https://www.bta.bg/en/rss/free Sat, 05 Sep 2026 08:55:27 +0300 en hourly 1 https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/1198696-georgi-gospodinov-wins-jean-monnet-prize-for-european-literature https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/1198696-georgi-gospodinov-wins-jean-monnet-prize-for-european-literature Sat, 05 Sep 2026 08:32:00 +0300 Bulgarian writer Georgi Gospodinov won the 32nd Jean Monnet Prize for European Literature for his novel Death and the Gardener (French title: Le jardinier et la mort), translated into French by Marie Vrinat-Nikolov and published by Gallimard in August 2025, French media reported on Friday night. The award also recognizes the writer's body of work. Georgi Gospodinov (or Gueorgui Gospodinov, in French) was nominated alongside seven other European authors before being shortlisted for the prize together with Irish author Joseph O'Connor and Italy's Andrea Bajani.  The chair of the jury, Gerard de Cortanze, described Death and the Gardener as "a book of light against the black hole of death". Gospodinov wrote on social media: "Jean Monnet was one of the fathers of modern Europe, which also makes me happy." Among previous winners of the prize, he named Antonio Tabucchi, Patrick Modiano, Angel Wagenstein, Jon Kalman Stefansson, Ian McEwan and Pascal Quignard. The Jean Monnet Prize for European Literature was established in 1995 and is awarded annually to a European author for a work written or translated into French during the previous year. The accolade comes with EUR 5,000 in prize money. The Jean Monnet Prize will be presented at an official ceremony on November 21 during the 39th Festival of European Literature. Gospodinov will take part in a conversation with French writer Jerome Ferrari on November 22. Georgi Gospodinov is one of the most successful contemporary Bulgarian writers. His popularity abroad received a major boost after he won the 2023 International Booker Prize for his novel Time Shelter, translated into English by Angela Rodel. Gospodinov's most recent novel, Death and the Gardener, also translated by Rodel, was published by Weidenfeld & Nicolson in 2025. Bulgaria Valentin Evstatiev Anelia Uzunova https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/1198662-supreme-judicial-council-publishes-documents-of-seven-prosecutors-quota-candida https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/1198662-supreme-judicial-council-publishes-documents-of-seven-prosecutors-quota-candida Fri, 04 Sep 2026 22:43:20 +0300 The Supreme Judicial Council published documents submitted by seven candidates for election to the Council from the prosecutors’ quota, its press service said on Friday. The documents were submitted by Supreme Cassation Prosecution Office Prosecutor Ivanka Kotorova; Supreme Cassation Prosecution Office Prosecutor Siika Mileva; Sofia Appellate Prosecution Office Head Daniela Popova; Sofia Appellate Prosecution Office Prosecutor Ivaylo Angelov; Burgas District Prosecution Office Head Georgi Chinev; Sofia City Prosecution Office Prosecutor Marina Nenkova; and Sofia District Prosecution Office Prosecutor Plamen Petkov. They comprised CVs, statements outlining the candidates’ reasons for taking part in the procedure, concepts for the Council’s work, declarations, copies of certificates of legal competence and other documents. The Council received questions from Sofia Appellate Prosecution Office Prosecutor Svetlozar Kostov for the candidates seeking election from the prosecutors’ quota. The questions were published for the candidates whom the Prosecutors Chamber of the Council admitted to the election. BTA will cover the election of SJC members from the quotas of Parliament, judges, prosecutors and investigating magistrates under a Developing Story (section) titled "New Supreme Judicial Council", available in Bulgarian and English. Bulgaria Kaloyan Kirilov https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/1198655-three-judges-nominated-for-election-to-supreme-judicial-council https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/1198655-three-judges-nominated-for-election-to-supreme-judicial-council Fri, 04 Sep 2026 22:23:03 +0300 Three judges were nominated for election to the Supreme Judicial Council from the judges’ quota, the SJC press service said on Friday. They are Sofia City Court Judge Krasimir Mazgalov, Sofia Appellate Court Judge Vladimir Valkov and Plovdiv District Court Deputy Chair Vesela Evstatieva. The SJC registry will be open on September 5, 6 and 7, 2026, a Saturday, Sunday and Monday, to receive documents related to the election of SJC members by judges, prosecutors and investigating magistrates. The deadline for nominations for SJC members from the judicial quota is September 6, 2026. Candidates for SJC membership from the prosecutorial quota must submit their documents by September 7, 2026. BTA will cover the election of SJC members from the quotas of Parliament, judges, prosecutors and investigating magistrates under a Developing Story (section) titled "New Supreme Judicial Council", available in Bulgarian and English. Bulgaria Kaloyan Kirilov https://www.bta.bg/en/news/sport/1198648-bulgarian-athlete-bozhidar-saraboyukov-finishes-fourth-in-diamond-league-athleti https://www.bta.bg/en/news/sport/1198648-bulgarian-athlete-bozhidar-saraboyukov-finishes-fourth-in-diamond-league-athleti Fri, 04 Sep 2026 22:16:00 +0300 Bulgarian athlete Bozhidar Saraboyukov finished fourth in the Diamond League athletics final on Friday. Saraboyukov’s fourth attempt in the long jump event of 8 metres was also his best, which placed him behind Jamaica’s Tajay Gayle, Greece’s Miltiadis Tentoglou, and Switzerland’s Simon Ehammer, who took gold, silver, and bronze respectively. Sport Nikolay Zabov https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/1198607-president-iotova-opens-25th-national-folklore-festival-for-two-part-singing https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/1198607-president-iotova-opens-25th-national-folklore-festival-for-two-part-singing Fri, 04 Sep 2026 21:13:00 +0300 Speaking at the opening of the 25th National Folklore Festival for Two-Part Singing in Nedelino, Southern Bulgaria, President Iliana Iotova said on Friday that preserving Bulgarian traditions and identity in this turbulent world is a matter of Bulgaria’s security. The festival saw performers from more than 100 Bulgarian community centres take to the stage, as well as artists