https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/rss Thu, 09 Jul 2026 04:58:29 +0300 en hourly 1 https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/1163729-bulgarian-pm-discusses-with-westinghouse-representatives-project-for-units-7-and https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/1163729-bulgarian-pm-discusses-with-westinghouse-representatives-project-for-units-7-and Wed, 08 Jul 2026 21:41:32 +0300 Prime Minister Rumen Radev met with Westinghouse representatives on Wednesday at the Council of Ministers. At the meeting, the implementation of the preliminary engineering activities for the project to build Units 7 and 8 of the Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant was discussed, the Government Information Service reported. The two sides also discussed issues related to the completion of the feasibility study on the timeline for the construction of the new units, as well as the expected final cost. The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Galab Donev, and US Embassy Charge d’Affaires Martin McDowell. The new units at the Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant could add EUR 55 billion to the Bulgarian economy, Kozloduy NPP - New Builds CEO Petyo Ivanov said in May. Bulgaria Risida Dimitrova Nikolay Trifonov https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/1163716-constitutional-court-judge-atanasova-presents-documents-to-disprove-interior-min https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/1163716-constitutional-court-judge-atanasova-presents-documents-to-disprove-interior-min Wed, 08 Jul 2026 21:19:18 +0300 Constitutional Court Judge Desislava Atanasova did not leave Turkiye while she was in the country between April 5 and 8, 2024, and was not on a business trip, a press release sent to the media by the Constitutional Court’s press office said. On July 2, Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev said in Parliament that Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) leader Delyan Peevski had made 227 departures from Sofia Airport since 2018, including 181 by private aircraft, and that joint bookings with 81 other people were being checked. Demerdziev also said that Peevski and Atanasova had travelled together from Sofia to Dubai on April 5, 2024, before later correcting part of his comments and saying the anti-organized crime report he had relied on contained an incorrect date. Atanasova denied the claim, saying she travelled from Sofia to Istanbul and back on scheduled Turkish Airlines flights and remained in Turkiye between April 5 and 8, 2024.  Wednesday's position of Atanasova reads: "In connection with the false public allegations made by Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev regarding my trips abroad, and in light of significant public interest, I am providing additional documents and information regarding the manner, location, and timing of my trips outside Bulgaria during the period of April 5-8, 2024." "In addition to the statement I have already released, to which I attached documents certifying that during the period of April 5-8, 2024, I flew on the Sofia-Istanbul-Sofia route on commercial flights operated by Turkish Airlines, I am also attaching an officially issued certificate from the Republic of Turkiye, Istanbul Provincial Police Directorate, which states that I resided solely on the territory of the Republic of Turkiye and did not leave the country between the two flights on the Sofia-Istanbul-Sofia route," Atanasova adds. In light of media interest and the questions directed at the Constitutional Court, Atanasova said she would like to clarify that her diplomatic passport was issued by the Foreign Ministry in accordance with the Bulgarian Identity Documents Act. The rules for using this document are determined by its issuer, the Foreign Ministry, the statement further notes. Atanasova states that she was not on a business trip to the Republic of Turkiye during the period of April 5-8, 2024. During that period, the Constitutional Court did not hold any sessions, and Atanasova did not submit a notice regarding the use of leave. "I consider the facts presented and the attached documents to be sufficient to clarify the circumstances. The attached documents are an integral part of this statement," Atanasova further stated. "In all our actions, we have been guided by the law, and the information we received was obtained in accordance with the procedures and methods prescribed by law," Ivan Demerdzhiev said earlier Wednesday. According to him, the shift in focus toward Constitutional Court Justice Desislava Atanasova suggests a willingness to make her a scapegoat. She is something of an indirect victim in this case, someone who happened to be on the list of people who made reservations and may have traveled with Peevski. On July 5, Demerdzhiev said in a televised interview that Atanasova may have used both her personal and diplomatic passports for travel, which was improper. Bulgaria Risida Dimitrova Nikolay Trifonov https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/1163718-election-code-reform-push-reopens-debate-on-machine-voting-polling-abroad https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/1163718-election-code-reform-push-reopens-debate-on-machine-voting-polling-abroad Wed, 08 Jul 2026 20:58:54 +0300 At Wednesday's plenary sitting of Bulgaria's National Assembly, Continue the Change moved draft amendments to the Election Code, triggering a broad political debate