https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/rss Thu, 30 Jul 2026 04:17:16 +0300 en hourly 1 https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/1176099-president-finds-insufficient-grounds-to-justify-veto-of-state-budget-act https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/1176099-president-finds-insufficient-grounds-to-justify-veto-of-state-budget-act Wed, 29 Jul 2026 22:11:33 +0300 There are insufficient grounds to delay the entry into force of the 2026 State Budget Act, which should therefore be promulgated in the State Gazette, the President’s administration says in an opinion released by its press secretariat on Wednesday. The National Assembly adopted the Act on July 24, 2026. Earlier on Wednesday, President Iliana Iotova said she would promulgate the Act. In the social sphere, the Act increases public spending on pensions, social assistance and healthcare, which should have a positive effect on household incomes and the protection of vulnerable groups, the opinion says. Regarding the minimum wage, the President’s administration says a European Union directive does not require Member States to use a specific formula. Any mechanism must, however, be based on clear criteria and a predictable procedure, involve the social partners and provide for regular updates. Abolishing the current mechanism does not automatically breach EU law, the opinion says. The revised system for recording hours worked will not affect contributory service or pension entitlement, as contributory service will continue to be calculated on the basis of social security contributions actually paid. It will, however, affect length of service, paid annual leave and certain benefits. The change will also affect the calculation of additional remuneration for length of service and professional experience for part-time workers. The most significant consequences will be for people for whom part-time work is their only employment option, the President’s administration explains. A stricter criterion for crediting a full month of service will also affect employees who start work part-way through a month or change employers. The Act does not provide for the recalculation or withdrawal of length of service already credited, the opinion adds. Requiring civil servants to pay their own social security contributions removes a privilege and establishes more uniform rules for all workers, the President’s administration says. Several issues concerning a mechanism to offset the social security burden for employees governed by special legislation still require clarification. These include how net incomes will be preserved, how the change will affect pay in the lowest-income sectors and what effect it will have on the attractiveness of public service amid staff shortages. The Act also provides for an increase in average pensions to preserve pensioners’ purchasing power amid inflation. There are no significant changes in defence, public order and security, apart from a 10% reduction in staff expenditure across the budget sector, including wages and social security contributions, from September 1, 2026. Automatic pay-indexation mechanisms are frozen, links to the average gross wage are removed, and a general 5% pay increase is introduced for employees of budget-funded organizations. The President’s administration believes this will create difficulties for defence and security bodies but will not significantly disrupt their work. Funding continues for projects involving water supply, energy efficiency and the upgrading of public infrastructure. Regional policy still needs to be integrated more closely with demographic, social, educational, health and economic policies, the opinion says. The 2026 State Budget Act contains positive investment intentions but is not a sufficiently strong instrument for reducing social and regional inequalities. Although it provides for accelerated infrastructure investment, scope for stronger economic growth and improved regional connectivity, there is no clear guarantee that investment will prioritize the least developed regions. The sectoral approach prevails over a targeted policy for narrowing regional disparities, the President’s administration says. Further measures are needed to strengthen regional cohesion, improve access to public services and mitigate the adverse social consequences of revenue measures so that the budget combines fiscal sustainability with social justice and equal opportunities. From the perspective of the Public Finance Act, the late adoption of the State Budget Act, coupled with its retroactive effect from January 1, departs from the established budget process. Retroactive application provides a legal basis for revenue collected and expenditure incurred under the temporary budget regime. From a constitutional perspective, retroactive effect is permissible only in exceptional circumstances. The Constitution does not expressly prohibit retroactive application of the State Budget Act, and such circumstances are currently present, the opinion says. A deficit exceeding 3% of gross domestic product (GDP) departs from the reference value but does not automatically render the State Budget unconstitutional or call Bulgaria’s euro-area membership into question. Following Bulgaria’s accession to the euro area on January 1, 2026, the Maastricht criteria are not a continuing condition of membership. Although government debt rose to 29.9% of GDP in 2025, it remained well below the reference value of 60% and among the lowest in the European Union. The 2026 budget was adopted under exceptional circumstances that should be considered in the context of the previous budget year, the opinion adds. The change in the benchmark for magistrates’ salaries, from twice the average monthly wage of budget-sector employees based on National Statistical Institute data to 60% of an MP’s basic monthly salary, also does not warrant returning the Act for reconsideration. Linking magistrates’ pay to MPs’ remuneration does not in itself amount to political dependence, the President’s administration adds. Bulgaria Atanas Malakchiev Yoana Hristova https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/1176102-president-to-promulgate-2026-state-budget-as-parliamentary-groups-dispute-its-co https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/1176102-president-to-promulgate-2026-state-budget-as-parliamentary-groups-dispute-its-co Wed, 29 Jul 2026 22:02:04 +0300 President Iliana Iotova announced on Wednesday that she will promulgate the 2026 State Budget Act, arguing that returning it to Parliament would deepen Bulgaria’s financial and institutional uncertainty, while Continue the Change, Democratic Bulgaria, Vazrazhdane and GERB-UDF criticized the decision and raised concerns about the budget’s deficit of 5,7% of GDP, constitutionality, and spending provisions. Parliament gave its final approval to the budget on July 24. Ahead of Iotova’s announcement, Continue the Change submitted a petition signed by more than 32,000 citizens calling for a presidential veto. The President said that a total of 69 opinions had been received from political parties, trade unions and civil organizations, four of which contained reasoned requests for the Act to be returned to Parliament. Iotova said that concerns about the size of the deficit, which is … and the amendment of existing legislation through the Budget Act’s transitional and final provisions were understandable. Such legislative changes should normally follow a separate review, public debate and mandatory risk assessment, she said. However, the presidency’s legal team and several constitutional law experts had found no sufficient grounds to regard the contested provisions