Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

If Russian oil is halted and Bosphorus is closed, Bulgaria can hold out for 6 months: Finance Minister Assen Vassilev

Minister of Finance Assen Vassilev
Photo: BGNES

The European Commission will afford Bulgaria an opportunity to continue with the Russian oil deliveries but, at the same time, ways will be sought to diversify imports.

In the words of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Assen Vassilev, the Bulgarian economy can hold out for up to 6 months if Russia halts the oil, and if the Bosphorus is closed. During question time in parliament, he pointed out there existed buffers in the budget which can be used for a swift reaction in the event of such a scenario. According to Assen Vassilev, it is in Bulgaria’s national interest that the country obtain a derogation from the oil sanctions on the one hand, and on the other, that it gradually diversify oil suppliers. The construction is envisaged of a motorway, railway and oil pipelines Alexandroupolis-Burgas-Varna-Constanța. As to the company Luikoil Neftohim, Assen Vassilev stated it cannot be nationalized as, legally it is not Russian, but Swiss and is not on the sanctions list. 



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

New speaker of the Bulgarian Parliament Raya Nazaryan (GERB)

Raya Nazaryan from GERB is the new Speaker of the Bulgarian Parliament

The ruling parties GERB-SDS, BSP-United Left and ITN signed an annex to their coalition agreement, specifying the rules for the rotation of the Speaker of Parliament. The new mechanism provides for each of the three political formations to nominate its..

published on 10/29/25 4:14 PM

41.5% of Bulgarians expect their personal finances to deteriorate in 2026

More and more Bulgarians fear about the future security of their finances . This is shown by a survey by the sociological agency "Measure", conducted between October 5 and 13, 2025 among 801 adult Bulgarian citizens.  Almost 60% of workers in..

published on 10/29/25 3:23 PM

Almost 60% of workers in Bulgaria earn wages below the subsistence minimum

The necessary net monthly income for subsistence for a worker living alone in September 2025 is 1,547 leva (748 euros) . For a three-member family with a child under 14, 2,785 leva (1,346 euros) are needed. This was announced by Violeta Ivanova, deputy..

published on 10/29/25 2:32 PM