from Turkiye, Spain, Poland, Romania, Moldova, Serbia, and the Republic of North Macedonia. Iotova said: "A nation is strong when it knows its history, passes on its traditions, preserves its identity and teaches it to its children." She shared with the guests of the event that, although she is half Rhodopean, she once found it difficult to understand and make sense of Rhodopean song lyrics. She added: "Most of them [the songs] are sad, because such is the fate of the Rhodope Mountains, but they spring from the human heart. And despite the sadness, there is always optimism and a very deep faith in life. That is why we cherish this treasure as if it were a precious gem." The competition part of the festival will end on Sunday. Bulgaria Nikolay Zabov BTA correspondent Hristina Georgieva https://www.bta.bg/en/news/economy/1198631-prime-minister-discusses-bulgaria-s-progress-toward-exiting-money-laundering-lis https://www.bta.bg/en/news/economy/1198631-prime-minister-discusses-bulgaria-s-progress-toward-exiting-money-laundering-lis Fri, 04 Sep 2026 21:20:05 +0300 Prime Minister Rumen Radev met with representatives of the Joint Group of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and the Council of Europe’s Committee of Experts on the Evaluation of Anti-Money Laundering Measures and the Financing of Terrorism (MONEYVAL), the government information service reported. During the meeting, the sides discussed the measures taken by Bulgaria and the progress achieved toward the country’s removal from the list of jurisdictions with strategic deficiencies in their systems for combating money laundering and terrorist financing. A final decision is expected to be made in October in Paris. In October 2023, Bulgaria was placed on the FATF grey list of countries under “increased monitoring.” In June this year, FATF gave the green light for Bulgaria to exit the grey list, the Ministry of Justice announced at the time. According to a decision by the Group, Bulgaria had substantially completed its Action Plan for removal from the list, which has significantly hindered foreign investment in the country. One final on-site assessment remained to confirm that the reforms implemented were irreversible, the ministry said in its social media post at the time. Economy Petya Petrova https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/1198621-burgas-district-prosecutor-highlights-large-drug-seizure https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/1198621-burgas-district-prosecutor-highlights-large-drug-seizure Fri, 04 Sep 2026 21:07:00 +0300 “Burgas is once again making headlines today with good news in the fight against crime,” Burgas District Prosecutor Georgi Chinev wrote on Facebook after the seizure of a large shipment of drugs found in a truck at the entrance to the coastal city. Earlier, Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev announced that Interior Ministry officers had seized hundreds of kilograms of cocaine and marijuana. Chinev noted that the discovery was another achievement, following a ruling issued Friday by the Burgas Court of Appeals, which sentenced Syrian national Omar Adnan to life imprisonment. Adnan was found guilty of causing the deaths of police officers Yordan Iliev and Atanas Gradev. “A powerful blow has been dealt to drug trafficking in Burgas. This is how we must work in order to restore people’s trust,” Chinev also wrote in his post. Bulgaria Petya Petrova BTA correspondent Galya Teneva https://www.bta.bg/en/news/archives/1198601-observances-september-5-6 https://www.bta.bg/en/news/archives/1198601-observances-september-5-6 Fri, 04 Sep 2026 20:15:00 +0300 September 5: On this date in Bulgarian history: 1881: Bulgarian Literary Society (today's Bulgarian Academy of Sciences) holds first meeting in Sofia. 1944: Soviet Union severs diplomatic relations with, and declares war on, Bulgaria, which is German ally during part of World War II. Soviet troops enter Bulgaria on September 8, 1944. 1944: Workers' Party Central Committee Politburo and People's Liberation Insurgent Army General Headquarters plan uprising, whose principal strike is to be dealt in Sofia on night of September 8 to 9. 1953: Belene forced labour camp (Northwestern Bulgaria), opened on June 24, 1949, is closed. Reopened on November 17, 1956, closed in 1959. 1955: Lead and Zinc Works in Kardzhali (South Central Bulgaria) are inaugurated (Lead & Zinc Complex AD since 1998). 2001: Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew starts one-week visit to Sofia and Plovdiv, confers with Patriarch Maksim, President Peter Stoyanov and Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. 2009: Fifteen Bulgarians drown as tourist ship Ilinden, carrying 55 Bulgarian tourists, sinks in Lake Ohrid in Macedonia. September 6: Bulgaria: Unification Day. Public holiday. The world: National Day of Swaziland: Independence Day (1968). On this date in Bulgarian history: 1879: Diplomatic relations established with Serbia. 1883: Suspended Tarnovo Constitution is reinstated. 1885: Union of Principality of Bulgaria with Eastern Rumelia is proclaimed. 1916: Third Army under General Stefan Toshev's command captures Toutrakan Fortress during World War I in one of Bulgaria's greatest victories. 1974: New building of Sofia's Central Railway Station is inaugurated. BTA's Archives https://www.bta.bg/en/news/economy/1198586-north-macedonia-serbia-join-vertical-gas-corridor-in-thessaloniki-bulgartransg https://www.bta.bg/en/news/economy/1198586-north-macedonia-serbia-join-vertical-gas-corridor-in-thessaloniki-bulgartransg Fri, 04 Sep 2026 20:05:58 +0300 North Macedonia’s NOMAGAS and Serbia’s Transportgas Serbia have joined the Vertical Corridor initiative, further extending the gas route into the Western Balkans after a new Memorandum of Understanding was signed by the transmission system operators participating in project, Bulgartransgaz said on Friday. The signing took place in Thessaloniki on the sidelines of the 10th Energy Forum for South East Europe (SEEF). With the addition of the two countries, the Vertical Corridor now brings together Bulgaria, Greece, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Ukraine, Moldova, North Macedonia, and Serbia. The expansion reflects the ongoing cooperation among the transmission system operators, with the support of the energy ministers of the respective countries, thereby enhancing security of supply, diversifying supply sources and routes, and improving