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

European Commission approves first payment to Bulgaria under Recovery and Resilience Plan

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen
Photo: ec.europa.eu/YÜGEN

The European Commission approved the allocation of EUR 1.37 billion in grants under Bulgaria’s Recovery and Resilience Plan.

“Bulgaria has made enough progress in the rollout of its Recovery and Resilience Plan to receive its first payment under NextGenerationEU. (…) Bulgaria will receive about EUR 1.4 billion in grants. This first payment is the result of Bulgaria's good and swift progress in implementing the first set of reforms and investments,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced in a video address.

The money is expected to be transferred to the country’s budget at the beginning of December. The spending will take place in 2023 which will lead to a record-high European financing budget next year.

Ursula von der Leyen commended Bulgaria for the progress it has made in the adoption of significant reforms for combating money laundering, improving minimum income coverage and providing social services. 

Atanas Pekanov, Deputy Prime Minister for EU Funds Management in the caretaker government on his part stated that the financing approved constitutes 23% of the total Recovery and Resilience Plan financial resource. Several bills, connected with the second payment to Bulgaria, are to be tabled within days. In his words, the second payment under the plan is not subject to a 40% reduction of carbon emissions from Bulgaria’s coal-fired power plants. 



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

Sunny Sunday with temperatures reaching 21°C

The night will be clear and calm. Minimum temperatures will be between -3°C and 2°C in most places, around 1°C in Sofia. Sunday will be sunny with scattered high clouds and moderate easterly winds, especially in northern areas. Maximum temperatures..

published on 3/8/25 7:05 PM

"Feminism, not militarism" march takes place in Sofia

A protest under the slogan "Feminism, not Militarism" started this afternoon in front of the Court House in Sofia . "On March 8 we are not celebrating. On 8 March we demand justice, equality and freedom! On 8 March we are together - against patriarchal..

published on 3/8/25 5:30 PM
Bulgaria's president Rumen Radev.

President Radev: I’m not in a rush to join the fanfare surrounding rearmament

In light of the EU's recently announced plan to rearm Europe, President Rumen Radev told journalists that he had always advocated a more responsible approach to security, both by Europe and by Bulgaria.  "The modernisation of the Bulgarian Army and..

published on 3/8/25 2:38 PM