site.btaMedia Review: September 26

HEADLINES

Friday’s news media are dominated by the national volleyball team’s victory over the United States in the quarterfinals of the 2025 FIVB Men’s World Championship in the Philippines on Thursday. Both 24 Chasa and Trud highlight that this win marks Bulgaria’s return to the championship’s top four 19 years after claiming bronze in Japan.

Capital Weekly’s latest issue is titled "Record-high trade between Bulgaria and China." The media outlet notes that bilateral trade has more than doubled over the past decade, adding that Bulgaria now imports not only consumer goods but also a growing volume of industrial equipment. 

Trud front-pages a story saying that one of the goals set in Bulgaria’s updated National Demographic Strategy by 2030 is to raise the retirement age for both men and women to 67. This would require an average of three additional years of service, the daily notes, adding that over 1.5 million Bulgarians, or 24% of the population, are currently over the age of 65. This age group has grown by 12.6% in ten years' time.

Duma reports on opposition from Socialist municipal councillors in Sofia to an idea by Mayor Vassil Terziev and the Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria group to increase parking fees in the capital. The Socialists are quoted as saying that they are "opposed to the idea of turning Sofia into a big paid parking lot."

POLITICS

Speaking on Nova TV’s morning programme, political analyst Dimitar Ganev said that potential snap parliamentary elections would give President Rumen Radev a significant advantage if he decided to launch his own political project. In Ganev's words, such a scenario would allow the head of State to capitalize on the high levels of public trust in the presidential administration.

The latest Trend survey reveals an erosion of trust in the government, although without dramatic shifts. GERB-UDF remains the leading political force with 26.4% support. "The erosion is not coming from their supporters, but rather from the periphery and partly from their partners in the government," Ganev said.

Public frustration continues to center on high prices and inflation, which for the past year and a half have been the top concern among respondents.

Ganev added that "there is an interesting dynamic with the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) - MRF - New Beginning are gaining support mainly at the expense of the Alliance for Rights and Freedoms, which indicates a clear shift within the electorate."

In an interview with Bulgarian National Radio, sociologist Pavel Valchev of Alpha Research said that no major shifts in electoral support are currently visible. However, he pointed to a build-up of political events that could reshape the landscape. Valchev noted that the fifth no-confidence vote against the Zhelyazkov Cabinet has led to "unity among the opposition," "the friction between the ruling partners becoming more apparent for the first time," and "debates expanding beyond Parliament and receiving wider public attention." "It is important to consider the role each of the partners in the current government plays - whether the MRF supports the Cabinet or has a more significant role," Valchev said. 

ECONOMY

Duma reports that the Fruit and Vegetables Branch Chamber strongly opposes the Council of the EU’s decision to lift customs duties on seven agricultural products from Moldova (plums, table grapes, apples, tomatoes, garlic, cherries, and grape juice). The Chamber argues that Moldova, while a major exporter of fruit, does not comply with EU production and quality control requirements, whereas Bulgarian producers meet them at considerable cost, including greater investment, more administrative overhead, and higher production expenses. The Chamber warns that traditional fruit such as plums could disappear entirely from domestic production, unable to withstand unfair competition. Opening the market to imports from a non-EU country at a time when Bulgarian producers are already suffering massive losses from spring frosts and a hot, dry summer is economically devastating and politically unacceptable, the Chamber says in a statement.

Trud runs an interview with economist Prof. Boyan Durankev, who comments on an array of issues, including recent recommendations from the International Monetary Fund for Bulgaria, the anticipated budget impact of the European Commission’s push to raise defence spending to 5% of GDP, and calls from Renew Europe MEPs to freeze EU funding for Bulgaria in light of the imprisonment of Varna Mayor Blagomir Kotsev.

24 Chasa carries a story titled "Bulgaria is a paradise for old, powerful cars, with Porsche Cayenne fees ten times lower than in Greece." The daily says that, thanks to symbolic taxes and fees, the State effectively encourages people to buy heavily used high-horsepower vehicles, most of which are over 15 years old.

BULGARIA-CHINA

Citing Bulgarian National Bank data, Capital Weekly reports that since the COVID-19 pandemic, Chinese capital in Bulgaria has grown significantly, reaching record levels of EUR 186 million in cumulative foreign direct investment as of the first quarter of 2025. This marks an increase of over 40% compared to the end of 2019. Bilateral trade between Bulgaria and China has surpassed EUR 3.5 billion annually by 2024, according to Eurostat. Although China is not among Bulgaria’s traditional top economic partners (such as EU member states, the United States and Turkiye), it is increasingly asserting itself as a key player in the Bulgarian economy and business landscape, Capital Weekly writes. Chinese investments in Bulgaria remain relatively limited and sporadic, accounting for less than 1% of total foreign capital in the country, but the trend is steadily upward.

Chinese companies operating in Bulgaria are focused less on public infrastructure and more on the private sector and manufacturing. Their investments include factories for automotive parts, photovoltaic power plants, and energy storage facilities. They are also gradually expanding their presence in the transport sector and green technologies.

In its cooperation with China, Bulgaria aims to attract major Chinese investments in sectors where the country has a traditional advantage, as well as in high-value-added industries that boost competitiveness. These include mechanical and automotive engineering, car parts manufacturing, electronics and electrical engineering, information and communication technologies, agriculture and food production, and tourism, the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry told Capital.