over the future of machine voting, voting abroad, and election integrity safeguards. Parliamentary parties are divided over whether to restore full-scale machine voting, expand voting sections beyond the EU, and abolish the suspended separate constituency for Bulgarians abroad. The amendments seek to fully restore machine voting, machine-produced printed tally sheets, introducing a four-seat multimember constituency abroad for parliamentary elections, digitizing electoral rolls, and using ID card scanners at polling sites. MP Stoyu Stoev said previous concerns about machine voting had been disproved by a 2022 Central Election Commission analysis, which found discrepancies were caused by human error, and argued that the lack of a constituency abroad reflects a lack of political will rather than technical obstacles. Vazrazhdane Deputy Floor Leader Peter Petrov said his parliamentary group will support the introduction of fully machine-based voting, but not the provisions allowing paper ballots to be used in voting sections with fewer than 300 registered voters. Petrov said Vazrazhdane would also oppose the motion to scrap the limit on the number of voting sections in non-EU countries, citing the party's longstanding position on polling stations in Turkiye. He said Vazrazhdane had advocated exclusively machine-based voting for the past several years because, as he argued, paper ballots had resulted in widespread irregularities and electoral fraud, issues that were also addressed by the Constitutional Court in 2025. Democratic Bulgaria Floor Leader Nadejda Iordanova said the ruling majority supports two long-standing priorities of her parliamentary group: restoring machine voting as the main voting method and removing the cap on voting sections outside the EU. However, she said Democratic Bulgaria would oppose the abolition of the multimember constituency abroad at second reading and would seek broader consultations on stricter enforcement of the ban on publishing opinion poll results during the prohibited period. Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev said his Ministry is well placed to share in certifying voting machine software and vote-counting software, as proposed by Progressive Bulgaria. He said the Ministry's Cybercrime Directorate would oversee the process and argued that involving the Ministry would help strengthen public confidence that both voting machines and tallying software function properly, noting that machine voting has been associated with fewer invalid votes and fewer manipulation concerns. GERB-UDF opposed a return to machine-only voting, with MP Stefan Arsov arguing that the current mixed paper-machine system works well and should be kept for future elections. The parliamentary group said it would vote against Progressive Bulgaria's motion for fixed voting and would approach the Foreign Ministry and the Central Election Commission about information on the share of voters using paper ballots and machines, while awaiting further assessment on whether to remove the cap on voting sections in non-EU countries. Later on Wednesday, the newly appointed CEC held its first working meeting with its Public Council, focusing on machine voting, election transparency and cooperation with civil society organizations. The Public Council presented an analysis of machine voting. Participants discussed a proposal to establish a joint working group to review the process for verifying voting machines and the mechanism for printing and producing paper records during machine voting. They also discussed preparations for the CEC's upcoming awareness raising campaign on voters' rights and responsibilities, as well as ways to harness the Public Council's expertise in developing the Commission's public information initiatives. Bulgaria Tatiana Marinova https://www.bta.bg/en/news/world/1163607-bulgaria-poland-discuss-defence-industry-cooperation https://www.bta.bg/en/news/world/1163607-bulgaria-poland-discuss-defence-industry-cooperation Wed, 08 Jul 2026 19:40:00 +0300 Expanding cooperation between Bulgaria and Poland in defence and the defence industry was the focus of talks between Bulgaria's Deputy Defence Minister Katerina Gramatikova-Ivanova and Poland's Deputy Minister of National Defence Magdalena Sobkowiak-Czarnecka, who is visiting Bulgaria with a government and business delegation, the Bulgarian Defence Ministry said on Wednesday. The meeting was attended by Deputy Economy Minister Mihaela Karadimova, Deputy Chief of Defence Lieutenant General Krasimir Kanev, and representatives of both ministries. The Polish delegation included representatives of state institutions related to defence, security and the defence industry. Gramatikova-Ivanova emphasized the two countries' long-standing defence partnership, which forms a basis for developing future active cooperation in the implementation of modernization projects aimed at enhancing combat capabilities in line with NATO and EU initiatives to strengthen the Alliance's Eastern Flank. Sobkowiak-Czarnecka said Poland could contribute significant technological, industrial and operational expertise to defence projects. She expressed Poland's readiness to work closely with Bulgarian institutions and the defence industry to identify concrete opportunities for cooperation and develop projects aimed at boosting the effectiveness, autonomy and competitiveness of Europe's defence sector. The Bulgarian side presented the Armed Forces' key modernization projects, including the nine proposals