News

The Bulgarian and Greek sides will propose a joint programme for the development of the southern part of the European transport corridor Baltic Sea - Black Sea - Aegean Sea, part of the North-South route. Together they will seek support from the European Commission, international financial institutions and strategic investors to accelerate the development of the key transport corridor.

We are planning to launch a concession procedure for Plovdiv Airport. This was announced by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Communications Grozdan Karadzhov during a meeting with the aviation industry. “There should be more business and less state in our aviation. I am a supporter of the idea that the aviation business should take over the management of Plovdiv Airport and invest in its development not only as a civil airport, but also as a cargo airport.

“The motto of the Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU “Security, Europe!” is a call for more protection of people and borders.  More security means a strong army and police, but also more freedom for the economy.

All international airports in Bulgaria should be equipped with anti-drone systems. This was agreed by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Communications Grozdan Karadzhov and the representatives of the airports in Sofia, Varna, Burgas, Plovdiv, Gorna Oryahovitsa, BULATSA and DG CAA. Different technological options will be explored within a reasonable timeframe, which will be efficient but will not have a negative impact on the existing airport systems.

Legislative changes to ensure that drones do not threaten flight safety must be adopted urgently. One of these is to provide for the possibility of neutralising drones that enter the range of national security sites without authorisation.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Communications Grozdan Karadzhov held a meeting today with the Director General of BULATSA Georgi Peev, who briefed him in detail about the serious incident yesterday evening when a drone entered the area of Sofia Airport.

The National Recovery and Sustainability Plan projects are not moving at the pace required, there are critical delays, one of which is the procurement of 35 electric railcars. This is what Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Communications Grozdan Karadzhov said at a meeting today with German Ambassador Irene Plank. He informed that meetings with representatives of the European Commission are to be held in order to seek a flexible option for action and not to lose money.

The project will improve connectivity in 140 municipalities and 16 border crossings

Nearly half a billion BGN will be invested in 5G connectivity by the middle of next year. This was stated by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Communications Grozdan Karadzhov at a forum of “The Economist” magazine dedicated to the development of the Bulgarian economy.

We will seek partnership with the best experts in Europe who have experience in rail safety procedures. All procedures and rules must be reviewed in the short term and, where there are shortcomings, these must be rectified. This was underlined by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Communications Grozdan Karadzhov at a meeting with Andreas von Busch, Head of Unit for Bulgaria, Hungary and Slovenia at the European Commission's Regional and Urban Policy General Directorate, which monitors the implementation of EU programmes in the three countries.

Approximately 45% of the Transport Connectivity Programme 2021-2027 funding is earmarked for investments in Northern Bulgaria. For economic development in the region, the completion of facilities on the Karnobat-Sindel railway line and the construction of the Ruse-Veliko Tarnovo motorway are to be completed. This became clear during the sixth meeting of the Programme Monitoring Committee, which was held in Sofia.

Bulgaria and Hungary will develop transport corridors between the two countries and explore opportunities for joint investment in infrastructure projects to improve connectivity. This is the main objective of the Memorandum of Understanding signed today by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Communications Grozdan Karadzhov, the Minister of Economy and Industry Petar Dilov and the Minister of National Economy of Hungary Márton Nagy.

From 2026 all services of the Executive Agency Automobile Administration will become electronic. Drivers and companies will be able to apply for documents or pay the necessary fees via a mobile application.

This became clear at a meeting of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Communications Grozdan Karadzhov with representatives of the branch organizations in the field of road transport.

‘This way we will eliminate bureaucracy and unregulated practices that hinder business, he explained.

I support any initiative that would improve the safety of taxi drivers. This is what Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Communications Grozdan Karadzhov stated during a meeting with representatives of the taxi industry. ‘Not only as a minister, but also as a consumer, I stand by the industry's position to improve the safety of drivers,‘ Deputy Prime Minister Karadzhov noted. He expressed readiness to have talks with all competent institutions to find a functioning mechanism for this purpose.

Investments in renewable energy sources are one of the examples of how technological changes are used for sustainable development. This was stated by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Communications Grozdan Karadzhov at an event to present upcoming projects of United Group, which produces electricity from solar and wind energy. The company is also the owner of telecommunications operator Vivacom.

I urgently called today's meeting with the management of the National Railway Infrastructure Company, Holding BDZ EAD, Railway Administration Executive Agency and the National Accident Investigation Board with a single topic and that is a critical analysis and assessment of the safety system in railway transport in Bulgaria. This was explained by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Communications Grozdan Karadzhov at a briefing today at the ministry.

It is very important to speed up the construction of the transport corridors - from Thessaloniki to Vidin and from there to Northern and Western Europe, as well as the project that connects Alexandroupolis with Ruse on one side and with Varna and Burgas on the other. This is what Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Communications Grozdan Karadzhov said at a meeting with the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport of the Hellenic Republic Christos Staikouras in Sofia today.

The steps for the opening of a direct air route between Sofia and Podgorica were discussed at a meeting in Sofia between Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Communications Grozdan Karadzhov, the Ministers of Tourism of the two countries Miroslav Borshosh and Simonida Kordić and the Minister of Transport of Montenegro Maja Vukicevic.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Communications Grozdan Karadzhov took part in the Rating of universities in Bulgaria - 2024 official ceremony, organized by the 24 hours newspaper. He presented awards in the fields of National Security and Architecture, Construction and Geodesy to the Academy of the Ministry of Interior.

A railway reform is needed, albeit very late, to prevent more incidents like the one that happened yesterday. This is what Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Communications Grozdan Karadzhov said when taking over the government from the outgoing minister Krasimira Stoyanova.

He stressed that he has been connected with the sector for years and has a deep knowledge of the processes. ‘This is the second time I have become part of the team of the Ministry of Transport and Communications and some of my best years have been spent there,’ the new minister said.