regional interconnectivity, Bulgartransgaz said. Under the new Memorandum of Understanding, the operators will further coordinate the development and operation of their interconnected transmission systems, focusing on optimizing the use of existing infrastructure, identifying the need for additional infrastructure, improving bidirectional gas transmission capabilities, and expanding cross-border capacity. Cooperation will also continue at the regulatory, technical, and commercial levels, with the aim of making the Vertical Corridor a more flexible, competitive, and market-attractive project. With the participation of North Macedonia and Serbia, the Vertical Corridor is expanding further into the Western Balkans, strengthening its key role as a regional energy route connecting diversified sources of supply with markets in Southeastern and Central Europe. “Bulgaria plays an important role in the energy security of the Western Balkans. The development of the Vertical Gas Corridor and the inclusion of Serbia and North Macedonia in the project is a logical step toward strengthening regional integration and the security of energy supplies,” Bulgarian Energy Minister Iva Petrova said, quoted in the statement. “The Vertical Corridor is becoming a key pillar of the European energy security architecture. This project represents a gateway for secure supplies of liquefied natural gas from our strategic partner, the United States, to the region, laying the foundations for our energy independence and resilience,” Bulgartransgaz Executive Director Kiril Ravnachki said during the signing ceremony. “Bulgaria plays a central role in this process. By providing the necessary infrastructure in the region, we are ensuring flexible and resilient gas supply routes and strengthening the European energy system. We will continue working with our partners to ensure that bidirectional and market-driven flows through the Vertical Gas Corridor meet the demand for diversified gas supplies in Eastern, Southeastern, and Central Europe,” Ravnachki added. The new Memorandum of Understanding reaffirms the commitment of the participating transmission system operators (TSOs) to further developing the Vertical Corridor as a strategic component of the region’s energy security and interconnectivity. The infrastructure of the Vertical Gas Corridor on Bulgarian territory is expected to be completed by October 1, 2026. Economy Petya Petrova https://www.bta.bg/en/news/culture/1198581-belgrade-conference-marks-150-years-since-april-uprising https://www.bta.bg/en/news/culture/1198581-belgrade-conference-marks-150-years-since-april-uprising Fri, 04 Sep 2026 19:35:31 +0300 The April Uprising ultimately succeeded because it led to Bulgaria’s liberation, participants in a conference marking its 150th anniversary agreed at the BTA National Press Club in Belgrade on Friday. The conference was opened by BTA correspondent in Belgrade Teodora Encheva and moderated by Bulgarian National Television’s Panorama host Boyko Vassilev. Speakers included historian Petko Petkov, a lecturer at St Cyril and St Methodius University of Veliko Tarnovo; historian Diana Miteva, a researcher of the Bulgarian National Revival; and Sts Cyril and Methodius High School Director Bratislav Stamenov. Bulgarian Ambassador to Serbia Angel Angelov attended as a special guest. “One of the few achievements of young Bulgarian historians in the 1990s was that we managed to prove the April Uprising was not a failure, since its main objective was to force the Great Powers to intervene through this bloodshed (...),” Petkov said. “The 1876 uprising was not an isolated event or an outburst of spontaneous revolutionary impulses, but the culmination of a long history of Bulgarian national liberation efforts that began in the early 19th century,” Petkov added. Miteva discussed the support provided by Bulgarian migrant market gardeners in Serbia to the two Bulgarian Legions in the Serbian capital, the gardeners’ participation in the April Uprising and the links between Bulgarian revolutionaries and Serbia, particularly Belgrade. “These people were here in Belgrade, gathered in one place and receiving military training so that our statehood could exist today,” Miteva said. Vassilev discussed journalism’s role in Bulgaria’s revolutionary movement and said the April Uprising’s ultimate success, namely Bulgaria’s freedom, was also due to three journalists: Hristo Botev, Januarius MacGahan and Zahari Stoyanov. “We know about the April Uprising, and the world knows about the April Uprising, thanks to three journalists. In this way, our mission has been crowned with success,” Vassilev said in conclusion. Angelov welcomed the decision to hold Friday’s conference at the BTA National Press Club and noted the importance of the agency’s correspondent bureau for maintaining ties with the Bulgarian community. “I am very glad that we held it here, and very glad that BTA has a correspondent bureau. We will continue helping one another,” Angelov said. The Bulgarian-language class at Sts Cyril and Methodius High School in Tsaribrod will be retained after eight pupils enrolled to study in Bulgarian, Stamenov said during Friday’s conference. Angelov added that considerable efforts had been made to retain the class and that the issue will remain among the priorities of Bulgaria’s diplomatic missions. Culture Kaloyan Kirilov https://www.bta.bg/en/news/culture/1198530-festivals-in-bulgaria-should-be-categorized-says-expert https://www.bta.bg/en/news/culture/1198530-festivals-in-bulgaria-should-be-categorized-says-expert Fri, 04 Sep 2026 19:33:16 +0300 Diana Andreeva-Popyordanova, Director of the Culture Economics Observatory, said that it is necessary to categorize the festivals in the country and to create a register in which they are listed. She was a speaker at a national conference organized by the Bulgarian Festivals Association and hosted by the Varna City Art Gallery on Friday under the title "Festival Calendar: Prospects. Is 100 Years Too Little?". Among the key topics discussed at the forum were Bulgaria’s festival policy for the coming decades and the role of festivals in the development of cities and the cultural sector. Popyordanova noted that Bulgaria could host thousands of arts festivals and fairs a year, since every community centre across the country has its own festival or fair. She stated that events like these are essential for local communities, as they bring people