"The PVP is 1/3 of the funding to which Bulgaria is entitled. After numerous analyses and a series of negotiations, I will introduce you to some details that are not joyful for either the government or the Bulgarian society. The measures under the entire plan are 321. So far, we had to implement 115. The second payment, which is for 653 million euros, is not out of the question - it will certainly be denied, even though Bulgaria implemented 85% of the reforms. The money we have will be enough for us until September this year. The deadline for making payments under the PVP is August 2026.". This was stated by Deputy Prime Minister Tomislav Donchev at a briefing in parliament on Wednesday, quoted by Nova TV.
"With colleagues from the EC, we reached an agreement that, no matter how difficult it is, the most reasonable thing is to launch an analysis to be carried out with colleagues from the Ministry of Finance on which of the criteria under the plan should be dropped. We will be ambitious, despite the need for many reforms. We will try to save part of the PVP financing and the state budget for 2026", he also pointed out.
„The analysis carried out by the Ministry of Finance shows the following: We have identified seven investments that cannot be implemented by August 31, 2026. Another 15 projects have an extremely low probability of implementation by the same date. This means that all these investments that cannot be financed with funds under the PDP must remain at the expense of the national budget. This will have an extremely negative impact on the country's public finances for this and next year. Therefore, we must be extremely precise, cautious and practical in terms of the actions we will take in the next few weeks. I hope to have concrete results within 14 days”, explained Finance Minister Temenuzhka Petkova.
„In the Ministry of Energy, we have conducted a detailed analysis in relation to the reforms and projects in the PDP in the “energy” section. The situation is, to put it mildly, critical and even dramatic. The form in which the PDP was submitted can be described as unfeasible. There are two main reasons for this – These reforms threaten the country's energy security and are completely contrary to the national interest. Unprofitable reforms lead to the fact that the Bulgarian citizen will be deeply touched if they are not carefully reformatted and renegotiated”, added Energy Minister Zhecho Stankov.
In his words, it is about two main changes – the removal of two strategic companies for the country that guarantee our energy security, as well as the extraordinary commitment made by Kiril Petkov to reduce emissions from coal-fired power plants by 40%. “There is no such commitment in any document or directive. Even if one power plant closes, the others continue to have the same commitment - to reduce emissions by 40%. Last but not least, there should be a roadmap for climate neutrality that does not take on additional commitments through Brussels, but creates political tension and misunderstanding in society”, Stankov also said.
„We are talking about the result of criminal inaction and neglect. We will try in emergency mode to save what is possible under the first part of the program, and the second cannot happen with funds under the Public Works Program”, said the Minister of Regional Development and Public Works Ivan Ivanov.
According to the Minister of Transport Grozdan Karadjov, the situation in his department is similar. „The most important reform is the holding of a tender and the conclusion of contracts with carriers for the public contract for rail transport. This initiative can hardly be implemented on time. However, we will make a serious attempt to make this happen and have signed contracts by December 31,”, he pointed out.
„Regarding the projects, we are in the stage of evaluating the tender documentation for the purchase of 35 electric trains. The remaining time until the end of the term is only 16 months. There is no possibility that the trains will arrive by then. The other investment that is at risk is that for broadband access,”, added Karadjov.