Public Relations and Protocol

Together with the trade unions, we will work for real reforms in the sector that are not just on paper. This was stated by the Minister of Transport and Communications Georgi Gvozdeykov at today's founding congress of a new federation of transport trade unions at the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (KNSB).

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Maria Gabriel, Minister of Transport and Communications Georgi Gvozdeykov and US Ambassador to Bulgaria Kenneth Merten validated a postal and philatelic edition dedicated to the 120th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
"One stamp can carry a stronger message than 120 words," Minister Gvozdeykov said before the stamp was placed on the edition. This is the third stamp in the philatelic encyclopaedia of diplomatic relations between the countries.

By the end of the year, we will have a certified air ambulance operator in accordance with the requirements of EU Regulation 965/2012. This was stated by the Minister of Transport and Communications Georgi Gvozdeykov at a meeting today with the Board of Directors of Bulgaria Heli Med Service EAD. 

The Road Administration Executive Agency has started inspections of all buses transporting children and pupils before the start of the school year. This is part of measures to improve the safety and security of children and pupils.

We are looking for opportunities to purchase or lease new rolling stock at short notice, and have also sent enquiries to several companies in Germany. This was said by the Minister of Transport and Communications Georgi Gvozdeykov during a meeting with the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany in Bulgaria H.E. Irene Plank. 

The technical and financial aspects for the construction of the second bridge over the river Danube between Ruse and Giurgiu will be clarified soon with the aim of the two countries to apply under the Connecting Europe Facility with a joint feasibility study project. This was discussed by the Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications Dimitar Nedyalkov and the State Secretary of Transport and Infrastructure of Romania Bogdan Mindrescu during a meeting in Bucharest.

The Italian companies operating in Bulgaria support the construction of a second bridge over the river Danube at Ruse, which will significantly ease the increased traffic in the region. This was discussed today by the Minister of Transport and Communications Georgi Gvozdeykov and the Ambassador of Italy to Bulgaria H. E. Giuseppina Dzara during a meeting at the Ministry. The future facility could also help solve the problems of transporting goods along the North-South route.

The Civil Aviation Administration has launched an investigation into the case in which Ryanair took a mother off a plane and separated her from her 3-year-old child and her husband.

Due to overbooking of the particular flight, it was decided to put the father and the child on board, and the mother was redirected to fly the next day. Under European law, the passenger is entitled to monetary compensation, which is determined according to the distance of the flight and, in this case, amounts to EUR 400.

The transfer of ownership of the Rosenets terminal to the state is already underway and will be completed before the 30-day deadline. This was stated by the Minister of Transport and Communications Georgi Gvozdeykov during a visit to the port terminal today.

Bulgarian Ports Infrastructure Company already has a port operator license. We are negotiating with Lukoil to reach an agreement for joint operation of the tax warehouse, which is a requirement for obtaining a Certificate of Operability for the terminal,’ he said.

Discussions are underway between Bulgarian Ports Infrastructure Company and Lukoil Neftohim Burgas AD on the procedure for transfer of operational control over the port terminal Rosenets to the state.

According to the adopted decision of the Council of Ministers No 549/11 August 2023, the concession contract is terminated as of 15 August 2023. A committee has already been appointed by the Minister of Transport and Communications to accept the concession object within 30 days of the termination.

Bulgaria supports Poland's initiative to sign a joint declaration of 11 EU member states to cooperate and strengthen investment in transport infrastructure in Central and Eastern Europe. This was said by the Minister of Transport and Communications Georgi Gvozdeykov during a meeting with the Ambassador of the Republic of Poland H. E. Maciej Szymański.

They discussed the countries' experiences and challenges in implementing the strategic transport projects. This will be one of the main topics of a high-level forum to be held in early September in Poland.

Last week we sent requests to all rolling stock manufacturers in Europe about their ability to deliver new trains for BDZ in the shortest possible time. This was announced by the Minister of Transport and Communications Georgi Gvozdeykov during his participation in ‘Hello, Bulgaria’ on Nova TV.

The Ministry of Transport and Communications supports the European Public Prosecutor's Office's investigation into irregularities in two rail infrastructure modernisation projects. An audit of the way in which public funds are spent in the structures of the Ministry was one of the first steps that Minister Georgi Gvozdeykov took upon taking office. 

‘I have immediately ordered the National Railway Inforstructure Company (NKZI) to fully cooperate with the Prosecutor's Office and I hope it will go all the way in its investigation,’ Minister Gvozdeykov said.

By Friday, Wizz Air will submit to Directorate General ‘Civil Aviation Administration’ an Action Plan with preventive measures against delays and cancellations. This became clear after a meeting between the Director General of the CAA Anelia Marinova and representatives of Wizz Air Hungary Ltd.

Over 50 proposals for stamp themes for 2024 have already been received by the Department of Transport and Communications. The deadline for submitting ideas for inclusion in the thematic plan is 31 August 2023. All submissions will then be evaluated by the Specialised Stamping Panel.

As one of the oldest members of the Universal Postal Union, in 2024 Bulgaria will have a special edition dedicated to the 150th anniversary of the founding of the international organization.

This is the last phase before their re-announcement

The Ministry of Transport and Communications has completed the processing of the four public procurement contracts for the purchase of new rolling stock. The completed documents have been sent to the Public Procurement Agency and the National Fund Directorate of the Ministry of Finance for the mandatory prior checking procedure.

One of the main priorities of the Bulgarian state is the development of the East-West transport and therefore the signing of an agreement on international road transport between Bulgaria and Mongolia is an important step. This was said by the Minister of Transport and Communications Georgi Gvozdeykov during a meeting with the Ambassador of the Republic of Mongolia H. E. Lkhagvasuren Sayanaa.

We have restarted the process of building the air ambulance system, which was delayed and led in the wrong direction by the caretaker government. The system will be built taking into account all European rules in this area. This is what the Minister of Transport and Communications Georgi Gvozdeykov said at a briefing today in the Council of Ministers.

Penalties can reach up to BGN 5,000 per complaint left uncommented by airlines