site.btaUPDATED Parliament Approves Unanimously BTA Activity, Financial Report for 2024

Parliament approved unanimously the 2024 activity and financial report of the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) on Friday. It was backed by the 149 MPs in the chamber, including 49 from GERB-UDF, 12 from Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria, 29 from Vazrazhdane, 12 from MRF-New Begging, 9 from BSP - United Left, 9 from Democracy, Rights and Freedoms, 15 from There Is Such a People, 6 from MECh and 5 from Velichie.

BTA Director General Kiril Valchev was in the debating chamber. 

He told the MPs that BTA's success is their success as well. "You backed the most important strategic goal: opening up the BTA services to all users. You backed BTA to become a platform for real news where press releases stand separately from the journalistic pieces. You backed BTA to become a platform of knowledge about all regions in the Balkans," Valchev said as the MPs were about the vote the report.

Here are key takeaways from the debate:

Lyuben Dilov (GERB-UDF): There are two extremely important directions in the Bulgarian News Agency's development that lead it not only to its past glory as the main information tool of the Bulgarian society, but also solve important and complex tasks, such as the hybrid war. "I sincerely advise you to share BTA news, it is a proven effective remedy against the propaganda wars that are waged on social networks, against hybrid attacks," Dilov urged his fellow MPs.

Dimitar Nikolov (GERB-UDF): It would not be an overstatement if we say that BTA is the most dynamically developing public service media in recent years. BTA is part of the national security system, because fake news is part of the arsenal of hybrid attacks. The national news agency performs the functions of the Air Force in the information segment, it protects the public from disinformation. If years ago we said that BTA was a school, now we can safely say that BTA is an academy for journalists.

Manol Peykov (Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria) is impressed by the BTA archive, which is "a treasure trove for Bulgaria". (...) My opinion is that if 30% of the institutions worked in this way, we would be absolutely at the level of the leading European countries in terms of management. BTA is one of the few institutions about which only good words are said. The way BTA is managed is exemplary, and what is amazing is that it manages within its own, State-given resources, which are not large, to perform miracles of bravery.

MP Alexander Simidchiev (Continue the Change–Democratic Bulgaria) commended Valchev: “Thank you to Kiril Valchev, who serves as an island of accurate information amid today’s mire of disinformation.”.

Angel Yanchev (Vazrazhdane): BTA is the benchmark for journalism in Bulgaria. In 2025 and in the years to come, BTA does not need cuts, as is the trend of the ruling majority and the Chair of the parliamentary Committee on Culture and Media [There Is Such a People MP Toshko Yordanov], but it needs another 60 people, in order to reach 400, i.e. half of those who worked there in the late 80s. Yanchev praised BTA Director General Kiril Valchev for "bearing the whole responsibility over the past years and for this successful leadership".

Peter Petrov (Vazrazhdane): The Bulgarian News Agency has so far fulfilled its goals wonderfully. Last year, BTA managed to open a press club in Montana (Northwestern Bulgaria), which is extremely important. BTA plays a major role in regional development. BTA employees deserve a pay rise as their activity is to inform the Bulgarian society.

Stoyan Taslakov (Vazrazhdane): BTA's press clubs across the country are well equipped, they have good professionals working in them and my experience shows that they have always been impartial, they have welcomed us with professionalism and have helped us and the citizens. The role of press clubs is important at regional level because in small regions there are not many media outlets and this is the only way for people to reach the information flow and the important issues affecting society.

Hyusein Hafazov (MRF-New Beginning): It is our universally established opinion that BTA is working well, and in general there are few institutions that work in this way. We are clearly aware that the Agency is not only an information but also a cultural institute. In many places around the world, BTA is the only cultural representation of Bulgaria and performs an extremely important function as our natural representative. Journalists working in conflict points often take risks and often work in difficult conditions.

Mariana Boyadzhieva (BSP-United Left): The proof of BTA's freedom and independence is its equal participation in the club of the most developed news agencies in the world. BTA's international cooperation has been strengthened. They continue to develop as a true bridge between all Bulgarians around the world. One of BTA's most impressive decisions is the revival of the LIK magazine. It is especially noteworthy that BTA created a new typeface, which is based on the letters of the disciples of the Holy Brothers Cyril and Methodius, but in addition they made it available for free use by all public institutions in Bulgaria.