as unconstitutional. Explaining her decision, she noted that Bulgaria had operated for seven months under an extended 2025 budget prepared in Bulgarian leva, although the country adopted the euro on January 1, 2026. She also referred to the excessive deficit procedure opened by the Council of the European Union on July 10 and to unpaid state obligations exceeding EUR 3 billion. According to the President, returning the act to Parliament would place public finances at greater risk after August 1 and could disrupt the work of municipalities, social payments, healthcare and education. “For me, the budget is not a tool for political maneuvering, elections, personal conflicts, gaining political dividends, or imposing a veto for its own sake,” she said, calling on the institutions to focus on reforms and the preparation of the 2027 budget. Continue the Change (CC) leader Assen Vassilev said that CC and other parliamentary groups would challenge the act before the Constitutional Court. He accused the presidency of failing to perform its constitutional role and said the contested provisions could harm Bulgarian families and businesses before the Court had an opportunity to rule on them. Vassilev claimed that more than EUR 1 billion intended for municipalities would be distributed at the discretion of a single person and that every Bulgarian citizen would pay EUR 400 by the end of the year, without the budget clearly explaining how most of that amount would be spent. “This is the price of inaction and the lack of a veto by Iliana Iotova,” he said. Democratic Bulgaria MP Yordan Ivanov argued that the President’s decision showed the consequences of concentrating the presidency, legislature and executive in the hands of one political force. Deputy Floor Leader Bozhidar Bozhanov added that a Constitutional Court challenge would not resolve the immediate problem because the budget would take effect at once, while a ruling might not come before the end of the year. Bozhanov said the longer-term response should be the election of a different president who would provide greater institutional balance and would not enable what the party described as misguided fiscal policy and excessive concentration of power. Vazrazhdane MP Dimo Drenchev questioned whether the budget could survive constitutional review, noting that the Public Finance Act sets a deficit ceiling of 3%, while the adopted budget exceeds that level. He warned that promulgating the act could create even greater uncertainty if the Constitutional Court later overturned key provisions. Drenchev also criticized planned defence expenditure, including allocations for F-16 aircraft and other military spending that he said lacked sufficient detail. He argued that the 2026 budget largely reproduced the fiscal approach of the previous government and said Vazrazhdane could not support it. GERB-UDF MP and former finance minister Temenuzhka Petkova said her parliamentary group had prepared a constitutional complaint and was seeking support from other parties. She said the projected deficit of 5.7% of GDP violated the 3% ceiling under the Public Finance Act and was also inconsistent with Bulgaria’s obligations under the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. Petkova said the budget projected EUR 778 million less in revenue and EUR 2.8 billion more in expenditure than the draft prepared by the previous cabinet. GERB-UDF Deputy Floor Leader Denitsa Sacheva also criticized planned increases in motorway vignette fees and social security contributions, as well as changes affecting municipalities and part-time employees. She predicted that public dissatisfaction with the budget would become clearer by the end of August and the beginning of September. Bulgaria Tatiana Marinova https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/1176089-bulgaria-seeks-mig-29-spare-parts-as-defence-minister-says-f-16s-are-not-yet-com https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/1176089-bulgaria-seeks-mig-29-spare-parts-as-defence-minister-says-f-16s-are-not-yet-com Wed, 29 Jul 2026 21:10:00 +0300 Bulgaria is seeking spare parts for its MiG-29 fighter aircraft and exploring options to acquire used F-16 or JAS 39 Gripen aircraft, Minister of Defence Dimitar Stoyanov said on Wednesday, drawing criticism from parliamentary groups. The Defence Ministry said that it had sent inquiries to Poland, Hungary and several other countries about available MiG-29 aircraft and spare parts. Stoyanov said Bulgaria was interested in MiG-29s solely as a source of spare parts and did not intend to buy them for operational use or form another squadron. “We have enough aircraft, but we need spare parts. That is all we want, nothing more. Letters have also been sent to the US Department of Defense and Sweden regarding used F-16 and JAS 39 Gripen aircraft,” Stoyanov said. He added that he did not expect Bulgaria to receive any such aircraft. On July 24, Stoyanov said he had asked his Polish and Hungarian counterparts what their countries intended to do with their MiG-29 aircraft and whether Bulgaria could obtain spare parts from them. Defence Ministry experts would inspect any available parts and assess their suitability before a decision was made, he added. At Wednesday’s meeting of the Defence Committee in Parliament, Stoyanov rejected claims that the F-16 aircraft already delivered to Bulgaria could perform combat duty. He said one of the main obstacles was aircrew training. “Pilots need 160 hours of training, including 40 hours in a simulator and 120 flight hours,” Stoyanov said. “If you multiply 120 flight hours by the number of aircraft and pilots, we will not be able to perform combat duty for another five years. We will therefore most likely lower our criteria again and fall below the threshold for safe aircrew training,” he added. As for claims that Ukrainian pilots had learned to fly F-16s quickly, Stoyanov said F-16 aircraft had already been lost in Ukraine and that conditions in an active war zone were different. Bulgarian pilots would likewise fly without the necessary training under such circumstances, he added. Parliamentary groups criticized Stoyanov’s comments. Democratic Bulgaria (DB) criticized the possibility of Bulgaria acquiring MiG-29 aircraft. “Bulgaria should acquire modern NATO aircraft, not MiG-29s,” Democratic Bulgaria (DB) MP Ivaylo Mirchev told journalists in Parliament. “At a time when Bulgaria should be rearming with Western and NATO equipment, it emerged that we had requested to buy Polish MiG-29s. This was initially denied by the Defence Ministry but confirmed on Tuesday,” Mirchev said. “We believe this is a harmful move and hope the Bulgarian government will respond appropriately.” Mirchev described the possible acquisition of used F-16 and JAS 39 Gripen aircraft as a viable option. Aircraft should not simply be labelled “second-hand”; what mattered was whether they had remaining service life, he said. Bulgaria should not become a “graveyard for Soviet aircraft”, he added, noting that NATO countries had already moved away from the MiG-29. The youth organization of Yes, Bulgaria, part of DB, parked an old Moskvich outside the Defence Ministry on Wednesday to protest against any acquisition of MiG-29 aircraft. Organization representative Todor Petrov said Stoyanov was taking unjustified steps and Bulgaria should not become a “scrapyard” for outdated Russian military equipment. “Instead of turning Bulgaria into a Porsche, he is turning the country and the Bulgarian Armed Forces into a Moskvich,” Petrov said. Continue the Change (CC) MP Radoslav Ribarski said Bulgaria should not focus on restoring old defence equipment. “We support genuine modernization of the Bulgarian Armed