Bulgaria has submitted to the European Commission for funding under the SAFE mechanism. It also stressed the Defence Ministry's commitment to involving Bulgarian companies in their implementation. The participants agreed that strong partnerships and alliances would support joint applications for funding under the EU's next Multiannual Financial Framework. The talks also covered opportunities for Bulgarian-Polish cooperation beyond the SAFE framework, including military-technical cooperation, aircraft maintenance, space technologies, the production of unmanned systems and counter-drone capabilities, and the use of military educational institutions to enhance personnel training. World Kristina Ivanova https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1163634-bulgaria-and-romania-discuss-sending-tourism-attache-to-bucharest https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1163634-bulgaria-and-romania-discuss-sending-tourism-attache-to-bucharest Wed, 08 Jul 2026 19:35:14 +0300 Tourism Minister Ilin Dimitrov met with Romanian Ambassador to Bulgaria Brandusa Predescu to discuss a project to send a tourism attache to Bucharest, the Tourism Ministry reported on Wednesday.  The project is expected to strengthen Bulgaria’s presence on the Romanian market, support the development of partnerships with the tourism industry and contribute to the more effective promotion of this country as a year-round tourist destination. The meeting also focused on specific initiatives for more active cooperation between the tourism sectors of the two countries, the better presentation of Bulgarian destinations and the promotion of travel in all seasons. In 2025, Bulgaria welcomed nearly 1.4 million visitors from Romania, who choose this country not only for summer holidays but also for short weekend trips, cultural tourism, spa tourism and balneotherapy. Dimitrov said that Romania is one of the most important markets for Bulgarian tourism. "Given the strong interest shown by Romanian tourists, we must work not only for more trips but also for a higher quality of the tourism product,” he added. Predescu praised the Tourism Ministry’s new strategy for the Romanian market. She said that the messages set out in it meet the expectations of Romanians and have the potential to present Bulgaria in an even more convincing way. She noted that this country is already a well-known and preferred destination for Romanian tourists throughout the year, while alongside the strong interest, the price-quality ratio of the tourism service is becoming increasingly important. As a next step, Dimitrov proposed the organization of a B2B forum with the participation of tour operators from Bulgaria and Romania. The aim is to create new partnerships, present Bulgarian tourism products more successfully and develop joint offers for short trips, spa and balneo tourism, cultural routes and year-round visits. The Tourism Ministry also honoured Sebastian Constantinescu for his contribution to promoting Bulgaria in Romania. The certificate was presented by Deputy Minister Mariela Modeva in recognition of the long-standing work of the Travel Planner platform in presenting this country to the Romanian public.  Constantinescu stressed that Bulgaria remains a leading destination for Travel Planner, noting that the platform has more than 1,000 materials about this country and reaches millions of users annually. Balkans Tatiana Marinova https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/1163642-parliamentary-tourism-committee-chair-meets-japan-s-ambassador-to-bulgaria https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/1163642-parliamentary-tourism-committee-chair-meets-japan-s-ambassador-to-bulgaria Wed, 08 Jul 2026 18:55:12 +0300 Parliamentary Tourism Committee Chair Rositsa Kirova met with Japan’s Ambassador to Bulgaria Chikahisa Sumi, the Committee said in a press release on Wednesday. The sides discussed prospects for deepening bilateral cooperation in a number of areas of mutual interest, including tourism. Kirova noted the excellent friendly relations between the two countries, which were elevated to the level of a strategic partnership in May 2025. The two sides discussed opportunities for increasing tourist exchanges between Bulgaria and Japan. "Bulgaria has great potential, and I hope that through various joint initiatives we can promote our country’s cultural and historic heritage, natural attractions, balneological and spa tourism, as well as wine and culinary tourism, thereby attracting more tourists from Japan," she said. The Japanese Ambassador emphasized that Japanese culture and cuisine are also enjoying growing popularity among Bulgarians, and there has been an increase in the number of Bulgarian visitors to Japan. The two sides confirmed their readiness to continue working to create new opportunities and expand existing ones for cooperation in the field of tourism and other areas of mutual interest to both countries. Bulgaria Risida Dimitrova https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/1163626-four-suspects-including-german-national-arrested-for-child-pornography https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/1163626-four-suspects-including-german-national-arrested-for-child-pornography Wed, 08 Jul 2026 18:54:47 +0300 A 75-year-old German man was arrested on Wednesday near the village of Iskra, in Bulgaria's southeastern Karnobat Municipality, during a joint operation by Bulgaria's General Directorate Combating Organized Crime (GDCOC) and the German authorities targeting an organized criminal group involved in child pornography, the GDCOC reported. A total of four suspected members of the organized criminal group were arrested simultaneously in Iskra. The law enforcement operation followed investigative work and information indicating that the German suspect was hiding in the village. The arrest was made by the fugitive search unit of the General Directorate National Police with the assistance of the Burgas Regional Directorate of the Ministry of Interior (RDMI). German police officers involved in the investigation into the criminal group in Germany also took part in the operation on the ground.  