together, unite them and enable them to share in cultural experiences. The expert was adamant that those festivals in the country which are of exceptional artistic and cultural value, which act as a driving force for artistic processes, provide a platform for artists’ development and create a robust ecosystem – including an economic one – must be identified. Popyordanova highlighted the lack of a national strategy for culture as a problem. She said that attempts had been made over the years to draw up such a document, but they failed mainly because of the financial framework. Popyordanova said that the National Association of Municipalities in the Republic of Bulgaria should play a more significant role in the process. Her view was that local authorities should be the driving force behind processes that unfold at national level. Local authorities have a vested interest in the existence of a National Strategy so that they can align their own municipal strategies with it, she added. She emphasized that when processes are driven from the bottom up, they can prove to be much more sustainable. Culture, among other things, also makes a significant economic contribution, Popyordanova noted. This stems primarily from the creative industries, which generate significant added value for the Bulgarian economy but are concentrated mainly in the capital. The lack of genuine decentralisation in the country in terms of fiscal distribution is also a problem, the expert added. In her view, if more money were to remain in the local authorities, they would develop differently. This would lead to balanced regional development, and towns would be able to allocate more funds to culture and use it as a driver of sustainable economic development, Popyordanova said. Vasil Dimitrov, Chair of the Bulgarian Festivals Association, added that there must be clarity and consensus on the country’s strategic festivals, of which, in his words, there are no more than 30 or 40. This does not in any way mean that new festivals should not be established, as new events are necessary. New events should be given the chance to demonstrate whether they have what it takes to develop strategically, Dimitrov added. There are countless events in our country, but the very concept of a festival lacks a clear definition, Dimitrov said. He emphasized that the association he heads comprises arts festivals that make a cultural contribution. Those linked to agriculture and the production of fruit and vegetables are wonderful, but they are more tourist-oriented, relating not to the development of art and culture, but to entertainment and cuisine, the expert said. Dimitrov said that it is appropriate for the State to identify which festivals are strategic and to lay down rules for them that will help them in the future. He said that the Bulgarian Festivals Association has drawn up proposals, but over the years it has never received a reply or a clear response from the Ministry of Culture. He said that most of the festivals in Bulgaria that have already proven their worth need predictability and a level playing field at European level, as they are a very important part of Bulgaria’s culture. Culture Nikolay Zabov BTA correspondent Mila Edreva https://www.bta.bg/en/news/world/1198570-bulgaria-slovakia-to-deepen-cooperation-in-energy-and-defence-and-regional-conn https://www.bta.bg/en/news/world/1198570-bulgaria-slovakia-to-deepen-cooperation-in-energy-and-defence-and-regional-conn Fri, 04 Sep 2026 19:33:00 +0300 Prime Minister Rumen Radev welcomed Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico with an official ceremony at St Alexander Nevsky Square in Sofia on Friday. The two government leaders reviewed the guard and laid flowers at the Monument to the Unknown Soldier. Following a one-on-one meeting at the Council of Ministers building at which they discussed opportunities to strengthen bilateral cooperation, and current issues on the European and international agenda, Radev and Fico chaired plenary talks between the two official delegations. Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Radev said that energy is the foundation of the economies of Bulgaria and Slovakia. "In the near future, our energy ministers will establish a joint commission to share experience and scientific expertise on an important energy project," Radev added. The two prime ministers share the position that nuclear energy is a key factor in achieving climate neutrality, one of the EU’s main objectives. As to energy resource supplies, Radev said that Bulgaria has access to liquefied natural gas terminals in Greece and Turkiye and has the physical gas transmission infrastructure needed to supply Central and Eastern European countries, including Slovakia. The Prime Minister stressed that both countries have experience and traditions in the defence industry, are developing it intensively, and are among Europe’s major producers of defence products and ammunition. Radev highlighted the excellent interaction and cooperation between Sliac Air Base and Graf Ignatievo Air Base in improving infrastructure and integrating F-16 Block 70 aircraft. Attempts to resolve the war in Ukraine by military means increase the risk of dangerous escalation, Radev said in response to a question about an attempted drone attack at Leipzig Airport in Germany and sanctions against Russia. Radev added he was particularly concerned about the escalation of the war in Ukraine and called for reason, dialogue, a ceasefire and a return to the negotiating table, saying that diplomacy is the only sustainable and reliable solution to the conflict. Speaking at the joint briefing, Fico said that Bulgaria has Slovakia's full support for its bid to become a member of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Slovaks are rediscovering Bulgaria as a tourist destination. More than 80,000 tourists from Slovakia visited Bulgaria in 2025, he said. Regarding the war in Ukraine, Fico said the Slovak government was not participating in any financial mechanisms supporting the war. "This war has no military solution," Fico said. He added that Russia has violated international law, but said that "we should not look at the world in black and white". Taking a journalist's question about the idea to expand the sanctions list against Russia following the drone incident at Leipzig Airport, Fico said: "We do not need more weapons in Europe. We need diplomacy, peace and solutions. I do not believe in a