Forces. This has been the objective for the past five years and has received unanimous support in Parliament. I hope the Defence Ministry does not stumble into such exotic ideas, because they will cost more money and may endanger Bulgarian service personnel,” Ribarski said. GERB–UDF MP Hristo Gadzhev  said Bulgaria’s MiG-29 fighter aircraft could remain in service until 2029, while its Su-25 attack aircraft were due to be retired in 2027. “Soviet love never rusts, in this case, love for Soviet equipment,” Gadzhev said. He argued that obtaining MiG-29 spare parts was not a problem. “For the past ten years, our aircraft have been serviced entirely in Poland, and we have encountered no problems,” he said. Regarding the possible acquisition of used aircraft, Gadzhev said there was no need to travel to Warsaw because talks with Greece on acquiring used F-16 fighter aircraft could begin quickly if there was sufficient political will. Bulgaria Atanas Malakchiev https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/1176090-three-operations-launch-robotic-surgery-at-medica-university-hospital-in-ruse https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/1176090-three-operations-launch-robotic-surgery-at-medica-university-hospital-in-ruse Wed, 29 Jul 2026 20:56:00 +0300 Three successful da Vinci procedures launched robotic surgery at Medica University Hospital in Ruse, the hospital said on Wednesday. The first procedures using the da Vinci system were performed on July 27 and 28 by Dr Tsanko Yotsov and Dr Paolina Kamenova, under the mentorship of former European Society of Surgery President Ciprian Duta. The first operation was on a patient with advanced upper gastrointestinal cancer that had caused an obstruction, making eating and drinking impossible. Two more robot-assisted procedures were carried out the next day: bilateral inguinal hernia repair with mesh placement and surgery on a patient with rectal cancer, in which normal gastrointestinal continuity was restored after tumour removal. All three operations were successful, and the patients were stable and recovering well, the hospital said. One patient was discharged the day after surgery. The hospital said robotic surgery reduces tissue trauma, blood loss and postoperative pain, shortens hospital stays and speeds recovery compared with traditional open surgery. During an operation, the surgeon controls the system from a dedicated console with a three-dimensional view of the surgical field, while the instruments enable precise work in hard-to-reach anatomical areas. Duta praised the Medica team’s preparation. Team members completed training and received certification at the Robotic Surgery Centre in Barcelona, Spain. Robotic surgery is used to treat a wide range of benign and malignant conditions in general and oncological surgery, urology, gynaecology, thoracic surgery and cardiac surgery. The hospital said the programme will be expanded in August to include robot-assisted urological procedures, followed later by thoracic surgery. Procedures are performed when medically indicated and after consultation with a surgeon. Patients pay only for the required consumables used by the robotic system, the hospital added. The da Vinci robotic surgical system was delivered to the hospital in June, when training and certification began for the surgeons who will use the new technology. Bulgaria Kaloyan Kirilov https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/1176046-continue-the-change-s-ribarski-we-shouldn-t-be-focusing-on-restoring-old-defenc https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/1176046-continue-the-change-s-ribarski-we-shouldn-t-be-focusing-on-restoring-old-defenc Wed, 29 Jul 2026 19:49:27 +0300 "We should not focus on restoring old defense equipment," MP Radoslav Ribarski of Continue the Change party told journalists in Parliament on Wednesday. He was commenting on the Ministry of Defence's request for a possible purchase of MiG-29 aircraft for spare parts. "We are for real modernization of the Bulgarian Army," said Ribarski. "This is exactly the goal for the past five years and it has been unanimously supported by Parliament. I hope the Ministry of Defence does not stumble on such exotic ideas, because this will cost more money and may expose Bulgarian servicemen to danger", added the MP. The government is looking for MiG-29 fighters only for spare parts, Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov said earlier on Wednesday before the meeting of the parliamentary defence committee. Letters have also been sent to both the United States and Sweden for used F-16 and Gripen aircraft, the minister said, but added that he does not expect the country to receive such aircraft. Bulgaria Nikolay Trifonov Atanas Malakchiev https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/1176038-defence-minister-stoyanov-says-bulgaria-s-f-16s-not-yet-ready-for-combat-duty https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/1176038-defence-minister-stoyanov-says-bulgaria-s-f-16s-not-yet-ready-for-combat-duty Wed, 29 Jul 2026 19:48:02 +0300 The claims that currently the F-16 can be used for combat duty are strange, said Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov during Wednesday's meeting of the parliamentary Defence Committee. The minister pointed out that among the main obstacles is the training of the flight crew. "The pilot's training should be 160 hours. Of these, 40 are in a simulator, and 120 flight hours remain", Stoyanov said. "If you count 120 flight hours for a certain number of aircraft and a certain number of pilots, I can tell you that this is absurd and for another five years we will not be able to carry out duty. Because of this, we will most likely lower our criteria once again and once again fall below the line of safe training of the flight crew", the defence minister commented. Regarding the allegations that Ukrainian aviators have learned to fly F-16s in a short time, the minister stated that there are already lost F-16s in Ukraine, and that the conditions are different in an active warzone. He added that in such a scenario Bulgarian pilots will also be flying without the necessary training. According to the minister, the infrastructure for the F-16 is not yet ready. Parts are needed to restore the airworthiness of at least two MiG-29s, Stoyanov said, citing a letter from the U.S. Department of Defense, according to which Bulgaria is recommended to continue operating the MiG-29. Before the start of the committee meeting, the minister explained to journalists that the government is looking for MiG-29 fighters only for spare parts.  