The German man was taken to the Burgas RDMI, where further procedures are being carried out for his surrender under the Extradition and European Arrest Warrant Act. Bulgaria Valentin Evstatiev BTA correspondent Galya Teneva https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/1163568-foreign-student-numbers-continue-to-grow-at-national-sports-academy-in-sofia https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/1163568-foreign-student-numbers-continue-to-grow-at-national-sports-academy-in-sofia Wed, 08 Jul 2026 17:46:00 +0300 Around 100 international students from 16 countries are currently enrolled in bachelor's programmes at the National Sports Academy in Sofia, the academy told BTA. The academy also has 10 foreign master's students from six countries, as well as eight doctoral students from Greece, China, Cyprus and Albania. The most popular programmes for foreign students are Kinesitherapy and Sport. The number of international students at the academy has grown steadily over the years, the academy said, adding that this reflects not only its affordable tuition but also the quality of its education, with students praising the professionalism of the faculty and the modernized facilities. Bulgaria Dimitrina Vetova Filip Pavlov https://www.bta.bg/en/news/economy/1163518-parliament-s-social-policy-committee-approves-2026-state-budget-bill-at-first-re https://www.bta.bg/en/news/economy/1163518-parliament-s-social-policy-committee-approves-2026-state-budget-bill-at-first-re Wed, 08 Jul 2026 17:16:03 +0300 The parliamentary Labour, Demographic and Social Policy Committee approved the 2026 State Budget Bill at first reading, with 12 committee members voting in favour and six against, while there were no abstentions. The budget's parameters were presented by Deputy Finance Minister Lyudmila Petkova. Galya Vasileva of GERB-UDF said her parliamentary group will not support the budget because it lacks policies to support young people and regional development, and because of the level of debt envisaged, which she said will require debt servicing instead of directing funds to citizens. Ayten Sabri (Movement for Rights and Freedoms) said her group will support the budget because they consider it important for the state to continue functioning on a stable footing. She added that, between the first and second readings, the party will propose amendments on support for young families, measures to increase the birth rate, assistance for families raising children with disabilities, investment in early childhood development, and quality education. Venko Sabrutev (Continue the Change) said his parliamentary group will not support the draft budget because it is based on an unrealistic deficit and unrealistic expenditure projections, including those related to the Recovery and Resilience Plan. According to Sabrutev, the budget envisages record borrowing, with none of the funds allocated to policies benefiting children or pensioners. Economy Valentin Evstatiev Desislava Peeva https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/1163425-interior-ministry-ready-to-provide-evidence-to-ofac-on-magnitsky-sanctions-enfor https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/1163425-interior-ministry-ready-to-provide-evidence-to-ofac-on-magnitsky-sanctions-enfor Wed, 08 Jul 2026 16:37:33 +0300 Bulgaria's Interior Ministry has contacted the  Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the US Department of the Treasury to say it is ready to provide evidence regarding the enforcement of sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Act, the Ministry said on Wednesday The Bulgarian authorities are prepared to provide information, documents, evidence, details of corporate links and other materials they consider relevant to the implementation and effectiveness of sanctions imposed under the Global Magnitsky Act, said the Interior Ministry. The letter to OFAC, signed by Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev, says that during various proceedings conducted by the Interior Ministry, authorities identified information giving rise to reasonable suspicion that legal entities and individuals had assisted sanctioned persons in circumventing or limiting the effect of the sanctions. "The available information indicates the possible use of related parties, commercial companies and other mechanisms through which sanctioned persons continue to exercise de facto control over assets, business activities and financial flows, as well as to carry out various payments," the letter says. In February 2023, OFAC sanctioned Rumen Ovcharov, Aleksandar Hristov Nikolov, Ivan Genov, Nikolay Malinov and Vladislav Goranov for "their extensive involvement in corruption in Bulgaria". The designations expanded on earlier US sanctions imposed under the Global Magnitsky programme against Delyan Peevski, Vassil Bojkov, Ilko Zhelyazkov and entities associated with them. On July 2, 2026,  Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev told Parliament authorities were investigating the routes, financing and passengers of private flights taken by Movement for Rights and Freedoms leader Delyan Peevski, saying inquiries were under way in cooperation with several countries.  