site.btaMedia Review: May 19

OVERVIEW

All media report on Romania's president-elect, Nicusor Dan, who won the presidential elections in a closely contested race against hard-line nationalist George Simion.

EURO AREA MEMBERSHIP

In an interview for Nova TV taken on Sunday night, former GERB-UDF MP Radomir Cholakov said that President Rumen Radev's desire to thwart Bulgaria joining the euro area cost Bulgaria BGN 1 billion. Cholakov alleged that Radev was aware that his proposal for a referendum was unconstitutional. The former MP said: "Why did he raise this question then? Since Radev is doing it anyway, it means that he wants to achieve a political effect – to create noise in the party system of parliament and tension in society. If the President wants to make crises, he is already on his way to succeeding."

POLITICS

In an interview for bTV from Sunday night, rapper, former MP and current MEP Hristo Petrov, more famous under his stage name Itso (Gamble) Hazarta speaks about his experience from working both in Bulgaria's National Assembly and in the European Parliament. Petrov shared that when compared to Bulgaria's Parliament, few places of work seem worse. He continued: "One of the first things that made a very strong impression on me here was at the first plenary session in Strasbourg. There is a lady from Romania, Diana Sosoaca, who, at one of the first sittings, came with some sacks, some muzzles, and started swearing, shouting. It was rather embarrassing. Then, on the third occasion, when she continued to behave in this way, the President said, 'Madam, I have put up with you enough. Leave the chamber,' at which point politeness, political correctness, and niceness took a backseat, as some bailiffs showed up, grabbed her by the collar and threw her out of the chamber like an old rag, without taking into account whether she was an MEP or whatever."

Petrov expressed hope that similar measures will be implemented in Bulgaria's National Assembly, since "[...] most of your time there is spent fighting with someone not to break your microphone cord or throw gum at you, at which point it is a little hard to do legislative work. Those shenanigans are not tolerated here [in the European Parliament]."

One of the projects that Petrov is working on in Strasbourg is to introduce a procedure that would allow people raised by adopted parents to learn about their biological origins.

TRANSPORT

An analysis in 24 Chasa looks at the labour conditions experienced by Sofia's surface public transport workers in the context of the ongoing protests in the city. The article suggests that while an average gross monthly salary of BGN 3,900 (which is the reported amount in Sofia's public transport) may seem like a lot, compared to Sofia's average gross monthly salary of BGN 3,300, given that the city concentrates a large share of the most highly qualified and educated personnel in the country. The text continues: "However, there is also a problem of labour supply – unemployment in the city is very low, the unemployed most likely do not have the necessary skills or desire, and it is unlikely that many would be willing to work in public transport. Working conditions, long shifts and overtime also matter, not just the salary. If the municipality wants to take a strong stand against industrial action, it needs to demonstrate that it can replace current workers. This, however, does not seem possible. Labour cost formation in public organizations is a long conversation. It depends on the way bargaining is done, on the internal rules of the particular institution, administration or state-owned company, on the way the bargaining process is set up, on whether there is a trade union... The list is long. The obvious challenge is the lack of a market – while in private business the employer pays the minimum that would allow to hire the desired worker and then not lose that worker to the competition, such a mechanism is absent in this case or at least much more inefficient."

Mediapool.bg reports that the Ministry of Education set up a board on May 16, which has asked all school principals to urgently ask matriculants if they have a way to be transported on the day of their exams. So far, about 350 students have said they have no transport options to get to their assigned school. So far, 54 school buses with a total of 1,388 seats have been mobilized to address the issue. The Ministry believes that at least 60 buses with more than 1,500 seats will be secured by Wednesday. In addition, all entities under the Ministry have been directed to make their vehicles available on matriculation exam days.

On Saturday, Sofia Mayor Vassil Terziev announced that his municipality's efforts are aimed at the smooth conduct of the matriculation exams for high school graduates on May 21 and 23. He wrote on Facebook: "If the transport workers' unions nevertheless decide to risk the future of these young people, Sofia Municipality declares that it will mobilize all its resources to participate in ensuring the smooth movement of young people who need to get to their exams on time." The Mayor urged the Education Ministry to collaborate on a plan to provide transportation for matriculants to the schools where the exams will be held.

DEFENCE

In an interview for Mediapool.bg, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Innovation and Growth Tomislav Donchev spoke about the second EU programming period (2014–2020), which Bulgaria officially closed at the end of 2023. Donchev reported that the country lost approximately EUR 73 million from operational programmes, however, the biggest financial loss came from the Just Transition Fund (2021–2027), where over EUR 96 million were forfeited due to Bulgaria's failure to submit timely territorial transition plans for its three coal regions: Stara Zagora, Kyustendil, and Pernik. The total unutilized EU funds reach about EUR 170 million or BGN 340 million—funds that could have supported critical infrastructure like roads, tunnels, and water systems.

