News

“Work on Corridor VIII is moving from documents and declared intentions to real action,” said Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications Hristina Velinova at the opening of Panel 2, “Transport, Energy and Economic Connectivity”, at the International Conference on Corridor VIII in Sofia. She pointed out that, in the current geopolitical situation, the Sofia – Skopje – Durrës – Bari route is important not only for trade and regional development, but also for security and military mobility within the framework of EU-NATO cooperation.

Urgent steps have been taken and the Corridor VIII project is moving forward at an accelerated pace following the meetings of the Joint Committee in Sofia and Skopje. This was stated by the Minister of Transport and Communications, Georgi Peev, speaking to journalists during the International Conference on Corridor VIII, held at the Hyatt Regency Sofia hotel.

In response to reports received from members of the public and the petition to retain the Ruse–Plovdiv–Ruse rail link, an urgent meeting was held on the initiative of the Minister of Transport and Communications, Georgi Peev, between representatives of the Railway Administration Executive Agency, the National Railway Infrastructure Company, BDZ – Passenger Services and Ivkoni Express, with Ruse Municipality taking part online.

The Minister of Transport and Communications, Georgi Peev, held a working meeting with the trade unions of the Transport sector of the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (CITUB). The discussion was attended by the President of CITUB, Plamen Dimitrov, and the Chairman of the Federation of Transport Trade Unions at CITUB, Aleksandar Shopov. Deputy Minister Tsveta Timeva and representatives of the maritime and air transport trade unions also took part.

The modernisation of the ports of Varna and Burgas, together with the doubling of rail and road infrastructure capacity towards Türkiye, will significantly improve Bulgaria’s connectivity with the Black Sea region, the Caucasus and Asia. This became clear during the meeting between the Minister of Transport and Communications Georgi Peev and the Secretary General of the Permanent Secretariat of the Intergovernmental Commission TRACECA, Jasurbek Choriyev, held at the Ministry of Transport and Communications.

Requests for indexation under signed construction contracts in the railway sector exceed the amount of EUR 256 million. This was stated by the Minister of Transport and Communications Georgi Peev in response to a question during the blitz control session of the Committee on Transport and Communications at the National Assembly. He emphasized that at present there is still no approved methodology regulating the indexation process.

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.

Bulgaria, Greece and Romania are moving from political coordination to joint planning and implementation of specific cross-border transport projects along three routes connecting the Aegean Sea, the Danube and the Black Sea. At a high-level meeting in Brussels entitled “Friends of South-East Europe: Bridging the Gaps Together”, an action plan was signed by Transport Ministers Georgi Peev and Christos Dimas, Romanian State Secretary for Transport and Infrastructure Ionel Scrioșteanu, European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism Apostolos Tzitzikostas, European Coordi

At the second meeting of the Joint Committee in Skopje, the Republic of Bulgaria and the Republic of North Macedonia reaffirmed their intention to accelerate work on the facility.

Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications Tsveta Timeva once again confirmed Bulgaria’s readiness to take the lead in carrying out all procedures required under Bulgarian and European legislation for the construction of the cross-border railway tunnel.

“Our country will give the project a strong boost,” Deputy Minister Timeva stated.

We are linking European investment in infrastructure with European investment in new rolling stock. This was stated by Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications Tsveta Timeva during a demonstration journey aboard one of the new Škoda electric multiple-unit trains on the Plovdiv – Septemvri route. The railway line through Septemvri, Pazardzhik and Plovdiv plays a dual role in serving daily passenger transport.

Road safety has become a national priority – both Parliament and society are engaged in the dialogue, regardless of political affiliation. This was stated by Minister of Transport and Communications Georgi Peev at a meeting of the Transport and Communications Committee of the National Assembly. Members of Parliament are considering several bills amending the Road Traffic Act, submitted by different parliamentary groups.

Opportunities for the restoration and development of Ruse Airport were discussed during a working meeting at the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MTC). The meeting was attended by Minister of Transport and Communications Georgi Peev, Deputy Minister Hristina Velinova and Mayor of Ruse Municipality Pencho Milkov.

Minister of Transport and Communications Georgi Peev met with Nikolay Popov of the Siyanie civic movement and Vladimir Kulev, a certified safe driving instructor. During the meeting, they discussed the implementation of the road safety reform and specific steps towards establishing a network of responsible driving training grounds.

“Technological progress and innovation in the sector must develop within a framework of clear rules and guaranteed safety.” This was stated by Minister of Transport and Communications Georgi Peev, who took part in the informal meeting of European Union transport ministers in Dublin on 21 September 2026. During the meeting, the transport ministers discussed digitalisation, road safety and measures to address the consequences of the fuel crisis.

Bulgaria is interested in continuing its cooperation with Škoda Group, including for future deliveries of new trains. However, in order to move forward, we expect the company to resolve promptly the issues affecting the trainsets that have already been delivered. This was stated by Minister of Transport and Communications Georgi Peev during his meeting with Petr Novotný, CEO of Škoda Group.

Representatives of Škoda Group are part of the delegation accompanying Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš during his visit to Bulgaria.

Unified control, more technology and clear responsibility are the main elements of the Action Plan to reduce the risk of serious road accidents and reduce road fatalities. It was published on the website of the Ministry of Transport and Communications.

The reform was adopted by a Decision of the Council of Ministers of 9 September 2026.