Public Relations and Protocol

The joint field exercise SAREX-26, organised by the Directorate General “Civil Aviation Administration” at the Ministry of Transport and Communications, was held today in the Banderishka Polyana area in Pirin National Park. The exercise tested the preparedness of the institutions and their coordination in responding to an aviation accident in a hard-to-reach mountainous area.

The Ministry of Transport and Communications is monitoring the situation with the tanker Mentor, which according to preliminary information is carrying about 11,000 tonnes of sunflower oil.

A shipping container has washed up in the Tsarevo area. The Military Prosecutor’s Office and all competent institutions have been notified of the incident. The Chief Directorate “Border Police” has taken action to guard and secure the area around the container.

According to the information available so far, the contents of the container are labelled as Christmas decorations.

The Minister of Transport and Communications, Georgi Peev, held an urgent conversation with the Minister of Transport and Infrastructure of the Republic of Türkiye, Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, due to the build-up of trucks at the Bulgarian-Turkish border. The two discussed options for a swift solution and for normalising traffic through the crossing point.

The Minister of Transport and Communications, Georgi Peev, and the Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications, Hristina Velinova, held a meeting with H.E. Fahad Ibrahim Al-Mushairi, Ambassador of the State of Qatar in Bulgaria. The main focus of the discussion was the restoration of the direct air route between Sofia and Doha, operated by Qatar Airways for 15 years until the suspension of flights in February 2026.

Bulgaria is working to establish itself as a transport and logistics hub connecting Europe, the Western Balkans, and the Black Sea region, stated Minister of Transport and Communications Georgi Peev during his participation in the Sofia Economic Forum.

Speaking on the panel “Hardwiring the Region: Strategic Infrastructure and Connectivity in Southeast Europe,” Minister Peev highlighted the development of vertical transport corridors, cross-border connections, and the need for closer cooperation among the countries of the region.

Opportunities for more effective information exchange between healthcare institutions and the Ministry of Interior with a view to improving road safety were discussed at an inter-institutional meeting. It was hosted by the Minister of Transport and Communications, Georgi Peev, and attended by the Minister of Health, Katya Ivkova, and her deputy, Nikolay Valov, the Deputy Minister of Interior, Kaloyan Kaloyanov, representatives of the Ministry of Finance, as well as medical and administrative experts from healthcare institutions in which medical expert commissions operate.

The Minister of Transport and Communications, Georgi Peev, and Deputy Minister Hristina Velinova held a meeting with a team from the International Finance Corporation, engaged by the previous government to carry out an analysis of the concessionaire’s performance of the concession contract for Vasil Levski Sofia Airport with regard to restoring the economic balance of the concession and resuming the payment of the concession fee.

At the initiative of the Minister of Transport and Communications, Georgi Peev, a meeting was held with representatives of road freight carriers to discuss ways of reducing congestion and improving traffic management at Kapitan Andreevo Border Crossing Point.

The search and rescue operation was officially declared over today at 15:00.

The operation resumed in the morning at 10:30, with the area being surveyed by a Bulgarian Navy vessel. 

At 14:30 operations were halted owing to a sharp deterioration in the weather – strong north-northeasterly winds gusting up to 72 km/h, reduced visibility due to precipitation and sea state 5 – which led to the termination of the operation.

The search and rescue operation for sailors from the stricken vessel “HS Dignity” resumed at 10:30. The area will be searched by a Bulgarian Navy vessel.

The active phase of the search and monitoring operation in the area of the incident was temporarily suspended yesterday at 18:00. The decision was taken due to the onset of darkness and difficult hydrometeorological conditions, following 16 hours of continuous coordinated rescue operations.

Nine vessels and two helicopters actively participated in the search of the areas, alongside vessels passing nearby.

Georgi Peev, Minister of Transport and Communications, took part in the Circular Gaia Symposium forum, in the panel “Green Infrastructure and Climate Resilience”.

He noted that among Bulgaria’s main priorities are promoting environmentally friendly modes of transport and developing sustainable transport infrastructure.

At the initiative of the Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications Hristina Velinova, the first working meeting was held, launching the institutional process for the revival and development of aero club activities in the country. The project is the result of a proposal submitted to the Council of Ministers in May 2026 by Petyo Kyurkchiyski of the “Flying People” Aero Club and supported by Prime Minister Rumen Radev.

The Executive Director of the Executive Agency "Automobile Administration", Boyko Ranovski, presented the results of the inspections of the school buses during a demonstration inspection in the town of Kostinbrod.

Minister of Transport and Communications Georgi Peev met with representatives of driving schools to discuss the chronic shortage of examiners for learner drivers.

During the meeting, Minister Peev presented specific measures aimed at improving organisation and increasing examination capacity.

Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications Christina Velinova held an online meeting with representatives of Qatar Airways to discuss the possibilities for restoring direct flights between Sofia and Doha.

By order of Minister of Transport and Communications Georgi Peev, a new Board of Directors of Holding BDZ EAD has been appointed. The change is aimed at ensuring continuity, a high level of professional expertise and effective management of the national railway operator until a competitive selection procedure is conducted in accordance with the Public Enterprises Act.

Minister of Transport and Communications Georgi Peev sent a letter to the National Association of Municipalities in the Republic of Bulgaria concerning free travel on public transport for children under the age of 14.

The letter follows a growing number of cases in which, due to technical incompatibility between the fare control systems used in different municipalities, the validity of an electronic travel card issued in another municipality cannot be verified. 

Bulgaria and Türkiye will work in closer coordination on the development of transport infrastructure and the implementation of strategic projects aimed at improving connectivity between the two countries. This emerged during a meeting in Sofia between Minister of Transport and Communications Georgi Peev and Türkiye’s Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu.

Today, at 10:36 a.m., the Aviation Search and Rescue Coordination Centre received a report that a powered hang glider carrying two people had crashed into the sea approximately 200–300 metres from the shore.