In turn, Peevski accused Demerdzhiev of illegally investigating his private life, maintaining that all flights had been paid for by himself and his family and that no public funds had been involved. Asked how he had financed the trips despite being sanctioned under the US Global Magnitsky Act, Peevski replied that "no sanctions work in Bulgaria". Bulgaria Diana Dukovska Nikolay Trifonov https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/1163458-economy-committee-approves-2026-state-budget-at-first-reading https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/1163458-economy-committee-approves-2026-state-budget-at-first-reading Wed, 08 Jul 2026 16:32:22 +0300 Parliament's Committee on Economic Policy, Investment and Industry approved at first reading the 2026 State Budget Bill, submitted by the Council of Ministers on July 1. The bill was backed by 13 committee members, while eight voted against. There were no abstentions. The committee rejected the version of the State Budget Bill that included the draft budget of the Supreme Judicial Council. Presenting the economic policy section of the draft budget, Deputy Economy Minister Mihaela Karadimova said that the global challenges facing the economy require a consistent policy aimed at supporting Bulgarian businesses and attracting more investment. She said the ministry's priorities in 2026 will be to develop a competitive industry, encourage high value-added investments, support small and medium-sized enterprises, reduce regional disparities, foster innovation and strengthen Bulgaria's position in international markets. Karadimova said the ministry's policies for 2026 focus on sustainable economic development and competitiveness, as well as effective external economic cooperation. The draft budget earmarks EUR 58.02 million for the sustainable economic development and competitiveness policy. According to Karadimova, the funding is intended to boost the country's growth potential by promoting investment, high-tech industry, knowledge-intensive manufacturing and services, entrepreneurship and higher labour productivity. She added that increasing Bulgaria's attractiveness as an investment destination and creating conditions for the country to develop as a hub for knowledge-intensive production and high value-added services remain key priorities of the government's economic policy. Karadimova also said the ministry's policy for the 2026-2028 period will focus on minimizing the impact of international factors on the Bulgarian economy while preserving and expanding the market positions of Bulgarian industry. Bulgaria Veneta Litkova Anelia Tsvetkova https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/1163388-international-biodiversity-conference-opens-at-plovdiv-agricultural-university https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/1163388-international-biodiversity-conference-opens-at-plovdiv-agricultural-university Wed, 08 Jul 2026 15:57:05 +0300 The LifeWatch BEeS 2026 international scientific conference opened at the Agricultural University of Plovdiv on July 7. The forum will be held until July 10 and is organized by the European research infrastructure LifeWatch ERIC. The conference brings together scientists from around the world working on biodiversity research and conservation. Participants are presenting new discoveries, including species adaptations to climate change, and sharing research on solutions to protect biodiversity while addressing environmental challenges. A key theme of LifeWatch BEeS 2026 is the “One Health” approach, which highlights the connection between healthy soils, plants, food systems, ecosystems, and human health. Scientists stress that protecting human well-being requires protecting the entire ecological system on which life depends. LifeWatch ERIC collects, shares, and provides access to global biodiversity and ecosystem data through an electronic infrastructure used by researchers worldwide. Plovdiv Agricultural University  Rector Prof. Boryana Ivanova pointed out that this network enables scientists to conduct advanced studies, develop analyses, and create policies supporting sustainable development. She emphasized the importance of Bulgarian researchers making greater use of these resources, which are available through Bulgaria’s membership in LifeWatch ERIC, supported by the Education and Science Ministry. The annual conference on biodiversity research and electronic infrastructure takes place in different member countries each year. This year, Bulgaria is the host, with the Agricultural University of Plovdiv serving as the leading organization of the Bulgarian LifeWatch consortium. The event brings together 228 registered participants from Austria, Australia, Belgium, Spain, Portugal, Mauritius, as well as representatives of 14 Bulgarian scientific and environmental organizations, including NGOs, research institutes, and universities. Bulgaria Filip Pavlov BTA Correspondent Tanya Blagova https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/1163353-parliamentary-energy-committee-approves-2026-state-budget-at-first-reading