote on the proposal at its next session, according to the government press center.
Zhelyazkov and Agriculture Minister Georgi Tahov pledged continued backing for the grain sector while outlining recent policy advances spanning land use regulations, lease frameworks, water management, and agricultural property safeguards. Officials highlighted modernization efforts at Irrigation Systems EAD, expanded Strategic Plan funding, Danube River access improvements, and streamlined administrative procedures for subsidy...
Former Energy Minister Alexander Nikolov has indicated that potential purchasers of Bulgarian energy assets are conducting exploratory discussions abroad rather than domestically, with negotiations likely contingent on outcomes from Swiss diplomatic talks regarding the conflict and broader geopolitical agreements. Speaking on a television program, Nikolov characterized Lukoil as the nation's most significant economic entity while criticizing the current political establishment for engaging in mutual recriminations instead of substantive policy work.
Bulgaria occupies a strategically vital position as an eastern gateway to the European Union and a natural stabilizing force in the Balkans, Nikolov argued, noting the country possesses gas...
A Bulgarian defense attorney has argued that his client, Varna Mayor Blagomir Kotsev, should receive the most lenient detention option available as a hearing approaches on changing the current custody arrangement. Lawyer Nikolay Vladimirov expressed confidence that authorities would ultimately clear his client of all charges and that the lightest restrictions would allow Kotsev to resume municipal duties. The attorney noted that separate administrative proceedings to strip the mayor of office should have no bearing on the criminal matter.
Kotsev arrived at a Varna detention facility after being transferred from the capital, where supporters and family members gathered to demonstrate solidarity. Authorities arrested the mayor months...
Bulgarian Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov pledged his government's commitment to diplomatic efforts addressing the Ukraine conflict during consultations with European Union leadership. The premier argued that Ukrainian territorial integrity remains inseparable from continental stability while praising American mediation attempts under President Trump's administration.
Zhelyazkov stressed that any settlement framework requires trilateral coordination among Washington, Brussels and Kyiv to prove sustainable. He warned that negotiation approaches will carry lasting implications for regional order while maintaining that Ukrainians alone possess authority over their national trajectory. The prime minister advocated for concrete security...
Sofia will enforce expanded low-emission zone restrictions affecting heavily polluting vehicles, according to Deputy Mayor Nadezhda Bobcheva during a broadcast appearance. The regulation bars older vehicle categories from entering the broader perimeter while authorities pursue complementary environmental strategies.
Municipal officials partnered with Air for Health to distribute school guides addressing pollution response protocols, indoor air quality improvements, and outdoor exercise timing recommendations. Parking rate increases in blue and green zones aim to cut circling traffic by up to 30 percent as drivers search for spaces.
A 6 million leva initiative will install vegetation along major thoroughfares and create a living facade...
Bulgaria's border police chief, Anton Zlatanov, addressed students at the University of Library Studies and Information Technologies as part of security awareness programming, emphasizing institutional cooperation between his directorate and anti-corruption units. The presentation complemented an earlier session led by Boyan Raev from the corruption prevention division, demonstrating coordination between ministries safeguarding national interests.
Officers Petar Todor and Valentin Vassilev from the Malko Tarnovo station showcased canine unit capabilities through tactical demonstrations that highlighted handler-dog partnerships developed through rigorous conditioning. Attendees engaged Zlatanov and frontline personnel with queries about...
Bulgarian pharmacy operators warned that delayed government reimbursements threaten medication access as healthcare officials finalize spending allocations from reserve accounts. Adelina Lyubenova, representing the Initiative Committee of Master Pharmacists, explained that retail outlets cannot replenish inventory when state payments lag behind distribution costs, particularly affecting rural communities served by limited facilities.
Nearly 300 pharmaceutical products remain in short supply while regulatory caps restrict profit margins to 30 leva on treatments costing up to 50,000 leva. Business owners demand inclusion in contract negotiations with the National Health Insurance Fund, seeking reduced administrative requirements and...
Industrial lobby chief Vasil Velev accused Bulgarian authorities of ignoring employer proposals that would preserve fiscal balance without raising payroll levies affecting two million workers. The Association of Industrial Capital chairman argued that accelerating contribution rates from 53 to 58 percent will cost average earners roughly 100 leva monthly by 2027, while enriching defense and law enforcement personnel whose compensation jumped 50 percent.
Business leaders predict the dividend levy will shrink treasury receipts rather than curb luxury spending, since corporations purchase yachts and aircraft instead of individuals. Velev warned that projected VAT growth by one-third remains unattainable given current economic expansion...
Bulgarian labor confederation CITUB staged a theatrical demonstration outside parliament, demanding 62 million euros in additional public sector compensation. Union organizers dressed as Santa Claus and Snow White distributed empty gift boxes to symbolize inadequate wage provisions for state employees at agencies such as the National Revenue Agency, Bulgarian Post and social assistance offices.
Chief economist Lyuboslav Kostov argued that budget allocations fell short of private sector wage growth while leaving transport and postal workers without meaningful raises. Demonstrators blocked Tsar Osvoboditel Boulevard while calling on legislators to guarantee a minimum 10 percent salary increase before euro adoption takes effect.