Letters have also been sent to both the United States and Sweden for used F-16 and Gripen aircraft, the minister said but added that he does not expect the country to receive such aircraft. Stoyanov also said that there are 21 pilots in the United States who are training to fly F-16s. Bulgaria Nikolay Trifonov Atanas Malakchiev https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/1176035-president-iotova-meets-bulgarian-science-mathematics-olympiad-medallists https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/1176035-president-iotova-meets-bulgarian-science-mathematics-olympiad-medallists Wed, 29 Jul 2026 19:33:50 +0300 President Iliana Iotova met with medallists and representatives of Bulgaria's national teams in the international science Olympiads in biology, physics and chemistry, as well as in mathematics, the President's press office said on Wednesday. Teachers and mentors of the students, along with representatives of the Association of Bulgarian Science Olympiad Teams, also attended the meeting. The discussion was part of the head of State's meetings with Bulgarian competitors aimed at maintaining dialogue between the Presidency and successful young Bulgarians. In 2026, Bulgarian teams won a total of 20 medals at the international Olympiads in mathematics, physics, chemistry and biology – two gold, nine silver and nine bronze medals, the press release said. All Bulgarian participants in the four Olympiads won medals. "I see Bulgaria's future in you," Iotova told the students. The President highlighted their potential and abilities, which have placed them among the top performers in the world. She stressed that behind each of their medals were years of dedicated preparation, countless hours spent solving problems, laboratory work and perseverance. According to Iotova, the qualities the competitors have developed – curiosity, discipline, critical thinking and a drive to build on their achievements – will be crucial to the development of society in the years ahead. Iotova urged the students to continue their education in Bulgaria and expressed confidence that the country would provide the necessary conditions for scientific research and technological development. The President also highlighted the efforts of the teachers, scientists and mentors working with Bulgaria's competitors. She stressed that, thanks to their dedication, Bulgaria had remained for decades among the respected participants in the world's most prestigious international science Olympiads. The meeting also addressed the conditions in which students prepare for the competitions. Participants highlighted the significant disparity in the educational and development opportunities available in the capital and in other cities, which contribute only a minimal number of participants to the Olympiads. They also discussed discrepancies between school education and Olympiad preparation, the lack of adequate facilities and the need for greater motivation among both students and teachers. The President and the leadership of the Association of Bulgarian Science Olympiad Teams shared the view that a nationwide information campaign was needed to inform students about opportunities to participate in international competitions. Iotova voiced her support for the young competitors and urged them to remain active and pass on their experience and knowledge to younger students. The President also expressed expectations for strong results from the teams whose international competitions are yet to take place. She said she looked forward to welcoming the remaining competitors at the end of the year, hopefully with medals as well. Bulgarian students won one gold, two silver and three bronze medals at the 67th International Mathematical Olympiad, held in Shanghai, China, the Association of Bulgarian Science Olympiad Teams said on July 19. Bulgaria Konstantin Karagyozov https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/1176041-mp-hristo-gadzhev-mig-29-service-life-extends-until-2029 https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/1176041-mp-hristo-gadzhev-mig-29-service-life-extends-until-2029 Wed, 29 Jul 2026 19:31:47 +0300 The technical service life of Bulgaria’s MiG-29 fighter jets extends until 2029, when they are due to be retired from service, while the Su-25 attack aircraft are scheduled to be retired next year, GERB–UDF MP Hristo Gadzhev told reporters in Parliament. Gadzhev was commenting on statements by the Defence Ministry regarding the possible purchase of MiG-29 aircraft for spare parts.                                           “Soviet love never rusts, in this case, love for Soviet equipment,” Gadzhev said. According to him, there is no problem with obtaining spare parts for the MiG-29s. “For the past ten years, we have had our aircraft repaired entirely in Poland, and we have not encountered any problems,” he said. Regarding the possibility of Bulgaria purchasing second-hand aircraft, Gadzhev said there was no need to travel to Warsaw because discussions with Greece about acquiring used F-16 fighter jets could take place very quickly, provided there was political will. The MP also said he had not heard any official announcement from the United States indicating that the delivery of the second batch of eight F-16 aircraft for Bulgaria would be delayed or that they would fail to arrive next year. At the end of 2025, then Minister of Defence Atanas Zapryanov said that, according to the current plan, Bulgaria’s F-16 fighter jets are expected to achieve operational readiness in 2028, and that the MiG-29 aircraft must be maintained until then. He added that Poland was also beginning to experience difficulties in maintaining its MiG-29 fleet. Bulgaria Petya Petrova https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/1175959-pm-radev-italian-manufacturer-representatives-discuss-bulgaria-s-armed-forces-m https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/1175959-pm-radev-italian-manufacturer-representatives-discuss-bulgaria-s-armed-forces-m Wed, 29 Jul 2026 18:48:47 +0300 Prime Minister Rumen Radev discussed the modernization of the Bulgarian Armed Forces and Bulgaria's interest in acquiring firefighting aircraft with representatives of the Italian manufacturer Leonardo at a meeting at the Council of Ministers, the Government Information Service said on Wednesday. The talks highlighted the good cooperation between Bulgaria and Leonardo in the modernization of the Bulgarian Armed Forces, as well as the delivery and maintenance of the helicopters currently used for emergency medical services in Bulgaria. The acquisition of transport equipment and other joint projects were also identified as potential areas of cooperation. Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov also attended the meeting. Radev said that the Government's policy on the modernization of the Armed Forces was aimed not only at acquiring defence equipment, but also at ensuring the effective participation of Bulgarian companies in supply chains for parts and components used in its maintenance, as well as at establishing joint production. On Tuesday, Radev discussed opportunities for partnership with Axon in the production of high-tech defence products. Bulgaria Tatiana Marinova https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/1175966-cabinet-approves-2025-report-on-implementation-of-defence-investment-programme-t https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/1175966-cabinet-approves-2025-report-on-implementation-of-defence-investment-programme-t Wed, 29 Jul 2026 18:28:06 +0300 The Council of Ministers approved the 2025 Report on the Implementation of the Defence Investment Programme through 2032, which will be submitted to Parliament for adoption, the Government Information Service said on Wednesday. The report reviews the implementation of the programme's objectives and outlines changes in the security environment, the budgetary framework, funding sources and the risks associated with the implementation of the projects. A key focus is the progress of the 13 priority Armed Forces modernization projects. According to the report, 2025 was a successful year for the modernization of the Bulgarian Armed Forces, with new combat platforms introduced into the Air Force and the Navy, the Council of Ministers said. It added that the next stages of modernization in the Land Forces are due to be implemented. At the same time, work continued last year on building the infrastructure required to accommodate the new weapons systems and military equipment. In a separate decision, the Council of Ministers proposed that Parliament ratify by law amendments to three international agreements related to the project for the acquisition of major combat equipment for the establishment of battalion battle groups within a mechanized