Public Relations and Protocol

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.

As of Monday, 22 July 2024, the activity of the technical inspection stations that have not ensured the connectivity of the measuring devices (gas analyser, smoke meter and brake stand) with the system of the Executive Agency ‘Road Transport Administration’ (IAAA) will be suspended. So far, 964 sites are already transmitting data automatically, 8 are partially connected and 96 are still not connected.

The exchange of BGN into EUR will be carried out in 2230 stations of ‘Bulgarian Posts’ in settlements where there are no banks. The Government has entrusted ‘Bulgarian Posts’ EAD to carry out a service of general economic interest — exchange of banknotes and coins from BGN into EUR for a period of 6 months from the date of our accession to the Eurozone.

In this context, the company is currently developing a training plan for about 2,500 employees who will undergo special training. Procurement of counters, CCTV cameras and other equipment is also being prepared.

The Executive Agency “Maritime Administration” (EAME) and the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) successfully completed the joint oil spill response exercise "Burgas 2024". During the event, held in the period 11-12 July in Burgas, were presented real situations of liquidation of major oil pollution by the forces and means provided in the National Oil Spill Contingency Plan.

Joint action to stop access of overloaded trucks to ports on the Danube and the Black Sea. This was discussed at a meeting of the Deputy Ministers of Transport and Communications Anna Natova and Dimitar Nedyalkov with representatives of the state and private port operators in the country. The aim of the measures is to improve road safety and protect transport infrastructure, said Deputy Minister Anna Natova.

The two helicopters provide coverage to about 90% of the country

The second medical helicopter will be positioned at a temporary operating base at Burshen Airport. The planned range of the machine is 170 km and in November the two helicopters will cover about 90% of the country. This was announced today by the Minister of Transport and Communications Georgi Gvozdeykov, who today together with the Mayor of Sliven Stefan Radev launched the renovation works at the base.

The company begins to stop inefficient activities

The European Commission has approved the Restructuring Plan of Bulgarian Post EAD. The preparation of the document and its approval by the EC was a condition for the postal operator to receive urgent financial support in the amount of BGN 50 million.

Bulgaria is fully ready for the resumption of the Ruse-Giurgiu ferry line. The project is of key importance for easing the traffic between Bulgaria and Romania, given the upcoming renovation works on the Danube Bridge. This was stated by the Minister of Transport and Communications Georgi Gvozdeykov during a meeting with the Minister of Regional Development and Public Works Violeta Koritarova and the Ambassador of Romania in Sofia H.E. Brundus Predescu. 

We have successfully finalised the negotiations and have now selected a contractor for the delivery of 35 electric multiple unit trains. This was announced by the Minister of Transport and Communications Georgi Gvozdeykov during the Green Transition Forum 4.0. The rolling stock will be purchased with Recovery and Sustainability Plan funds. The Polish company Stadler Polska Sp. z o.o. was chosen as the contractor. The proposed price is BGN 642.5 million and the delivery period is 28 months. 

Starting this week BDZ will increase trains between Sofia and Burgas. This became clear during a meeting between the Minister of Transport and Communications Georgi Gvozdeykov and the management of BDZ Holding EAD and BDZ-Passenger Transport EOOD. The minister demanded a full investigation of all circumstances related to the train from Sofia to Burgas on Friday night. ‘It is absurd for passengers to travel in this way when they have bought a ticket and someone has not done their job’, he added.

The new rolling stock fully meets our expectations. From now on, we can offer people on these trains many times more comfort. This is what the Minister of Transport and Communications Georgi Gvozdeykov said in Burgas on disembarking from the first train with the modernized rolling stock. The Transport Minister was one of the passengers who travelled the distance from Sofia to Burgas with the new carriages. With him in the train were Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications Biser Minchev and the Manager of BDZ-Passenger Transport Ventsislav Slavkov.

The second batch of 19 more wagons will be in Bulgaria within days

In a very short period, we were able to start the renewal of rolling stock in rail transport. This was stated by the Minister of Transport and Communications Georgi Gvozdeykov during the presentation of the first composition of the modernized wagons, which were bought from Germany.

Investment in railways is extremely important to meet the requirements of Europe’s Green Deal — reducing emissions and fuel consumption and increasing energy efficiency. This was stated by Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications Biser Minchev during a conference on ‘The Need for a National Plan for a Fair Transition’. The event, organized by the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (CITUB) in cooperation with the Friedrich Ebert Foundation, was attended by representatives of the central and local government, industry organizations and others.

Hydrogen electric transport can have accelerated development with strong institutional support. This was stated by the Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications Dimitar Nedyalkov at a round table organized by the Bulgarian Association for Hydrogen, Fuel Cells and Energy Storage. The Ministry of Transport and Communications hosted the event, which is part of the Hydrogen Electromobility Days programme.