https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/1163353-parliamentary-energy-committee-approves-2026-state-budget-at-first-reading Wed, 08 Jul 2026 15:49:22 +0300 Parliament's Energy Committee on Wednesday approved at first reading the 2026 State Budget Bill, submitted by the Council of Ministers, in the sections concerning the energy sector. The proposal was backed by 14 MPs, opposed by five, while two abstained. Committee Chair Rumyana Petrova of Progressive Bulgaria said the draft budget had been prepared in view of the European Commission's proposal to activate the excessive deficit procedure. She said it focuses on stabilizing public finances, preserving macroeconomic stability, supporting economic growth and creating conditions for implementing the country's strategic priorities. According to Petrova, the budget should be viewed as an instrument for implementing government policy in one of the key sectors for national security, economic competitiveness and social stability. Deputy Energy Minister Lyubomira Gancheva said the ministry had prioritized spending so that expenditure optimization would not affect the sector's main policies and priorities. She noted that the combination of higher revenues and lower spending improves the budget balance and provides a sound basis for more efficient management of public resources in the energy sector. Gancheva stressed that the measures included in the draft budget do not come at the expense of any energy policy and should not compromize the sector's priorities, objectives or ongoing activities. She expressed confidence that the budget would ensure the ministry has the necessary administrative and financial capacity. Electricity System Security Fund Board Chair Dian Chervenkondev described the budget as balanced and said the fund supported the proposed framework. Energy and Water Regulatory Commission Chair Plamen Mladenovski also supported the draft budget. He said the next annual budget should ensure equal principles for determining the remuneration of members of regulatory bodies elected by Parliament, noting that significant disparities currently exist. Nuclear Regulatory Agency Chair Tsanko Bachiyski also backed the draft budget, saying the agency's analysis showed it would not affect its operations. He noted that funding for personnel could become an issue in 2027, and said the agency was preparing an analysis to identify possible solutions. Sustainable Energy Development Agency Executive Director Ivaylo Aleksiev said the agency had no comments on the draft budget. State Enterprise Radioactive Wastes Executive Director Dilyan Petrov described the proposal by the Energy Ministry as optimal. Bulgarian Energy Holding Executive Director Andrey Zhivkov said the holding had optimized its spending in 2026 sufficiently to support the State budget. He called for revising the requirement that State-owned energy companies transfer 100% of their dividends to the budget, arguing that it directly affects their investment plans. GERB-UDF MP Zhecho Stankov drew attention to a provision in the transitional and final clauses of the bill that would change the calculation of employees' length of service from a daily to an hourly basis. He said the measure could affect many employees in the energy sector, including more than 20,000 within Bulgarian Energy Holding alone, and argued that it would amount to a hidden increase in the retirement age for the sector. Energy Ministry Finance Director Mariela Mileva said the ministry had not expressed a position on the provision. Stankov urged State-owned energy companies to assess how many employees would be affected, saying the change could have a direct impact on their future retirement. Bulgaria Veneta Litkova Ivona Velichkova https://www.bta.bg/en/news/world/1163385-pm-radev-discusses-energy-supplies-with-ukrainian-president-zelenskyy https://www.bta.bg/en/news/world/1163385-pm-radev-discusses-energy-supplies-with-ukrainian-president-zelenskyy Wed, 08 Jul 2026 15:22:14 +0300 Prime Minister Rumen Radev and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy discussed cooperation between Bulgaria and Ukraine in the energy sector and the supply of energy resources, including natural gas. The two spoke within the framework of the 2026 Ankara NATO summit here on Wednesday, the Council of Ministers reported. The agenda also covered energy diversification and the steps taken to build new energy corridors to Europe. World Nikolay Zabov https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/1163394-parliament-rejects-opposition-motion-for-hearing-on-alleged-healthcare-fraud-sch https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/1163394-parliament-rejects-opposition-motion-for-hearing-on-alleged-healthcare-fraud-sch Wed, 08 Jul 2026 15:08:40 +0300 Parliament on Wednesday rejected a motion by the opposition Democratic Bulgaria for a plenary hearing on allegations that a State Agency for National Security (SANS) inspection into a suspected healthcare fraud scheme was obstructed last year. Speaking to reporters in Parliament and quoted by the party press office, Democratic Bulgaria co-chair Bozhidar Bozhanov said the power-holders were "trying to whitewash the facade rather than dismantle the schemes". On July 7, Democratic Bulgaria moved for a hearing of SANS acting Chair Stancho Stanev, as well as SANS senior officials Plamen Stoyanov and Petko Gospodinov, over allegations that SANS officers inspecting pharmaceutical warehouses were ordered