Public Relations and Protocol

I will not take a step backwards in terms of digitalisation in the motor vehicle driver education process. This was stated by the Minister of Transport and Communications Krasimira Stoyanova during a meeting today with representatives of the branch organizations of the driving schools in the country. She informed that the amendments to Ordinance 37 and Ordinance 38 related to the training process and the driving tests for the candidates for motor vehicle drivers are expected to be promulgated in the State Gazette tomorrow.

I am aware of the problems in road passenger and freight transport and we will work together to improve conditions in the sector. This was stated by the Minister of Transport and Communications Krasimira Stoyanova during the meeting held today with representatives of the branch organizations.

Bulgaria received the trust of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) to host a cybersecurity forum for the fifth time because of its active role in the organisation's activities. This was the common opinion expressed at a meeting today between the Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications Dimitar Nedyalkov and the Deputy Secretary General of the Union Tomas Lamanauskas. The representative of the organisation is in Sofia to participate in a regional forum of the European members of the ITU.

On the initiative of the Minister of Transport and Communications Krasimira Stoyanova an open discussion on the development of the railway transport was held today. It was attended by representatives of Bulgarian State Railways and National Company “Railway Infrastructure, trade unions, railway experts and media. We remind that at a meeting with the Bulgarian State Railways management yesterday, the transport minister demanded swift action to ensure the safety of employees and passengers.

The safety and health of people is a top priority, so I expect you to propose concrete measures and actions to ensure the safety of employees and passengers by tomorrow. This was stated by Minister of Transport and Communications Krasimira Stoyanova during a meeting today with the management of Bulgarian State Railways.

I know the Department of Transport and Communications system well and will work to ensure continuity and its smooth functioning. This was stated by the Minister of Transport and Communications Krasimira Stoyanova when accepting the management from the former Minister Georgi Gvozdeykov.

"I will continue all important projects and reforms. I have worked on most of them so far as part of the Ministry's team," Minister Stoyanova further stressed.

Bulgaria and China will work to build on cooperation and strengthen bilateral relations in the field of transport and communications. This was confirmed today at a meeting between the Minister of Transport and Communications Georgi Gvozdeykov and the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China H.E. Dai Qingli.

The amendments provide for an increase from 14 to 30 days in the time limit for rectification of defects

The Ministry of Transport and Communications has published for public consultation amendments to Regulation H-32 on periodic roadworthiness tests of road vehicles. The Regulation is published on the website of the Ministry of Transport and on the Public Consultation Portal of the Council of Ministers - https://strategy.bg/ for a period of 30 days.

A consortium of Skoda Transportation and Skoda Wagon has been selected as the contractor for the supply of 20 single-deck electric multiple unit trains, with a capacity of at least 300 seats, maintenance for a period of 15 years and staff training. The decision of the committee for the selection of the contractor was signed today by the Minister of Transport and Communications Georgi Gvozdeykov.

The consortium offers a price of BGN 511.4 million and a delivery period of 24 months.

All the railway projects started have similar problems and they are related to poor planning as well as extremely cumbersome administrative procedures before the start of construction. This was said by the Minister of Transport and Communications Georgi Gvozdeykov during an inspection of railway sections of the Elin Pelin - Kostenets project under construction. The Minister inspected all three lots of the project on site.

The Minister of Transport and Communications Georgi Gvozdeykov handed over the keys of the first 50 new control vehicles to the Road Administration Agency. The remaining 30 vehicles will be equipped in a few weeks.

"With the new 80 vehicles we are completely renewing the fleet of the Road Administration Agency. This will improve the efficiency of the Agency's control activities and increase road safety," said Minister Georgi Gvozdeykov.

On the initiative of the Minister of Transport and Communications Georgi Gvozdeykov a meeting was held between more than 10 institutions related to the problems of the transport industry.

Stoyan Stoyanov is the new Director General of the National Railway Infrastructure Company. He has been appointed from today by order of the Minister of Transport and Communications pending a competition. By law, the Director General is also a member of the Board of Directors of the NCWA.

From today a working group has been formed in the Automobile Administration Agency to prepare changes in the rules for annual technical inspections of cars. We will propose to increase from 14 to 30 days the time limit for rectification of "significant deficiencies" found during technical inspections. This was said by Transport and Communications Minister Georgi Gvozdeykov during a visit to one of the Sofia checkpoints earlier today.

The Minister of Transport and Communications Georgi Gvozdeykov asked for the resignations of the Director General and the Chairman of the Board of National Railway Infrastructure Company.  The reason is the low safety control and the increased number of accidents on the railway infrastructure. The last case was yesterday in the section Mirkovo - Dolno Kamartsi, where 5 wagons went off the tracks. Initial information indicates that it is a matter of poor condition of the railway infrastructure. An investigation is pending to determine the causes.

The Ministry of Transport and Communications is accepting proposals until 31 August 2024 for stamp themes to be issued in 2025. The assessment, before inclusion in the thematic plan, will be carried out according to the new criteria approved at the beginning of 2024.

The Polish company Pojazdy Szynowe PESA Bydgoszcz SA will be selected as the contractor for the delivery of 35 multiple unit trains under the Public Procurement Act. "Stadler Polska Sp. Z.o.o., ranked first, withdrew from the procedure and requested the termination of the contract for the delivery of 7 double-decker trains financed with Recovery and Sustainability Plan funds.

The Minister of Transport and Communications Georgi Gvozdeykov discussed with representatives of the industry the proposed changes to Ordinance No 37 and Ordinance No 38, regulating the conditions and procedure for the training and examination of candidates for the acquisition of driving licence.

In less than 24 hours the process of installing a permanent mobile cell in the area of the village of Voden and since last night it is in operation. At the order of Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev, Minister of Transport and Communications Georgi Gvozdeykov held an urgent meeting with mobile operators to solve the problem of lack of mobile coverage.

Assistance was also provided by the Ministry of the Interior and DG Border Police so that the equipment could be deployed in the border area, which is not possible without their permission. 

Mobile operators are taking urgent steps to improve the state of communications in the village of Voden and several neighbouring villages. The aim is to provide better mobile network coverage for the population by deploying additional equipment in the area. These measures were discussed today during a meeting convened on the initiative of Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev and Transport and Communications Minister Georgi Gvozdeykov.