policy of sanctions, but we will not break the unity of the European Union," he said. As part of the official visit of the Slovak Prime Minister and his delegation to Sofia, Foreign Ministers Velislava Petrova of Bulgaria and Juraj Blanar of Slovakia discussed the possibilities for expanding cooperation in the fields of energy, transport connectivity, innovation and new technologies. The foreign ministers emphasized the potential for political dialogue between Sofia and Bratislava to be developed further through concrete initiatives and partnerships. Among the priorities identified were the exchange of good practices in developing public-private partnerships, investment in new technologies and expanded cooperation in the energy sector. The preparations for the EU's next Multiannual Financial Framework for 2028-2034 were also discussed, with the ministers highlighting the important role of cohesion policy and the common agricultural policy. As part of the official visit of the Slovak delegation to Sofia, Bulgarian Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov and Slovak Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Robert Kalinak met to discuss the development of bilateral defence relations. During their talks, the two ministers focused on the experience of both countries in operating and developing the F-16 Block 70, and the implementation of projects under the European SAFE instrument. "It is important for us to exchange experience and make the most of the opportunities provided by European instruments to strengthen our defence capabilities," Stoyanov said. The Slovak side presented the capabilities of its defence industry and expressed readiness for further cooperation. World Risida Dimitrova Valentin Evstatiev Konstantin Karagyozov Yoana Vodenicharova https://www.bta.bg/en/news/economy/1198232-dutch-bank-ing-raises-bulgaria-s-2026-inflation-forecast-to-5-1-cuts-2027-grow https://www.bta.bg/en/news/economy/1198232-dutch-bank-ing-raises-bulgaria-s-2026-inflation-forecast-to-5-1-cuts-2027-grow Fri, 04 Sep 2026 14:19:00 +0300 Bulgaria will record average annual inflation of 5.1% in 2026, compared with the 4.9% previously forecast in July, Dutch bank ING says in its September economic analysis published on Friday. The bank has kept its forecast for growth in the Bulgarian economy this year unchanged at 2.6%, but has lowered its 2027 growth forecast from 2.5% to 2.3%. The forecast for the average annual increase in consumer prices in 2027 has been raised from 2.9% to 3.3%. The September report also includes forecasts for Bulgaria for 2028, which were absent from the July edition. They envisage growth of 2% and average annual inflation of 3.2%. The upward revision to Bulgaria's inflation forecast mainly affects the second half of this year and the first half of next year. ING now expects average annual inflation of 5% in the third quarter of 2026, up from the July forecast of 4.6%, and 5.4% in the fourth quarter, up from 4.8%. For the first quarter of 2027, the annual inflation forecast has been raised from 4.5% to 5%, while for the second quarter it has been increased from 2.1% to 2.6%. The bank therefore continues to expect inflation to ease significantly next year, but compared with its July analysis, the decline is now expected to be more limited. At the same time, forecasts for annual growth in Bulgarian GDP in the third and fourth quarters of 2026 remain unchanged at 2.6% and 2.3%, respectively. The downward revision to the 2027 forecast is concentrated in the second, third and fourth quarters. Bulgaria maintains growth lead over eurozone Despite the downgrade for next year, forecast growth in Bulgaria remains above that of the eurozone. For the currency bloc, ING has raised its growth forecast for 2026 from 0.5% to 0.8% and kept its 2027 forecast unchanged at 1.3%. Bulgaria, however, also continues to have higher expected inflation. For the eurozone, the bank forecasts an average annual increase in prices of 3% in 2026 and 2.3% in 2027, compared with 2.7% and 2.2%, respectively, in its July analysis. Regional comparison The regional picture is mixed. ING has kept its 2026 growth forecast for Poland at 3.4%, while raising its projection for Hungary from 1.5% to 1.7% and lowering that for Czechia from 2% to 1.9%. For Romania, the September report forecasts an economic contraction of 0.5% and average annual inflation of 8.5%. The main change in ING's broader international outlook between July and September is a reduced expectation that energy price pressures will ease quickly. While in July the bank assumed a faster recovery in oil supplies through the Strait of Hormuz, its September analysis factors in more prolonged uncertainty surrounding the conflict between the United States and Iran and raises its oil and natural gas price forecasts. ING has raised its forecast for the average price of Brent crude in the fourth quarter of 2026 from USD 74 to USD 80 per barrel. Its forecast for European natural gas prices on the Dutch TTF benchmark over the same period has been increased from EUR 48 to EUR 65 per megawatt-hour. For the first quarter of 2027, the gas price forecast has been raised from EUR 40 to EUR 65 per megawatt-hour. The bank also expects eurozone interest rates to remain higher for longer. While its July forecast envisaged the European Central Bank's deposit rate falling to 2.25% in the second quarter of 2027, the September analysis projects it remaining at 2.5% throughout next year. Economy Valentin Evstatiev Boycho Popov https://www.bta.bg/en/news/culture/1198539--bulgaria-s-milk-road-through-the-centuries-national-festival-opens-in-lukovit https://www.bta.bg/en/news/culture/1198539--bulgaria-s-milk-road-through-the-centuries-national-festival-opens-in-lukovit Fri, 04 Sep 2026 19:13:00 +0300 The seventh edition of a national festival called "Bulgaria's Milk Road Through the Centuries" opened in Lukovit on Friday with the traditional splashing of milk from a small bucket. The bucket was emptied by Agriculture and Food Minister Plamen Abrovski, who was among the official guests at the event. The festival will run until Sunday. Nearly 60 exhibitors from across the country are presenting their products, 25 of them small and large producers of milk and dairy. The participants are established traders, some of whom are members of the Bulgarian Traditional Dairy Products Association. Abrovski said in a speech: "If you had breakfast this morning, thank the farmer