brigade. The proposal concerns amendments already approved by the Council of Ministers to the international agreements on the procurement of Stryker combat vehicles, Javelin anti-tank guided missiles, and ammunition for the Stryker vehicles. A few days ago, the Government approved a draft amendment to the international agreement on the Procurement of Ammunition for Stryker Vehicles. The approved draft reduces the contract's value by USD 12,657,483 and introduces changes to its provisions. Bulgaria Momchil Rusev https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/1175963-feasibility-study-begins-for-nato-funded-fuel-pipeline-linking-bulgaria-greece- https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/1175963-feasibility-study-begins-for-nato-funded-fuel-pipeline-linking-bulgaria-greece- Wed, 29 Jul 2026 18:04:26 +0300 The Council of Ministers approved the implementation of a feasibility study for the construction of a fuel pipeline on Bulgarian territory, the Government Information Service said on Wednesday. The funding, amounting to EUR 10 million, will be provided by the Ministry of Defence under the NATO Security Investment Programme. The project aims to expand NATO's fuel supply chain to the Alliance's Eastern Flank and connect Bulgaria's network to NATO infrastructure in Greece, Turkiye and Romania. The Council of Ministers designated state-owned gas transmission operator Bulgartransgaz EAD as the contracting authority responsible for taking all necessary steps to carry out the feasibility study. The company is the only state-owned enterprise to have implemented comparable projects and has extensive experience in developing and managing infrastructure, investment and technical projects of this scale. It will be tasked with selecting a contractor, signing the contract, and organising and coordinating the subsequent activities. In early May, Bloomberg reported that Türkiye had proposed the construction of a USD 1.2 billion military fuel pipeline from Turkiye to Romania via Bulgaria. The pipeline is intended to meet the energy needs of NATO's Eastern Flank. Bulgaria Momchil Rusev https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/1175892-gerb-udf-prepares-constitutional-challenge-against-2026-state-budget https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/1175892-gerb-udf-prepares-constitutional-challenge-against-2026-state-budget Wed, 29 Jul 2026 17:50:00 +0300 GERB-UDF has prepared a constitutional challenge against the 2026 State Budget Act and is seeking backing from other parliamentary groups, GERB-UDF MP and former finance minister Temenuzhka Petkova told a briefing in Parliament on Wednesday, after President Iliana Iotova announced that she will promulgate the Act. Petkova said GERB-UDF would ask the Constitutional Court to declare the 2026 State Budget Act unconstitutional, because it envisages a fiscal deficit of 5.7% of GDP, while the Public Finance Act sets a ceiling of 3%. She argued that this constitutes a serious breach of the rule of law and is also at odds with the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. "Such a precedent has never occurred in the Bulgarian Parliament before, but Progressive Bulgaria has managed to make it happen," Petkova said, adding that talks are underway with other parliamentary groups in an effort to secure support for the motion. According to Petkova, the budget projects EUR 778 million less in revenue while increasing expenditure ambitions by EUR 2.8 billion compared with what she described as the "poor" budget of the Rosen Zhelyazkov cabinet. It also provides for EUR 2.3 billion more in capital expenditure than the amount proposed by that cabinet. "The question now is what they intend to do with those EUR 23 billion in additional capital spending," she added. GERB-UDF said it was expected that Iotova would proceed with promulgating the budget, citing as her main argument that everyone was waiting for it. GERB-UDF Deputy Floor Leader Denitsa Sacheva said that GERB-UDF did not believe "people were looking forward to August 1, when motorway vignette fees would rise by 30%, and higher social security contributions on the maximum insurable income would take effect without any increase in the pension ceiling". She also said municipalities were unlikely to welcome what she described as the discretionary approach of Regional Development Minister Ivan Shishkov in deciding which projects would receive funding. Sacheva argued that public expectations regarding the budget would become clear by the end of August and the beginning of September. She added that around 240,000 part-time employees whose annual leave entitlement would be reduced were also unlikely to welcome the new budget. She said GERB-UDF had repeatedly stressed that Iotova faced a difficult decision after accepting the support of Progressive Bulgaria. "Our criticism is not directed at her. She is in a difficult position – whether to rely on Progressive Bulgaria's support or hope that voters will forget this budget before the elections," Sacheva said. According to Sacheva, the more important issue is that Progressive Bulgaria "does not know what it is doing" and is not prepared to implement meaningful reforms. She cited the example of proposals from several parties to increase the second-year maternity benefit for women returning to work earlier than planned, saying the proposal had been rejected before the social minister later announced that the government itself would introduce such a measure. Sacheva also predicted that the 2026 budget would run into the "fiasco" of the 2027 budget, as public dissatisfaction would become evident after political criticism had gone unheeded. Bulgaria Tatiana Marinova https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/1175913-parliament-passes-in-principle-integrity-tests-for-high-risk-civil-service-posit https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/1175913-parliament-passes-in-principle-integrity-tests-for-high-risk-civil-service-posit Wed, 29 Jul 2026 17:47:00 +0300 Positions deemed to carry a high risk of corruption will be filled only after candidates successfully pass an integrity test, according to amendments to the Civil Servants Act adopted by Parliament at first reading on Wednesday. The bill was submitted by the Council of Ministers. The amendments were approved with 178 votes in favor, two votes against, and one abstention. Members of Parliament also discussed and rejected a bill submitted by Democratic Bulgariaproposing amendments to the Civil Servants Act. The government-backed bill stipulates that within three years of successfully passing an integrity test, a person may take part in a subsequent procedure for appointment to a position with a high corruption risk without having to sit the test again. The National Assembly also approved a provision preventing a person who has failed an integrity test from participating in a procedure for appointment to a high-risk position for a period of one year. The Council of Ministers will adopt an ordinance defining the subject of assessment, general psychometric standards, measurement principles and methods, as well as the conditions and procedures for conducting the tests. The bill's explanatory notes state that current legislation lacks a mechanism for assessing the integrity of civil servants occupying positions with a high corruption risk. The introduction of such a mechanism is necessary to ensure prevention, limit abuses of power and protect public resources. The amendments specify which categories of officials may be appointed to such positions. They include chief secretaries and administrative secretaries of executive authorities, the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the