by their superiors to abandon the operation. According to Bozhanov, the inspection concerned suspicions of a scheme involving the misappropriation of substantial public funds, including resources from the National Health Insurance Fund. Bozhanov said Democratic Bulgaria would instead seek a hearing in the parliamentary committee overseeing the security services, after Progressive Bulgaria Floor Leader Petar Vitanov argued in the plenary chamber that the matter should be examined by a committee rather than the full house. The opposition said it would ask the committee to hear former SANS officer Yasen Tokuschiev, who previously headed a unit dealing with the healthcare sector and recently made allegations about the case in an interview for the Off Air independent journalism platform . Bozhanov criticized the ruling coalition for rejecting the hearing, comparing the case to a previous controversy in which a SANS operation targeting a cigarette smuggling depot was allegedly called off. He accused the government of failing to act decisively against corruption schemes and of relying on procedural tactics to delay scrutiny. He also called on SANS to submit to Parliament all documents related to former National Health Insurance Fund deputy governor Momchil Mavrov and current deputy governor Asen Medzhidiev, so lawmakers could review information on their alleged involvement in the case.  Bulgaria https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/1163337-election-commission-public-council-discuss-machine-voting-joint-working-group- https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/1163337-election-commission-public-council-discuss-machine-voting-joint-working-group- Wed, 08 Jul 2026 14:23:30 +0300 The newly appointed Central Election Commission (CEC) held its first working meeting with its Public Council on Wednesday, the Commission said in a press release. The meeting focused on strengthening cooperation between the CEC and the Public Council to make better use of the expertise of civil society organizations. Some representatives of non-governmental organizations participated online. The Public Council presented an analysis of machine voting. Participants discussed a proposal to establish a joint working group to review the process for verifying voting machines and the mechanism for printing and producing paper records during machine voting. They also discussed preparations for the CEC's upcoming voter information campaign on voters' rights and responsibilities, as well as ways to use the Public Council's expertise in developing the Commission's public information initiatives. According to the CEC, participants agreed that stronger cooperation between the Commission and the Public Council would help improve transparency, public confidence and the effectiveness of the electoral process. On Tuesday, Progressive Bulgaria announced that it had submitted proposed amendments to the Election Code providing for the restoration of machine voting in the form used in 2021, the abolition of the Abroad constituency, and the removal of the limit of 20 polling stations in countries outside the European Union. The CEC held its first meeting after the appointment of its new members on June 24. Bulgaria Yoanna Vodenova Nikoleta Vasileva https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/1163245-mps-adopt-amendments-broadening-powers-of-organized-crime-directorate-and-border https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/1163245-mps-adopt-amendments-broadening-powers-of-organized-crime-directorate-and-border Wed, 08 Jul 2026 13:55:19 +0300 The General Directorate for Combating Organized Crime (GDCOC) will be empowered to order the removal of terrorist content and block access to it online under amendments to the Ministry of Interior Act adopted at second reading by Parliament on Wednesday. In connection with its powers, the GDCOC must annually prepare a report in accordance with a European regulation, which it publishes on the Interior Ministry website, and a report that it sends to the European Commission by March 31 each year. The Directorate for International Operational Cooperation has been designated as a single point of contact for the exchange of information between the competent law enforcement authorities of the Member States for the purposes of preventing, detecting or investigating crimes. By March 1 of each year, the Interior Ministry shall provide the European Commission with statistical data on the exchange of information with other Member States under this section carried out in the previous calendar year, the deputies also agreed. Changes are also planned in the powers of the Border Police, related to limiting the threats from unmanned aerial vehicles in the border areas, by providing for border surveillance and specific security activities in the public areas of airports and their perimeters. "In view of the functional obligations of the Border Police, it is essential for the bodies of the directorate to have legal authority to counter this type of threat through the use of technical means to block electronic communications services, respectively electronic communications," the reasons for the changes state. Border Police will now have the opportunity to submit requests for information to the Passenger Information Unit of the Republic of Bulgaria. The stated reason is to prevent, investigate and detect crimes related to human trafficking, illegal migration, trafficking in goods and other cross-border