who produced that food. If you had lunch, you should thank them as well. When you sit down to dinner tonight, you should thank them again. Because the farmer has the responsibility of feeding all of us. And food has an enormous impact, not only economically, but also on our health. Because depending on what food we eat, that determines how we live." From the stage in a local square, Lukovit Mayor Ivan Grancharov said to the minister that imitation dairy products should be banned. He explained that this initiative dates back to the first edition of the festival, when a petition was drawn up. "Unfortunately, they have still not been banned, but I remain determined that at some point they should be. I'll also say what my arguments were then: apart from deceiving people, this certainly affects their health, it affects Bulgarian dairy producers in the person of Bulgarian farmers, and it also affects Bulgarian dairy processors," the mayor said emphatically. In response, the Agriculture and Food Minister said that imitation products cannot be banned, but will be clearly labelled so that consumers will know what they are eating when they buy them. He noted that a working group was set up two weeks ago to amend the regulations on dairy products. Dimitar Zorov, chairman of the management board of the Bulgarian Traditional Dairy Products Association, said Bulgarians have the right to consume the kinds of products they used to consume 20-25 years ago. According to Zorov, the three-day festival in Lukovit also gives people an opportunity to see dairy products and their real prices, "because that is the other major issue putting pressure on the Bulgarian farmer and, consequently, on the processor". He said that products sold in retail chains carry mark-ups of between 60% and 100%. Among the other official guests were MP Ivet Goranova of Progressive Bulgaria, Deputy Executive Director of the State Fund Agriculture Dimitar Gorov, Lovech Regional Governor Plamen Hristov, and chairman of the Association of Agricultural Producers in Bulgaria Ventsislav Varbanov. The National Festival "Bulgaria's Milk Road Through the Centuries" is organized by the Bulgarian Traditional Dairy Products Association in partnership with Lukovit Municipality and with the support of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food and the State Fund Agriculture. Its aim is to promote high-quality domestically produced dairy products, with a focus on yoghurt and white brined cheese with a protected designation of origin. Participants include producers of starter cultures, bread and wine, agricultural producers of various types of food, and craftspeople. The festival features a music and dance programme, demonstrations and various competitions. Culture BTA Correspondent Svetlomira Anastasova Valentin Evstatiev https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/1198347-fire-at-solar-park-near-bobov-dol-power-plant-is-extinguished https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/1198347-fire-at-solar-park-near-bobov-dol-power-plant-is-extinguished Fri, 04 Sep 2026 16:06:00 +0300 The fire at the photovoltaic park of Bobov Dol Thermal Power Plant (TPP) has been extinguished, police told BTA. The fire broke out on Friday today at around 1.30 pm and spread through dry vegetation beneath the plant’s photovoltaic panels in the village of Palatovo, affecting an area of approximately 300–400 square meters. Six firefighting teams were working to contain it, assisted by employees of the Bobov Dol power plant. Two firefighting teams will remain on duty at the site overnight. An inspection of the area will be carried out tomorrow, during which the damage will also be assessed, police said.                                               Six firefighting teams were working to contain it, assisted by employees of the Bobov Dol power plant. Bulgaria Filip Pavlov BTA correspondent Elitsa Ivanova https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1198546-bucharest-to-disable-rental-e-scooters-in-parks-at-major-public-events https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1198546-bucharest-to-disable-rental-e-scooters-in-parks-at-major-public-events Fri, 04 Sep 2026 18:54:00 +0300 Rental electric scooters will be disabled in Bucharest parks and during major street events following talks between the Bucharest Municipality, shared-mobility operators and local police, the Municipality said in a Facebook post on Friday. Operators will use GPS-based controls to reduce the scooters' maximum speed from 5 km/h to 0 km/h in restricted zones, preventing users from riding rented scooters in parks or areas subject to restrictions during public events. Bolt, Lime and Splash have formally backed the municipality's request. Some operators had already introduced the software restriction in major green spaces including King Michael I, Cismigiu, Tineretului and Carol parks. The city administration noted that riding any electric scooter in Bucharest parks remains illegal and punishable by fines. The measure comes amid proposals for broader restrictions in the Romanian capital, including limiting rental services to adults and requiring scooters to be ridden only on designated cycle lanes or roads with a speed limit of up to 50 km/h. Romanian mayors called for legislative changes governing electric scooters last summer following a series of accidents. In September 2025, the northeastern city of Piatra Neamt banned electric scooter rentals after a 15-year-old died in an accident. Under current Romanian law, e-scooter riders must be at least 16, may not carry passengers or ride on pavements, and are required to wear a helmet. Fines range from RON 1,000 to RON 2,500 (EUR 190 to EUR 476), depending on the offence. Balkans BTA correspondent Martina Gancheva Yoanna Vodenova https://www.bta.bg/en/news/economy/1198543-minister-poulev-employer-organizations-discuss-reducing-administrative-burden-o https://www.bta.bg/en/news/economy/1198543-minister-poulev-employer-organizations-discuss-reducing-administrative-burden-o Fri, 04 Sep 2026 18:51:00 +0300 The government’s main commitment to business is to improve dialogue with institutions and create a higher-quality and more predictable environment for doing business, Minister of Economy, Investment and Industry Alexander Poulev said during working meetings with representatives of employer organizations focused on specific measures to reduce the administrative burden on businesses, his