site.btaIncrease of Military Remuneration in 2025 State Budget Is Key Objective for Defence Minister

Caretaker Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov announced that a key objective for his ministry is "to fight for an increase in service persons' pay" as set out in changes to the Defence and Armed Forces Act, despite the controversy surrounding the 2025 state budget. The Minister was speaking during a traditional videoconference with the national commanders of the Bulgarian military contingents in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo and Iraq. The Minister and the Chief of Defence Admiral Emil Eftimov congratulated the servicemen participating in NATO and EU operations outside the country on the occasion of the upcoming holiday season.

From January 1, 2025, the basis for determining the amount of the basic monthly remuneration for the lowest military service will be determined annually on the basis of the average Bulgarian salary in the second quarter of the previous year, as per a decision by the National Assembly. The basic monthly remuneration will be increased by a coefficient compared to the base - for officers not less than 1.2 and for officer candidates, sergeants and soldiers not less than 1.0. The lowest basic monthly remuneration of servicemen from 1 January 2025 will be from BGN 2,300 to BGN 2,370, Zapryanov said earlier this year.

"I assure you that what was decided in the last parliament regarding the income of the servicemen will happen", said Admiral Emil Eftimov, adding that there is a lot of speculation in the public space regarding the state budget and the salary increase for servicemen. "They even try to oppose groups in society, which is not correct and does not convey statesmanship", Eftimov said, explaining that the defence budget should be at least 2.5% of the GDP in the upcoming years.

"The military aid sent to Ukraine is in full accordance with the decisions of the National Assembly", the Admiral clarified.

Currently, 147 members of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Bulgaria are participating in four NATO operations and missions - the NATO Kosovo Force (KFOR); the NATO non-combat mission in Iraq; the NATO Standing Maritime Group 2; the NATO Support Operation in Ukraine (NSATU), as well as five European Union operations and missions - Operation ALTEA in Bosnia and Herzegovina; Operation Military Observer Force in Georgia; Naval Operation Atalanta; Naval Operation IRINI in the Central Mediterranean; and the European Union Military Assistance Mission to Ukraine, the Joint Force Command clarified.

In most regions of Kosovo, the threat level is assessed at low, while in the north is assessed at medium, explained the national commander of the operation in the country, Lieutenant Colonel Tsvetomir Deyanov. The national commander of the NATO non-combat mission in Iraq, Lieutenant Colonel Svetoslav Neshev, said the situation in the mission area is relatively calm. The security situation in the area of operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina remains relatively calm as well, the national commander of the mission there, Colonel Anastas Bakalov, said.