violations, the reasons also state. A change in the law now also provides for the right to paid leave for a civil servant in the Interior Ministry to raise a child up to the age of 8 by the father (adoptive parent). Bulgaria Teodora Tsaneva, Liliya Yordanova Atanas Malakchiev https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/1163261-gerb-udf-opposes-return-to-machine-only-voting-system https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/1163261-gerb-udf-opposes-return-to-machine-only-voting-system Wed, 08 Jul 2026 13:55:00 +0300 The mixed system of machine voting and paper ballots works, and we believe it is a good system for holding future elections, GERB-UDF MP Stefan Arsov said on the sidelines of Parliament on Wednesday. "We will oppose the section on mixed voting in Progressive Bulgaria's proposals for amendments to the Election Code," Arsov added. Progressive Bulgaria came to power with this form of voting - paper ballots and machines, the MP said, noting that amending the Code should not be a major issue. "We will submit an inquiry to the Foreign Ministry and the Central Election Commission to show that 50% of the Bulgarian population voted on paper and 50% via machine," Arsov said. In response to a question about the removal of the 20 voting sections limit in non-EU countries, GERB-UDF MP Krasimir Terziev said that there is an upcoming Foreign Ministry report and based on the data, an assessment of this decision will be made. On Tuesday, Progressive Bulgaria proposed amendments to the Election Code, which include reinstating machine-only voting as it was in 2021, eliminating the Multimember Constituency Abroad, and removing the limit of 20 voting sections in countries that are not EU Member States.  Bulgaria Kristina Ivanova Petra Kurteva https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/1163227-bulgaria-to-receive-seven-mine-countermeasure-vessels-from-belgium-netherlands https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/1163227-bulgaria-to-receive-seven-mine-countermeasure-vessels-from-belgium-netherlands Wed, 08 Jul 2026 13:45:02 +0300 Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov on Wednesday signed a memorandum of understanding between Bulgaria, Belgium and the Netherlands on the acquisition of seven mine countermeasure vessels, the Defence Ministry said in a press release. The document was also signed by the defence ministers of Belgium and the Netherlands, Theo Francken and Dilan Yesilgoz-Zegerius. The ceremony took place during the meeting of NATO heads of state and government in Ankara, Turkiye. "Security in the Black Sea has a major impact on Euro-Atlantic security, and Bulgaria seeks to be a reliable Ally by contributing to joint efforts to strengthen NATO's deterrence and defence posture," Stoyanov said. He thanked Belgium and the Netherlands for the opportunity to acquire seven mine countermeasure vessels from their naval forces, which he said would strengthen Bulgaria's maritime defence capabilities. "The mine countermeasure vessels will ensure Bulgaria's fair share and contribution to the Black Sea Mine Countermeasures Task Group and to the Alliance's overall defence posture on the eastern flank," the minister said. Earlier in the day, Stoyanov and the defence ministers of Romania and Turkiye, Radu Miruta and Yasar Guler, signed an amendment to the memorandum of understanding between Bulgaria, Romania and Turkiye establishing the Black Sea Mine Countermeasures Task Group. The amendment adds a new task for the group related to surveillance and reconnaissance in support of the protection of critical underwater infrastructure. "Alongside the security of navigation, protecting critical underwater infrastructure is among the most important challenges facing maritime security today. Expanding the tasks of the Black Sea Mine Countermeasures Task Group is a timely response to the changing security environment and will contribute to more effective protection of strategically important energy and communication links in the Black Sea," Stoyanov said. Bulgaria Yoanna Vodenova https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/1163204-ruling-majority-backs-two-democratic-bulgaria-election-reform-proposals-db-floo https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/1163204-ruling-majority-backs-two-democratic-bulgaria-election-reform-proposals-db-floo Wed, 08 Jul 2026 13:42:00 +0300 Democratic Bulgaria (DB) Floor Leader Nadejda Iordanova said here Wednesday that the ruling majority supports two proposals long advocated by DB: restoring machine voting as the main voting method in Bulgaria and removing the limit on the number of voting sections in countries outside the European Union. Iordanova said DB would not support the abolition of the Multimember Constituency Abroad during the second reading of the amendments to the Election Code. On Tuesday, Progressive Bulgaria Floor Leader Petar Vitanov reported that his group tabled amendments to the Election Code providing for the restoration of machine voting in the form used in 2021, the abolition of the Multimember Constituency Abroad, and the removal of the current cap of 20 voting stations in non-EU countries. Commenting on the proposed changes, Iordanova said that DB will insist on consultations with all interested parties between the first and second readings on provisions concerning stricter enforcement of the ban on publishing opinion poll results during the legally prohibited period. Bulgaria Veneta Litkova Petra Kurteva