ministry reported. During the meetings, Poulev said that the government is counting on feedback from the business community and practical proposals that can be turned into effective solutions. According to him, the goal is to consolidate the proposed legislative changes over the coming weeks and submit them to the National Assembly. The meetings are part of the ongoing process of preparing an administrative reform. As part of this process, coordination talks have already been held with representatives of ministries, government institutions, regulatory and supervisory bodies, agencies, and other organizations. Minister Poulev said that the goal is not to carry out yet another administrative reform that remains only on paper. According to him, it is necessary to avoid the mistakes of the past and focus the reform on specific and practically applicable solutions. During the discussions, business representatives presented proposals for streamlining administrative procedures. Key priorities included shortening administrative deadlines, reducing the number of required documents, expanding electronic services, digitizing processes, introducing one-stop-shop services, and providing services without the need for in-person visits to government offices. The need for better interoperability between government registries was also discussed. Poulev said that feedback would be collected from all stakeholders, specific shortcomings would be identified, and measures would be prioritized at the very beginning of the process. According to him, the next step is to implement them systematically, with clear deadlines, specific legislative amendments, and measurable results. Among the proposals discussed was the application of the principle of tacit consent as a tool for limiting administrative delays and creating a more predictable environment for businesses. The minister said that the Ministry of Economy could be used as a pilot platform for implementing this principle. According to him, it is necessary to obtain objective feedback from industry on specific shortcomings and processes that can be improved. The ministry’s press office added that the proposals submitted by the employers’ organizations will be compiled and processed, after which they will be prioritized. On this basis, the necessary legislative and administrative actions will be taken, including the preparation of specific proposals for consideration by the National Assembly in the coming weeks. The aim of the administrative reform is to have a real impact on industry by reducing deadlines, regulatory requirements, and administrative burdens, while creating a better business environment, Poulev emphasized. He expressed the view that the reform should be assessed not by the number of documents and strategies adopted, but by its actual results for businesses and citizens. According to him, the state should be a partner and a driver of economic growth, rather than an obstacle to the development of the economy. A month earlier, Economy Minister Alexander Poulev held a working meeting with representatives of employer organizations and ministries, focusing on measures to reduce the administrative burden and streamline regulatory regimes. At the meeting, it became clear that proposals had already been submitted by 16 ministries and 26 agencies and administrative bodies. The largest share consisted of measures aimed at digitizing administrative processes, with 102 proposals, as well as proposals for the one-time collection of data, with 101. Other key areas included shortening administrative service deadlines and introducing innovative technological solutions. Economy Petya Petrova https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/1198506-another-four-judges-nominated-for-election-to-supreme-judicial-council https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/1198506-another-four-judges-nominated-for-election-to-supreme-judicial-council Fri, 04 Sep 2026 18:33:17 +0300 Another four nominations have been published for elected members of the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) from the judges' quota, the SJC press service said on Friday. The new proposals are Nadya Pelovska-Dilkova, chair of the Vratsa District Court; Emilia Vasileva, a judge at the Supreme Court of Cassation, Commercial Division; Svetlana Kalinova, a judge at the Supreme Court of Cassation, Civil Division; and Stefan Iliev, a judge at the Sofia Court of Appeal. BTA will cover the election of SJC members from the quotas of Parliament, judges, prosecutors and investigating magistrates under a Developing Story (section) titled "New Supreme Judicial Council", available in Bulgarian and English. Bulgaria Marin Kolev Valentin Evstatiev https://www.bta.bg/en/bg-world/1198493-burgas-to-host-2nd-festival-of-bulgarian-folklore-ensembles-abroad-september-18- https://www.bta.bg/en/bg-world/1198493-burgas-to-host-2nd-festival-of-bulgarian-folklore-ensembles-abroad-september-18- Fri, 04 Sep 2026 18:22:00 +0300 Nearly 400 participants from around 20 Bulgarian folklore groups from eight European countries are expected to take part in the Burgas Ni Sabira (Burgas Brings Us Together) festival, which will be held in Burgas from September 18 to 20,. said Radoslava Nedyalkova, chairwoman of the Association of Bulgarian Folklore Ensembles Abroad (ABFEA) in an interview with BTA’s BG World section. “These are Bulgarian dance and singing groups established abroad by people who preserve Bulgarian folklore as an important part of their identity and pass it on to the next generations,” she said. According to her, the participants include both groups that took part in the first edition of the festival of Bulgarian folklore ensembles from abroad in Bulgaria, held in Veliko Tarnovo in 2025, and new groups that will be joining for the first time this year. “For us, this is particularly valuable because it shows that our community is growing and that more and more Bulgarian folklore groups abroad are looking for opportunities to meet, exchange experience, and perform together in Bulgaria,” Nedyalkova said. What’s New and the Choice of Host City “This year, the programme is on a larger scale. We have more groups, more opportunities for stage performances, and additional activities that will allow participants to socialize, get to know one another, and experience Burgas together. The concerts will take place over three evenings. On Friday and Saturday, each group will have 