News

Competition can deliver better quality services, and public-private partnerships yield tangible results. This was stated by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Communications Grozdan Karadjov during the “Green Transition Forum 5.0.” “At present, 15 port terminals, four out of five airports, and one intermodal terminal in Bulgaria are under concession agreements and we are actively expanding this model. One of the successful examples, Sofia Airport, will resume concession fee payments starting next year,” he added.

DG CAA has identified numerous deficiencies in the operations of the ground handling companies servicing Sofia, Varna, and Burgas airports Since the beginning of the month, by order of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Communications Grozdan Karadjov, emergency inspections have been conducted of all ground handling operators at the three airports. 

The DG CAA has recommended that all Bulgarian airlines suspend flights to and from the Middle East, in light of rising tensions in the region. 

In an official letter to the aviation sector, the CAA advises carriers to reassess the risks associated with flights to and from Tel Aviv, Beirut, Erbil, and Tehran, and to submit the results of their risk assessments - along with their decision regarding continued operations to these destinations - to the CAA by June 18, 2025 An official  NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) is expected to be issued shortly.

Funding under the “Transport Connectivity” Programme 2021–2027 has been approved for two key sections of the Ruse – Veliko Tarnovo Motorway —  namely, the Ruse–Byala section and the Byala bypass. The announcement was made during the seventh meeting of the Programme Monitoring Committee, held in Sofia.

The total investment for both sections is nearly BGN 2 billion, of which more than BGN 1 billion comes in the form of non-repayable financial assistance from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). 

We will no longer speak of digital nomadism, but of the opportunities that will arise not only to  for residents of sparsely populated areas, but also for future businesses that will develop their potential there. This was stated by Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov during the signing ceremony of six contracts worth over BGN 443 million for the construction of digital networks across the country. "This is an significant step towards the digital transition. I would even call it a digital campaign into underpopulated areas - thosewith no market potential," the Prime Minister noted.

Public consultation on the conditions for awarding passenger rail services in Bulgaria began on 2 June.

Bulgaria is reviewing the European Commission's proposals under the Vehicle Technical Roadworthiness Package primarily through the lens of road safety and expects this focus to be maintained in the future. This was stated by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Communications, Grozdan Karadjov, during a meeting of the EU Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council, held in Luxembourg. 

The General Directorate "Civil Aviation Administration" has launched an inspection of the ground handling operators operating at “Vasil Levski” Sofia Airport. The inspection was ordered by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Communications, Grozdan Karadjov, following an increase in reports concerning poor conditions and unsatisfactory service provided to passengers at Bulgaria’s largest airport.

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Communications, Grozdan Karadjov, participated in a meeting in Brussels dedicated to the development of three strategic transport corridors between Bulgaria, Greece, and Romania.

By order of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Communications, Grozdan Karadjov, the Executive Agency "Railway Administration" (EA RA) has launched an emergency inspection into the circumstances surrounding the derailment of a freight wagon travelling on the Devnya–Filipovo route, which occurred in the Konyovo–Kermen section. By 12 June, EA RA will conduct a comprehensive investigation into the maintenance and repair system for freight wagons operated by the carrier, the workshop responsible for the wagon’s repairs, as well as the accident site itself.

The Ministry of Transport and Communications has published for public discussion a draft framework for setting the terms and procedures for selecting operators to provide passenger rail transport services within the country.

Starting today, teams from the Executive Agency “Automobile Administration” have begun 24-hour monitoring along the Botevgrad – Pleven – Vratsa – Montana – Vidin route. By order of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Communications, Grozdan Karadjov, the measure will be implemented for an indefinite period. increased oversight is due to the rise in freight traffic in the region, caused by roadworks on the Botevgrad – Mezdra section.

Starting mid-June, we will launch daily express trains from Sofia to Burgas and Varna. These trains will have fewer stops, allowing for faster travel to the seaside during the summer season. This was announced today by the Vice Premier and Minister of Transport and Communications, Grozdan Karadzhov, following a working meeting on the Sofia-Burgas railway.

Due to frequent incidents involving trucks, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Communications Grozdan Karadzhov ordered the formation of additional teams from the EA "Automobile Administration" over the holidays. The teams are in the field and are conducting on-site inspections of truck incidents and transport companies in various regions of the country.

The truck that crashed near a gas station in the village of Radomirtsi was moving at excessive speed, both instantaneous and average. On that ramp, the heavy truck was recorded traveling at a speed of 86 km/h where the permitted speed is 70 km/h, and the average speed in the accident section was 69 km/h with a limit of 50 km/h. On the day of the incident, speeding in the range of 10-15 km/h above the limit was also detected in different sections.

I am happy that on May 24th, when we say “Go forth, enlightened people,” I can be the first host of the 20th World Meeting of Bulgarian Media with the validation of a postage stamp. This was stated by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Communications Grozdan Karadzhov at the ceremony for the issue of the stamp.

We need a significant acceleration of the procedures for the construction of the third bridge over the Danube River. Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications Dimitar Nedyalkov and the President of the International Road Transport Union (IRU) and Secretary General of the National Union of Road Hauliers in Romania (UNTRR) Radu Dinescu united around this opinion. The topic was the focus of their conversation during the International Transport Forum (ITF), which took place on May 21 and 22, 2025, in Leipzig, Germany.

By order of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Communications Grozdan Karadzhov, EA “Automobile Administration” is launching specialized inspections of trucks transporting timber and firewood.

The inspections will cover all regions of the country with heavy traffic of heavy goods vehicles carrying such loads. Inspectors will check compliance with regulatory requirements for maximum permissible weight and the technical condition of the trucks.

Shorter deadlines for issuing work visas, digitalization of the single permit for residence and work, a larger quota for foreigners who can work for one company, are part of the proposed measures for a more favorable regime for hiring staff from third countries.

World Bank experts are currently preparing an analysis of the development opportunities for the Port of Varna and by the end of the year we will announce a public-private partnership procedure. The goal is to attract an international fund or company to secure sufficient investment for its modernization, attract new shippers, and increase the processed cargo volumes at the Varna-West and Varna-East terminals.