site.btaBulgarian Businesses Cautiously Optimistic for 2026, Shows Survey Conducted before Draft Budget Release

Bulgarian businesses have restrained but positive expectations for economic development in 2026, according to the findings presented by the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) from the Eurochambres Economic Survey 2026 (EES2026). This is the 33rd edition of the survey and is coordinated by the Association of European Chambers of Commerce and Industry (EUROCHAMBRES), with the support of the network of chambers of commerce and industry, BCCI reported in the latest issue of its online bulletin “Infobusiness” on Tuesday.

The BCCI added that the survey was conducted through questionnaire-based interviews with companies in September 2025. "However, the period in which it was carried out avoids many of the negative assessments of expectations and the business environment that Bulgarian entrepreneurs would give now, considering the announced draft state budget for 2026," the Chamber stressed. 

The new edition is based on the contributions of 28 national chambers of commerce and industry and 41,090 European enterprises, a large proportion of which are small and medium-sized, BCCI notes.

BCCI is EUROCHAMBRES’ partner for the Bulgarian segment of the survey for the 27th consecutive year. More than 800 entrepreneurs - representatives of Bulgarian business - shared their expectations, exceeding the minimum requirement of 400 respondents. In this way, BCCI doubled the representativeness of the survey this year and covered larger groups from various industries and sectors of the Bulgarian economy, the organization comments.

In line with established practice, BCCI has sent the survey results to the state institutions to support their work in planning and implementing reforms.

Specifically for Bulgaria, the challenges are ranked as follows: labour costs (58% of respondents), lack of skilled workers (56% of respondents), and financial conditions (50% of respondents).

The three biggest business challenges for next year, as identified by respondents at the European level, are: labour costs, regulatory burden, and the lack of skilled workers.

Among the key policy messages of the European Economic Survey 2026 are: ensuring predictability and financial support for managing excessive production costs; promoting digital and smarter simplification; reducing fragmentation of the single market; skills as a competitive advantage; driving the green transition through affordable energy; and expanding Europe’s opportunities in global trade.