permanent secretary of defence and municipal secretaries. Under the proposed rules, high corruption-risk positions would be held by officials in managerial and expert roles who initiate, organize and conduct public procurement procedures and sign contracts, as well as officials in managerial and expert roles involved in preparatory activities, the procedures for selecting concessionaires, or the monitoring of concession contract implementation under the Concessions Act. The list also includes officials in managerial and expert roles involved in preparing and granting concessions under the Subsurface Resources Act, the Black Sea Coast Spatial Development Act and the Waters Act; officials in managerial and expert roles responsible for financial management and control of funds from the state budget, the European Union or foreign sources under the Public Finance Act; and officials in managerial and expert roles directly involved in units responsible for managing and disposing of state or municipal property. The positions will be determined by an order issued by the appointing authority, based on the approved job descriptions for the respective roles. Democratic Bulgaria expressed reservations regarding the psychometric test, as it is unclear how its reliability will be proven and how its uniform application across different administrations will be ensured. This is expected to be regulated by a future Council of Ministers ordinance, which, as a legislative approach, is incorrect, commented Lyuben Ivanov. According to him, the results of this test are linked to restrictions on the career development of a particular person within the administration. “We will support the bill at first reading because the goals are correct and it fulfills commitments under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan,” he said. According to Velislav Velichkov, it would be better for the validity period of the test to be two years rather than three, while also providing for the possibility of unannounced checks. The integrity assessment aims to determine whether a person is actually fulfilling the requirements, not merely whether they met the conditions at the time of appointment, the MP explained. He also expressed reservations about the implementation of the psychometric test. “Can integrity be specifically measured through a psychometric test, while at the same time court practice rejects such an approach?” Velichkov pointed out. He added that no independent external processing and verification of the test are being introduced. Bulgaria Petya Petrova https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/1175908-cabinet-seeks-mig-29-aircraft-solely-for-spare-parts-defence-minister-says https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/1175908-cabinet-seeks-mig-29-aircraft-solely-for-spare-parts-defence-minister-says Wed, 29 Jul 2026 17:21:00 +0300 The Government is seeking MiG-29 fighter jets solely for spare parts, Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov said ahead of a meeting of the parliamentary Defence Committee on Wednesday. "We do not want to build a squadron of MiG-29s or purchase MiG-29s again. We have enough aircraft, but we need spare parts. That is all we want, nothing more. Letters have been sent to both the US Department of Defense and Sweden regarding used F-16 and JAS-39 Gripen aircraft," the Minister said, adding that he does not expect Bulgaria to receive such aircraft. Stoyanov said he had sent letters in 2022 but received a negative response. However, he added that the Pentagon had sent a letter urging Bulgaria to maintain its MiG-29 aircraft. He said that he could obtain spare parts only from countries that currently operate MiG-29s. These are Poland and, in the past, Hungary. Stoyanov said he had sent letters asking whether they could provide aircraft for spare parts. He explained that when engines, the aircraft accessory gearbox and other components are removed from a plane, essentially nothing remains of the aircraft. If Bulgaria could acquire second-hand Gripens or F-16s, there would be no need to continue operating the MiG-29s for such a long period, the Minister said. He added that the reason for extending the MiG-29s' service life was the delay in the delivery of the second batch of eight F-16s that Bulgaria is due to receive. Stoyanov presented a report showing that a request for MiG-29 spare parts had remained unfulfilled since 2021. Nothing has been delivered since 2021, he added. Regarding the US aircraft that are due to be deployed at Bezmer Air Base, the Minister said they had not yet arrived. He described the operation as a complex one, adding that information is not usually provided in advance. Earlier on Wednesday, the Defence Ministry told BTA it had sent inquiries to several countries, including Poland and Hungary, about available aircraft and spare parts. It added that, in parallel, it was exploring options for acquiring used F-16 and JAS-39 Gripen aircraft, for which inquiries had also been sent. Мeanwhile, the opposition Democratic Bulgaria coalition said Bulgaria should acquire modern NATO aircraft, not MiG-29s. Earlier on Wednesday, the youth organization of Yes, Bulgaria, part of the Democratic Bulgaria coalition, left an old Moskvich outside the Defence Ministry, calling on the government not to acquire MiG-29 aircraft. The organization's representative Todor Petrov said the Defence Minister was taking unjustified steps and that Bulgaria should not become a "scrapyard" for outdated Russian military equipment. He added: "Instead of turning Bulgaria into a Porsche, he is turning the country and the Bulgarian Armed Forces into a Moskvich." In response, Stoyanov invited representatives of the youth organization of Yes, Bulgaria to visit the Defence Ministry, where he said he would explain the situation to them and read them Article 9 of the Constitution and the Defence and Armed Forces Act, which, according to him, stipulates that the Bulgarian Armed Forces guarantee national security. "These young people were right about one thing, however – this is not the Russian world, but it is not the Ukrainian world either. This is the Bulgarian world," Dimitar Stoyanov said. The controversy comes as Bulgaria continues preparations for the transition to the F-16 Block 70 fleet. Bulgaria Konstantin Karagyozov Momchil Rusev https://www.bta.bg/en/news/economy/1175895-up-to-eur-265-mln-allocated-under-regions-in-growth-programme-for-sofia-metro https://www.bta.bg/en/news/economy/1175895-up-to-eur-265-mln-allocated-under-regions-in-growth-programme-for-sofia-metro Wed, 29 Jul 2026 17:29:20 +0300 Deputy Prime Minister Atanas Pekanov said at a briefing on Wednesday that investments in new sections of the Sofia Metro and new metro trains are a key element of the action plan to safeguard funding under the 2021-2027 Regions in Growth Operational Programme, with up to EUR 265 million allocated for the projects. He added that the funding will cover both new rolling stock and the maintenance of the metro system. He added that the measures to preserve funding under the programme also include financing for 75 electric buses, 50 trolleybuses and 20 trams. "These are important investments because, for better or worse, some of the trams are older than we are," he said. Earlier on Wednesday, the Council of Ministers approved an action plan aimed at safeguarding funding under the Regions in Growth Programme and the Just Transition Fund. Pekanov noted that the two programmes have a combined budget of more than EUR 3 billion, with limited progress made in recent years. He said Bulgaria must submit expenditure claims worth EUR 800 million to the European Commission by the end of 