Unlike the backlash after the first programming period (where EUR 5 million were lost under the Fisheries Program), the current losses are larger and affect major programmes such as Transport, Environment, Maritime and Fisheries, Education, and Innovation and Competitiveness—the latter typically being a high-performing fund.

Donchev pointed out that the decline in performance can be attributed to both technical and political challenges. Closing a programming period demands careful over-contracting strategies to fully utilize funds without burdening the national budget. For instance, if a public procurement is projected at BGN 100 million and the winning bid is BGN 85 million, the remaining BGN 15 million must be quickly redirected, which requires precision and administrative competence, which appeared lacking during the closure phase, resulting in inefficiencies.

Politically, between 2015 and 2020, the EU fund management system was stable and robust. Post-2020, however, Bulgaria saw extreme political volatility with seven different governments over a short period—this instability disrupted continuity in fund management. More alarming is the state of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. In four years, only 8% of the allocated funds were disbursed. The country now faces the difficult task of paying out the remaining 92%—around EUR 5.7 billion—within just over a year.

Seven major projects totalling about BGN 950 million were placed on a “blacklist” for being unrealizable—most due to the absence of public procurement processes. These include water infrastructure (EUR 300 million), an aerospace research centre (EUR 110 million), upgrades to the emergency phone number 112 (EUR 47 million), geothermal drilling (EUR 337 million), green hydrogen (EUR 64 million), and more.

In addition, 13 projects on a "grey list" have seen budget cuts and partial downsizing. Projects that remain viable must be implemented by August 2026. Some failed projects, however, may be revived through other EU programmes—for example, water projects may shift to the Environment Programme, and aerospace initiatives could receive funding under research and innovation schemes.

Any funds that cannot be absorbed by the 2026 deadline will be redirected to support Bulgaria’s defence industry. The European Commission has proposed expanding the scope of Cohesion Policy to include five new priority areas, including defence. Bulgaria plans to invest around BGN 100 million in this area, pending changes in EU legislation.

There are plans to produce military drones domestically. A national competition will be launched to develop at least three drone prototypes, with up to 40 units of each produced for testing by the Bulgarian military. The best model will then go into mass production—potentially in three new drone manufacturing plants.

Bulgaria currently has 16 defence-related factories, including the state-owned TEREM and private Samel 90, which already produces kamikaze drones. Other firms are developing reconnaissance and anti-drone systems. The mechanical engineering sector also has the capacity to contribute.

Another strategic objective is to begin domestic production of electronic warfare systems and anti-drone solutions to protect critical infrastructure such as airports and power plants.

The defence sector overhaul will include a shift from Warsaw Pact-era artillery to NATO standards, specifically the 155mm calibre. This modernization will aim not only to enhance military capability but also stimulate economic and industrial growth within Bulgaria.

BALKANS

An article in 24 Chasa describes the political path of Romania's president-elect Dan, who established the Save Bucharest Union. Dan came second in the first round of elections behind his opponent Simion, who was first with 41% of the vote, nearly double of what Dan had. High voter turnout in the runoff at nearly 65% seems to have had a positive effect on Dan's campaign, who won 54% of the vote.

bTV quoted Simion, who congratulated Dan and stated that his victory was the result of the Romanian people's will.

Trud quotes Russian political activist Aleksandr (Alexander) Dugin who criticized on x.com French President Emmanuel Macron for interfering in the elections. According to Dugin, Europe needs a "full scale revolution" to restore correct representation of the will of the people, since the EU is "pure liberal dictatorship".

HEALTHCARE

Trud reports on a forum organized by the Bulgarian Medical Association. Participants in the event pointed out that the health insurance contribution in Bulgaria is the lowest in the European Union at only 8%, which leads to a chronic deficit in the system and hinders its sustainable development. A statement released by the Association reads: "Bulgaria is the country that spends the lowest percentage of its Gross Domestic Product on healthcare in the entire European Union - a fact that directly affects the access and quality of medical care for Bulgarian citizens. The financial resources at the disposal of the system are extremely insufficient to adequately provide for medical activity. Hospitals and medical centres are working on the edge of survival on a daily basis, and medical specialists are put in a situation where they receive remuneration for European work that does not even meet the minimum standards in the EU."

The Bulgarian Medical Association calls for raising the health contribution and guaranteeing its full payment by the state, as well as for increasing the percentage of GDP allocated to healthcare. The forum concluded: "Claims that more money is being spent on healthcare every year are not true. On the contrary, against the background of rising inflation and the inclusion of new activities covered by the NHIF [National Health Insurance Fund], money for health is actually less since the start of the reform more than 20 years ago."

CULTURE

bTV reports that Ivan Vazov National Theatre in Sofia will sell discounted tickets in person between May 21 and 24 to mark May 24, the Day of the Holy Brothers Cyril and Methodius, of the Bulgarian Alphabet, Education and Culture and of Slav Letters. Tickets purchased in that time frame will cost either EUR 5 or EUR 10.