“Ivkoni Express”, a private railway company affiliated with the bus carrier “Union Ivkoni”, has officially received a license to operate rail passenger transport in Bulgaria. The license was granted on February 11, signed by Transport Minister Grozdan Karadzhov, according to documentation from the Executive Agency “Railway Administration”. With this license, “Ivkoni Express” becomes the third…
At the end of February, Bulgaria’s budget recorded a deficit of 1 billion leva (500 million euros), a significant increase compared to February 2024, once one-off effects are excluded. This marks a shift from the surplus seen in January, when the treasury had a balance of 563.9 million leva under the consolidated fiscal program, which…
Donald Trump has recently sent a letter to Bulgarian President Rumen Radev, mentioning Bulgaria’s key role in both ensuring peace in Ukraine and maintaining reliable energy supplies. Energy expert Viktor Minchev discussed the letter, offering his interpretation of its implications. Minchev suggested that Trump’s mention of Bulgaria’s position in energy matters might subtly indicate a…
In the last quarter of 2024, the number of Bulgarian citizens traveling both domestically and internationally decreased by 7.2% compared to the same period in 2023, with 1.1 million people making tourist trips, according to data from the National Statistical Institute (NSI). The majority of travelers, 74.4%, chose to stay within Bulgaria, while 20.5% traveled…
After Bulgaria joins the eurozone, the rate of mandatory minimum reserves (MRR) for local banks will be significantly reduced, dropping from the current 12% to just 1%. Additionally, the base on which this rate is calculated will also decrease. The Bulgarian National Bank (BNB) expects that these changes will free up more funds that banks…
According to preliminary data from the Bulgarian National Bank (BNB), Bulgaria’s gross external debt amounted to EUR 49.019 billion at the end of December 2024. This represents an 8.7% increase YoY, or a rise of EUR 3.939 billion. In comparison, at the end of December 2023, the gross external debt stood at EUR 45.079 billion.…
The second helicopter for emergency medical assistance by air landed in Bulgaria on March 1 at 15:38. It will be stationed at the HEMS regional base in Sliven, according to the Ministry of Health. Eight air medical teams have already been formed to operate at the base, consisting of nine doctors and eight nurses. The…