Public Relations and Protocol

Children up to 14 years will travel free on public transport. The measure shall enter into force on 1 February 2024. This is what Transport and Communications Minister Georgi Gvozdeykov said at a briefing at the Council of Ministers today, after the government adopted changes to the legislation regulating subsidies and compensation in public transport.

Purchase of 80 new vehicles and 10 new laboratories for the inspectors of the Exectuve Agency Road Transport Administration, equalisation and increase of salaries, as well as new clothing for all employees. These are some of the measures included in the proposed budget of the Ministry of Transport and Communications for next year.

It was discussed today during a meeting between the Minister of Transport and Communications Georgi Gvozdeykov, Deputy Minister Dimitar Nedyalkov, the leadership of the EARTA and representatives of the trade unions of the KT ‘Podkrepa’ in the Agency.

The Exectuve Agency Road Transport Administration is stepping up its control of unauthorized passenger and cargo transport during the Christmas and New Year holidays. Together with the Ministry of the Interior and the NRA, inspections have been launched in different regions of the country and at border crossings.

From the very first days of its mandate, the Bulgarian government put road safety among the important priorities of its work. This is what Transport and Communications Minister Georgi Gvozdeykov said in Brussels during today's meeting of the Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council of the European Union.

The control vehicles of the executive agency Road Transport Administration are now equipped with POS terminals. They are linked to the Agency's electronic control system where the penalty notices are generated.

The POS terminals enable the payment of the penalty notices by offenders who are foreign citizens without a permanent address on the territory of Bulgaria, as well as Bulgarian citizens.

By the end of 2025, 80% of the country's population will have access to 5G connectivity

New requirements for roadworthiness tests which will significantly increase controls are now in force. This was stated by the Minister of Transport and Communications Georgi Gvozdeykov at the opening of a round table ‘Challenges to Sustainable Mobility. Unlocking Bulgaria's Potential’, organized by the Association of Car Manufacturers.

From the beginning of 2027, the residents of four more districts will have a convenient and fast connection to the metro, and the construction of this section will relieve traffic in one of the busiest directions in Sofia. This was announced by the Minister of Transport and Communications Georgi Gvozdeykov at the launch of the project for the extension of the third line of the Sofia metro.

The Ministry of Transport and Communications, with the support of the JASPERS initiative, has started activities related to the update of the national transport model and the preparation of a methodology for project prioritisation. This became clear during a meeting held today at the Ministry. Participants in the discussion of activities related to the update of the transport model included the Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications Biser Minchev, the Deputy Minister of Regional Development and Public Works Eng.

All the teams of National Railway Infrastructure Company are working in the field to remove the accidents on the railway network caused by heavy snowfall and strong wind.

The movement of trains in the country is carried out in conditions of complicated winter situation.

On the order of the Minister of Transport and Communications Georgi Gvozdeykov from Friday in the National Railway Infrastructure Company an organization for action in complicated winter conditions was created, as all teams and equipment were mobilized.

The Varna ferry complex will become a key point for equipment and cargo to Ukraine in its reconstruction process. This was stated by Minister of Transport and Communications Georgi Gvozdeykov during a visit to the complex today.

We are actively working to improve transport connectivity between Bulgaria and Romania by building new bridges over the Danube, restoring ferry links and ensuring efficient shipping. This was stated by the Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications Dimitar Nedyalkov during a Bulgarian-Romanian conference "United Europe — a path to economic security and sustainable integration", held yesterday in Ruse.

I look forward to making the necessary efforts to complete by the end of the year the activities under OP Transport and Transport Infrastructure (OPTTI) 2014-2020. This was stated by the Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications Anna Natova at the opening of the third meeting of the Monitoring Committee of the Transport Connectivity Programme (TCP) 2021-2027 in Plovdiv.

In planning investments under the Transport Connectivity Programme 2021-2027, a balance will be sought between North and South Bulgaria. This became clear during a meeting between the Minister of Transport and Communications Georgi Gvozdeykov and Agnes Monfre, Head of Unit "Bulgaria, Hungary and Slovenia" at DG Regional and Urban Policy of the European Commission. They discussed the projects set for funding under the 2021-2027 TCP.

The Director General of DG Civil Aviation Administration Anelia Marinova handed over the certificate of operational suitability of the first hospital heliport, built on the territory of UMBAL Uni Hospital in Panagyurishte. It is designed to service flights for the needs of the air emergency medical assistance system.

We already have full digitisation of document handling in our seaports and paper is about to be completely phased out. This was said in Burgas by the Minister of Transport and Communications Georgi Gvozdeykov during the presentation of a national system for electronic exchange of information in Bulgarian seaports. The system was developed by the State Enterprise "Port Infrastructure" under an European project.

Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications Dimitar Nedyalkov participated in the 20th anniversary Vienna Economic Forum — Vienna Dialogue for the Future 2023. The theme of the forum is "Continuing to Build Economic Bridges through Difficult Times".

During the conference, opportunities for building efficient and reliable infrastructure, energy and digital networks were discussed. The economic and financial stability in Europe was discussed, as well as the challenges countries face when taking decisions related to economic cooperation.

Nearly 400,000 Bulgarians and 140 municipalities in remote areas where connectivity is not well developed will have access to high-speed internet at 1 Gbps over a fibre-optic network and will be covered by a 5G mobile network.

The Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Transport and Communications signed an agreement to implement an investment from the Recovery and Sustainability Plan. Nearly 470 million leva will be invested to build and improve connectivity in remote and rural areas of the country.

The Minister of Transport and Communications Georgi Gvozdeykov hosted a meeting to discuss policies and measures to introduce sustainable and environmentally friendly mobility.

We are working to improve cross-border links with Greece and the region, including both road and rail connectivity. This is what the Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications Anna Natova said during the Southeast Europe Connectivity Forum, which is taking place yesterday and today in Thessaloniki.