Public Relations and Protocol

The salaries of employees in the Executive Agency ‘Road Transport Administration’ are shamefully low and we have taken steps in three directions to increase salaries, starting from the lowest levels. This is what the Minister of Transport and Communications Georgi Gvozdeykov said during a meeting with the Union of Transport Trade Unions in Bulgaria. He stressed that the agency is addressing one of the most important issues for our society — road safety, which is also a top priority of this government.

Interview of Minister Georgi Gvozdeykov for BANKER, the conversation was conducted by Belcho Tsanev

The strategic North-South and East-West connectivity was discussed today at a meeting of the Minister of Transport and Communications Georgi Gvozdeykov with the US Ambassador in Sofia H. E. Mr Kenneth Merten. Bulgaria's efforts to develop transport links with neighbouring countries contribute to both economic development and security in the whole region, was the common opinion.

The Executive Agency ‘Road Transport Administration’ started a full inspection of the carrier Bozav EOOD, whose truck caused the serious road accident on the Trakia Motorway yesterday. The inspection is carried out on the order of the Minister of Transport and Communications Georgi Gvozdeykov, who has requested a comprehensive analysis of the activity and efficiency of the Executive Agency ‘Road Transport Administration’.

Bulgaria and Georgia continue their cooperation on the development of transport connectivity. This became clear at a meeting between the Minister of Transport and Communications Georgi Gvozdeykov and the Ambassador of Georgia to Bulgaria H. E. Otar Berdzenishvili.

I am committed to ensuring that transport workers have better working conditions and decent pay. This is what the Minister of Transport and Communications Georgi Gvozdeykov said during a meeting with representatives of the Confederation of Labour ‘Podkrepa’.

France is one of the countries in Europe with the most developed rail transport and we will borrow experience and good practices in this area. This was said by the Minister of Transport and Communications Georgi Gvozdeykov during a meeting with the Ambassador of the Republic of France H. E. Joel Meyer.

We are already working to provide more trains on the route between Plovdiv and Edirne as an alternative to the ever increasing car traffic. This was said by the Minister of Transport and Communications Georgi Gvozdeykov at a meeting today with the Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey H. E. Eileen Sekizkok. He added that two trains a day — one in each direction — currently run on this destination.

The Ministry of Transport and Communications will strengthen control over the implementation of the of Sofia Airport concession. According to the concession contract, a joint committee of the Ministry and representatives of the concessionaire must meet every month to regularly monitor the implementation of the contract. This became clear during today's meeting of the Minister of Transport and Communications Georgi Gvozdeykov with the Executive Director of Sofia Airport Jesus Caballero.

The digital sector is one of the fastest growing in Bulgaria and we are in the top 10 countries with the fastest mobile internet in the world. This was stated by Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications Grigori Grigorov, who represented Bulgaria in the high-level panel within the Council of the International Telecommunication Union. The event took place from 7 to 11 July 2023 in Zheneva.

Bulgarian Posts has sufficient resources for development, but wrong management decisions and lack of long-term strategy have hindered this process so far. This is what the Minister of Transport and Communications Georgi Gvozdeykov said on the occasion of the prepared restructuring plan of the company, which will be presented to the European Commission in September.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is interested in investing in the construction of a second bridge between Ruse and Giurgiu, as well as in railway infrastructure projects in Bulgaria. This became clear during a meeting between the Minister of Transport and Communications Georgi Gvozdeykov and the EBRD Director for Bulgaria Anca Ionescu. The two discussed partnership opportunities for the implementation of the upcoming investments in the transport sector.

The deadlines for the completion of infrastructure projects under EU-funded programmes are very important. We are open to solving all cases in dialogue to avoid delays. This was stated by the Minister of Transport and Communications Georgi Gvozdeykov at a meeting with the leadership of the Bulgarian Chamber of Builders.  
The Ministry of Transport and Communications is the structure that strictly follows the methodology for indexation of construction contracts, said the President of the Board Eng. Ilian Terziev. 

Our policy is aimed at ensuring the sustainable development of the transport sector, in line with the principles of security, safety, energy efficiency and environmental friendliness. We have started active work on accelerating all transport projects that are linked to the implementation of the European Union's green and digital transition objectives.

It is not true that the contract for the supply of medical helicopters includes training of pilots and medical teams. This is what the Minister of Transport and Communications Georgi Gvozdeykov said in the programme ‘Offensive with Lyubo Ognyanov’ on the occasion of today's words of the caretaker minister Hristo Alexiev that the contract includes training of pilots and medical teams in real conditions. Gvozdeykov added that all documentation on the public procurement is public and easily accessible, and anyone can verify the veracity of these statements.

I have briefed the Prime Minister in detail on the helicopter situation in the area of the Garden Camp on 1 July and a decision has been taken to dismiss the Director General of the Directorate General ‘Civil Aviation Administration’. This was announced before journalists by the Minister of Transport and Communications Georgi Gvozdeykov. The reason is both the specific flight incident, which is against all the rules, and the reasons to believe that this is not an isolated incident, but rather a recurrence.

Interactive videos in the theory tests will measure the knowledge of driver candidates. The videos were presented to the media today by the Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications Dimitar Nedyalkov and the Executive Director of the Executive Agency ‘Automobile Administration’ Boiko Ranovski. 

By mid-September is the deadline to apply for funding for feasibility studies for the construction of a second bridge between Bulgaria and Romania at Ruse—Giurgiu.

20 years of his life have passed in the world of high speeds and it is from this position that he knows how dangerous a car can be when not driven sensibly. This is how the Minister of Transport and Communications Georgi Gvozdeykov opened a ceremony for the awarding of the first Annual Awards ‘Initiatives to support road safety’, organized by the State Agency Road Safety. 

A week ago we opened the first application procedures for the Transport Connectivity Programme. The investments are worth more than BGN 2.9 billion and will be directed to major road and rail infrastructure projects. This is what Transport and Communications Minister Georgi Gvozdeykov said in his speech at the Sofia Economic Forum, which is taking place today in Sofia. Minister Gvozdeykov presented the transport projects that focus on regional connectivity between Bulgaria and Greece.