2026. Without the action plan adopted on Wednesday, the country would have irreversibly lost those funds because of the lack of strategic vision, decisions and action by previous governments, Pekanov added. Economy Veneta Litkova Marin Kolev https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/1175887-president-may-trigger-chaos-by-promulgating-current-state-budget-vazrazhdane-m https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/1175887-president-may-trigger-chaos-by-promulgating-current-state-budget-vazrazhdane-m Wed, 29 Jul 2026 17:24:46 +0300 Vazrazhdane MP Dimo Drenchev told a press briefing in Parliament on Wednesday that the implications of the constitutional complaint that GERB-UDF and Continue the Change have promised to lodge are interesting, considering that the Public Finance Act stipulates that the State Budget, which must be tabled by the Council of Ministers, must not exceed a 3% budget deficit. The MP said that he does not see a scenario, in which the Constitutional Court could accept this budget as lawful, which means that by pledging to promulgate the budget, President Iliana Iotova risks plunging the country into even greater chaos. Drenchev said that Iotova's decision was to be expected, since she got endorsement from the ruling party, Progressive Bulgaria, for her presidential run in the upcoming elections. The MP added: "We did not even hope that the petition submitted by Continue the Change to the President would have any success." He pointed out that Iotova had released the budget on the grounds that everyone was waiting for it and that the country was descending into chaos, having gone seven months without a budget, and added that he did not know what would happen, if the Constitutional Court were to overturn it later in the year. "We cannot possibly support such a budget. The truth is that it largely copies and continues the budget proposed by Rosen Zhelyazkov’s government," Drenchev added. The MP said: "The 2026 Budget provides for expenditure of nearly EUR 482 million on F-16s, which we know will not be delivered, EUR 270 million on the same aircraft, which will not be delivered in 2027, EUR 580 million for the same F-16s, which will not arrive in 2028 either, but in return, EUR 26 million has been earmarked for the overhaul of MiG-29 engines. Separately, there is nearly EUR 600 million for military expenditure, with no precise details of where this will be spent." Bulgaria Nikolay Zabov https://www.bta.bg/en/news/economy/1175877-employer-organizations-registry-agency-leadership-meet https://www.bta.bg/en/news/economy/1175877-employer-organizations-registry-agency-leadership-meet Wed, 29 Jul 2026 17:11:14 +0300 The deadlines for processing applications in the Commercial Register and the Register of Non-Profit Legal Entities were on the agenda of a meeting between the new management of the Registry Agency (RA), represented by Executive Director Eliana Ilieva and her deputy Nikolay Minev, and the nationally representative employer organizations Bulgarian Industrial Capital Association (BICA), Bulgarian Industrial Association (BIA),Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI), and Confederation of Employers and Industrialists in Bulgaria (CEIBG), BIA  said on Wednesday. At the opening of the meeting, BIA chairman Dobri Mitrev said that for businesses, fast and predictable administrative services are not a convenience but a fundamental condition for normal economic activity. “Delays in registrations in the Commercial Register create real difficulties for companies and affect the investment environment. We appreciate the willingness of the new management of the Registry Agency to seek solutions through dialogue with employers’ organizations, and we expect concrete measures to restore the normal pace of work to be taken within a short period of time,” he said, as quoted in the statement. “We are taking over the management of the Registry Agency after a prolonged period of unresolved issues and accumulated failures in meeting the needs of businesses and citizens. Out of approximately 900,000 registered companies in Bulgaria, currently only around 10% have submitted applications for capital conversion under the Law on the Introduction of the Euro in the Republic of Bulgaria. We expect a peak period in September, because many companies believe they must submit the application together with their annual financial report. This means that in September we expect more than 300,000 applications for capital conversion to be submitted, which will be impossible to process within the legally established deadlines. In addition, the number of unprocessed annual financial reports is expected to rise to more than 1 million, of which around 600,000 are already delayed (from previous years). This means that by the end of the year, more than 2 million applications will have to be processed, with a current processing capacity of 2,000 applications per day. This will paralyze the system,” said Registry Agency Executive Director Eliana Ilieva. Registry Agency Deputy Director Nikolay Minev presented statistics on the most problematic aspects of the Agency’s operations and its key registers, calling for the complete digitalization. This would significantly ease the process of validating the circumstances stated in submitted applications, which is currently largely manual and based on scanned documents. “Even now, between 20% and 30% of applications are still submitted at service counters. An entire hall of employees is maintained for these applications, and they could instead be working as registration officials,” Minev added. During the discussion, potential opportunities for financing the complete digitalization of the Registry Agency’s processes were also considered. Employers were informed that the project planned for this purpose had been removed from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. In this regard, employer organizations proposed that the funding come from the Agency’s own revenues. Both sides agreed that it is time for the Agency to begin using the latest technological solutions in its work, including artificial intelligence technologies, so that services for businesses and citizens can be optimized and provided within the legally established deadlines, according to the statement. Eliana Ilieva assumed the position by order of the Minister of Justice dated May 21, 2026. Economy Petya Petrova https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/1175864-democratic-bulgaria-says-president-s-actions-prove-all-power-is-concentrated-in- https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/1175864-democratic-bulgaria-says-president-s-actions-prove-all-power-is-concentrated-in- Wed, 29 Jul 2026 17:03:00 +0300 Democratic Bulgaria (DB) gave a briefing in Parliament on Wednesday after President Iliana Iotova announced that she will promulgate the 2026 State Budget Act. MP Yordan Ivanov said that the parliamentary group's vision for resolving the issues surrounding the 2026 and 2027 state budgets and "putting an end to these left-wing populist policies" is to elect a head of State different from Iotova. "Today we witnessed what happens in a State when all power is concentrated in the hands of one party - the presidency, the legislature and the executive," Ivanov said. According to him, there is a complete inability to ensure balance and mutual oversight among the country's key institutions. "Constitutional challenges will not solve the problem with the 2026 budget. It comes into force immediately, while the Constitutional Court will not rule until the end of the year," DB Deputy Floor Leader Bozhidar Bozhanov said. "The only long-term way to change misguided fiscal policy