10 minutes to present its dance choreography, while on Sunday there will be a gala concert, where we will once again see all the participants, albeit with shorter performances,” Radoslava Nedyalkova explained. She added that the decision to hold the festival in Burgas was prompted by a meeting with the organizers of the Fairy Tales Post Box initiative, who, she said, drew their attention to the hospitality and initiative of the Municipality of Burgas. “The city combines the sea, wonderful open spaces, a vibrant cultural scene, and an atmosphere that fits the spirit of our festival very well. Then came the news that Eurovision would also be held precisely in Burgas, which, for us as organizers, is a wonderful coincidence,” she said. Nedyalkova noted that it is important to ABFEA that each subsequent edition of the festival introduces Bulgarians living abroad to a different beautiful place in Bulgaria. “In this way, the festival becomes not only a gathering of folklore groups, but also an encounter with Bulgaria,” she said. Three Days of Folk Dances, Meetings, and Bulgarian Music in Burgas Radoslava Nedyalkova noted that the festival will take place from September 18 to 20, and that the organizers have made an effort to give each of the three days its own distinct character. According to her, the highlight will be on Sunday, when all the groups will come together. “We are planning a joint parade and a final gala concert, where the audience will be able to see the full diversity of Bulgarian folklore gathered in one place. It is very important to us that the festival not simply be a series of concert performances. We want Burgas to become a place for meetings, friendships, folk dancing, and lots of Bulgarian music throughout these three days,” Nedyalkova said. A Celebration of Bulgarian Folklore on One Stage, Not a Competition Asked by BTA how the groups are preparing for their participation in the festival and whether there are any requirements regarding their programmes, music, costumes, or performances, Radoslava Nedyalkova said that each group prepares its own programme and has the freedom to showcase what is most characteristic of its work and repertoire. A Dream for the Festival: Annual Gathering of Bulgarian Folklore Groups from Abroad in Bulgaria “’Burgas Ni Sabira’ is one of the most important initiatives of the Association of Bulgarian Folklore Ensembles Abroad because it brings together in one place precisely the people for whom our organization exists,” Radoslava Nedyalkova said. She added that ABFEA works throughout the year to connect Bulgarian folklore groups abroad, facilitate exchanges between them, organize joint initiatives, and promote their activities. However, she said, meeting in Bulgaria carries a completely different emotional significance. “For many of the participants, this is the moment when they return to their homeland not simply as guests, but as people who come to show how Bulgarian culture continues to live on hundreds and thousands of kilometers away from Bulgaria,” Nedyalkova said. She added that ABFEA’s aim is for the festival to become an established annual gathering of Bulgarian folklore groups from abroad. The first Festival of Bulgarian Folklore Ensembles from Abroad was held from July 23 to 26, 2025, in Veliko Tarnovo. The event was organized by the Association of Bulgarian Folklore Ensembles Abroad in partnership with the Executive Agency for Bulgarians Abroad and the International Council of Organizations of Folklore Festivals and Traditional Arts – Bulgaria (CIOFF-Bulgaria). A total of nine groups from Germany, Italy, France, Romania, Hungary, and Sweden, as well as two solo performers from Germany and Argentina, took part in the festival. In 2026, the Association of Bulgarian Folklore Ensembles Abroad is marking the 10th anniversary of its establishment. ABFEA is registered as a cultural organization in the Bulgarian Ministry of Culture’s register. During the 11th edition of the Expats Join Hands in Worldwide Dance (Na Megdana na Drugata Bulgaria) festival in Munich, the Bulgarian News Agencyand the Association of Bulgarian Folklore Ensembles Abroad signed a partnership agreement. BG World Iva Vatashka Petya Petrova https://www.bta.bg/en/news/economy/1198456-new-rules-to-close-loopholes-allowing-imitation-dairy-products-to-be-marketed-as https://www.bta.bg/en/news/economy/1198456-new-rules-to-close-loopholes-allowing-imitation-dairy-products-to-be-marketed-as Fri, 04 Sep 2026 18:12:27 +0300 Imitation dairy products cannot be banned, but changes to the regulations governing dairy products are forthcoming to restrict the possibility for products containing vegetable fats to be marketed as white cheese or yellow kashkaval cheese, Agriculture and Food Minister Plamen Abrovski told the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) in Lukovit on Friday. He added that a working group had been set up two weeks ago to prepare the amendments. "What we will do is close this broad legislative loophole through which a great many dairy products currently slip, allowing them to be called white cheese or kashkaval, when in reality they are moulded curd or some kind of product made with vegetable fats that has undergone cheddaring," the Minister explained. He stressed that this practice would be brought to an end. "When a Bulgarian consumer sees the label Bulgarian white brined cheese, they will know that it contains only milk; when they see kashkaval, they will know that it is yellow kashkaval cheese that has undergone cheddarization in Bulgaria, and that this process has been done with Bulgarian milk," Abrovski said. Asked whether Bulgarian yoghurt is of high quality, he said that it is known around the world because of its unique starter culture, which can be produced only in Bulgaria. According to Abrovski, Bulgaria exports starter culture to Japan every month, "so that other parts of the world can see the wealth we have". Abrovski said that agriculture, and dairy cattle farming in particular, is one of the main priorities of the Progressive Bulgaria government. According to him, several different support packages have been prepared for dairy and beef cattle farming, as well as for the production of fruit, vegetables and grain. The Agriculture Minister attended the opening of the seventh edition of the national congress Bulgaria’s Milk Road Through the Centuries in Lukovit. Economy Risida Dimitrova BTA Correspondent Svetlomira Anastasova