decisions is to elect a different president at the next presidential election - one who does not enable such a concentration of power," he added. Bulgaria Momchil Rusev https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/1175859-justice-minister-calls-for-new-supreme-judicial-council-says-members-should-be- https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/1175859-justice-minister-calls-for-new-supreme-judicial-council-says-members-should-be- Wed, 29 Jul 2026 16:55:23 +0300 Justice Minister Nikolay Naydenov said on Wednesday that a priority should be to elect a new Supreme Judicial Council (SJC), which should assess the conduct of those responsible for what he described as serious abuses and failures within the judicial system, before any personnel decisions are made. "When a case takes a week to travel from one prosecutor's office to another, and when the Sofia City Prosecutor's Office at one point considers certain individuals to have immunity and at another point does not, I believe the first thing we need to do is elect a new Supreme Judicial Council. It should assess the people who commit such abuses and allow such things to happen within the judicial system. Only then should personnel decisions be made," Naydenov told reporters at a briefing at the ministry. Asked what guarantees there were that the new SJC would not be like the previous one, Naydenov said the guarantees were provided by law. He added that further measures would be introduced to strengthen those safeguards and that the election of the new SJC would be the most transparent such process to date, with guarantees contained both in legislation and in the rules and procedures governing the election. Naydenov said that such rules had been submitted to Parliament's Legal Affairs Committee on Wednesday. He also said that security of tenure was mandatory for magistrates, while current SJC members were not magistrates. Asked whether SJC members should be subject to recall if they failed to perform their duties, Naydenov said the answer was yes. Earlier on Wednesday, Prime Minister Rumen Radev said that Bulgarian society had long been waiting for justice and accountability over what he described as the plundering of the country, but that achieving this required the prosecution service at least not to obstruct the process. He argued that the Bulgarian prosecution service had recently been doing the opposite, with its actions increasingly hindering the work of the Interior Ministry and security services as they investigate major corruption schemes. Bulgaria Konstantin Karagyozov https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/1175777-defence-ministry-explores-mig-29-f-16-and-gripen-options-democratic-bulgaria-o https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/1175777-defence-ministry-explores-mig-29-f-16-and-gripen-options-democratic-bulgaria-o Wed, 29 Jul 2026 16:48:00 +0300 Asked whether Bulgaria was negotiating the acquisition of MiG-29 aircraft, the Defence Ministry told BTA it had sent inquiries to several countries, including Poland and Hungary, about available aircraft and spare parts. It added that, in parallel, it was exploring options for acquiring used F-16 and JAS-39 Gripen aircraft, for which inquiries had also been sent. Мeanwhile, the opposition Democratic Bulgaria coalition said Bulgaria should acquire modern NATO aircraft, not MiG-29s. The Ministry stressed that it was awaiting replies, that no negotiations had begun and that no decision had been taken on acquiring a specific type of aircraft. The Defence Ministry said it was analyzing various options to maintain the Bulgarian Air Force's defence capabilities until the F-16 Block 70 aircraft reach full operational readiness. The delay in the delivery of the second batch of eight F-16s requires steps to ensure that the Air Force can continue safeguarding Bulgarian airspace and fulfilling NATO's Air Policing mission, the Ministry said. On July 24, Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov said he had sent letters to his Polish and Hungarian counterparts asking what the two countries intended to do with their MiG-29 aircraft and whether Bulgaria could obtain spare parts from them. He said that, after receiving replies, experts from the Ministry would inspect the available parts and assess whether they could be used before any decision was made. Stoyanov also said Bulgaria's MiG-29 fleet needs spare parts, adding that the air policing duty at Graf Ignatievo Air Base has been carried out since 1952 and that he was doing everything possible to ensure it continues. He said he had held talks on acquiring second-hand F-16 aircraft, arguing that Bulgaria must safeguard its airspace. Following media reports that Bulgaria had requested Polish MiG-29 aircraft, the Defence Ministry said it was not negotiating with Poland over the purchase of the fighter jets. On Wednesday, Democratic Bulgaria (DB) criticized the possibility of Bulgaria acquiring MiG-29 aircraft. "Bulgaria should acquire modern NATO aircraft, not MiG-29s," Ivaylo Mirchev MP of Democratic Bulgaria told journalists in Parliament.  "At a time when Bulgaria should be rearming with Western and NATO equipment, it emerged that we had requested to buy Polish MiG-29s. This was initially denied by the Defence Ministry, but was confirmed on Tuesday," Mirchev said. "We believe this is a harmful move and hope the Bulgarian government will respond appropriately," the MP added. Mirchev said acquiring used F-16s and JAS-39 Gripen aircraft would be a viable option, commenting that there were no simply "second-hand" aircraft, but aircraft with and without remaining service life. He said Bulgaria should not become a "graveyard for Soviet aircraft" and that NATO countries had already moved away from the MiG-29. The MP also criticized the idea of obtaining Polish MiG-29s, saying that Poland should decide what to do with its aircraft but that Bulgaria should not pay for aircraft that would add little military capability. Mirchev said Poland had indicated that the issue was not about spare parts. If Bulgaria wanted to keep its existing MiG-29 fleet operational, it could have the aircraft repaired in several countries, including Ukraine, he argued. As an alternative, he said, Bulgaria should begin using its eight available F-16 fighter jets for air policing duties. "Ukraine managed to master the F-16 in a year and a half during wartime, while we have been unable to do so in two years," the MP said. The youth organization of Yes, Bulgaria, part of the Democratic Bulgaria coalition, left an old Moskvich outside the Defence Ministry on Wednesday, calling on the government not to acquire MiG-29 aircraft. The organization's representative Todor Petrov said the Defence Minister was taking unjustified steps and that Bulgaria should not become a "scrapyard" for outdated Russian military equipment. He added: "Instead of turning Bulgaria into a Porsche, he is turning the country and the Bulgarian Armed Forces into a Moskvich." The controversy comes as Bulgaria continues preparations for the transition to the F-16 Block 70 fleet. In March, the Defence Ministry cancelled a public procurement procedure for the overhaul of up to 10 MiG-29 aircraft engines after no bids were submitted. At the end of 2025, then Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov said that, according to the current plan, the F-16 fighter jets were expected to achieve operational readiness in 2028, and that the MiG-29 fleet must be maintained until then. He explained that Poland was also beginning to experience difficulties in maintaining its MiG-29s, while Bulgaria relies on Poland for support. Bulgaria Diana Dukovska Nikolay Trifonov Liliya Yordanova