Energy is one of the key areas of cooperation between Bulgaria and China, and is likely to see further development, Capital says, citing the acquisition of two photovoltaic projects in Bulgaria by the Hong Kong-based United Energy Group Limited - Simeonovgrad (70 MW) and Polyanovo (180 MW), which will be merged into a single project.

INTERVIEW WITH CHINESE AMBASSADOR

Speaking to Capital, China’s Ambassador to Bulgaria, Dai Qingli, said: "As a EU Member State and a key hub connecting Europe and Asia, Bulgaria enjoys unique geographical advantages and market potential. The country's accession to the Schengen Area and upcoming entry into the euro area are additional factors for trade and investment cooperation."

"However, it should be noted that our trade and investment cooperation still faces some challenges. For example, companies lack a deep understanding of each other’s markets, procedures for obtaining tourist and business visas for Bulgaria need to be streamlined, and the stability and security of Bulgaria’s business environment should be improved," she said. "EU investment screening mechanisms and protective measures could complicate future cooperation between our countries," the Ambassador added.

"This year marks the 10th anniversary of Bulgaria’s participation in the One Belt One Road initiative, during which economic cooperation has produced positive results. From 2015 to 2024, trade between China and Bulgaria doubled - from USD 1.8 billion to over USD 4 billion. Chinese investments in Bulgaria have also increased, reaching a total of USD 165 million by 2024, a nearly 46% rise over the past decade. Since 2021, Chinese foreign direct investment in Bulgaria has grown rapidly, with an average annual growth rate of 101%," Qingli noted. 

"Cooperation on key projects continues to advance. Here are just a few examples: Tianjin Agricultural Reclamation Group facilitates exports of Bulgarian agricultural products to China; Jinan Boiler is implementing the biomass power plant project Svilocell, supporting Bulgaria’s and the EU’s carbon neutrality goals; the Export-Import Bank of China actively finances the development of Bulgaria’s shipping industry and logistics; the China Development Bank and the Bulgarian Development Bank have reached a financial cooperation agreement to promote local business growth; Shanghai Yousheng Aluminum is building a factory for automotive parts in Bulgaria with plans for further investment; United Energy is investing in a 250 MW photovoltaic power project, assisting Bulgaria’s transition to green energy," the Ambassador noted. 

New electric buses from Chinese manufacturers like Yutong and Higer are already operating in Sofia and Gabrovo’s public transport networks, replacing older diesel models. "We expect cooperation between China and Bulgaria in electric vehicles and batteries to become a new highlight in bilateral economic and trade relations, creating momentum for Bulgaria’s green transformation.

As to renewable energy cooperation, Chinese companies are already building photovoltaic power plants and supplying energy storage equipment and wind turbines, supporting Bulgaria’s national target of achieving a 42.5% share of renewables by 2030, Qingli said. 

MEDICINE

A story run by Mediapool.bg says that while Bulgaria ranks among the top European countries in terms of the number of dentists per capita, the proportion of Bulgarians unable to afford dental care is lower than the European average. According to the Bulgarian Dental Association, over 10,300 dentists currently practice in the country. National Statistical Institute (NSI) data shows that as of the end of 2024, there were 68 dental centres and 70 medical/dental centres operating across the country.

More than 70% of practicing dentists have contracts with the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), but the Fund covers only a minimal package of services annually. This forces patients to pay significant out-of-pocket costs and often leads to less frequent dental visits.

Based on NSI data on per capita spending and population size, Mediapool.bg estimates that in 2024, Bulgarians paid nearly BGN 483 million out of pocket for dental services and dentures. In comparison, the NHIF covered BGN 371.5 million in dental service costs.

The latest European Health Interview Survey shows that 54.6% of Bulgarians had not seen a dentist in over a year. Young people tend to visit more regularly. Almost 6% of Bulgarians aged 25-44 have never visited a dentist at all.

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Speaking on Bulgarian National Television, Miglena Sirakova, chair of the national professional committee of nurses at the Association of Health Care Professionals in Bulgaria (AHCPBG), and senior nurse Yulia Dzholeva identified the major challenges facing the nursing profession in Bulgaria: staff shortages, heavy workloads, low wages, and the need for actual reform. Sirakova cited AHCPBG data showing that the total number of nurses in Bulgaria in 2024 stood at 21,984, 15% fewer than in 2015. The country currently has 341 nurses per 100,000 people, compared to the EU average of 786, which is almost half as many.

ENERGY

In an interview on bTV’s morning programme, Martin Vladimirov, Director of the Energy and Climate Programme at the Centre for the Study of Democracy, discussed Bulgaria’s planned termination of Russian gas transit, which was recently announced by Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov. "This means that various contracts for the transmission of Russian gas through TurkStream and the European extension of TurkStream, which passes through Bulgaria, will be gradually terminated. Starting from June next year, short-term contracts, i.e. those lasting up to one year, will begin to be terminated," Vladimirov said. Currently, between 15% and 20% of Russian gas volumes pass through Bulgaria at various times of the year, he added. "On paper, Bulgaria does not import Russian gas. However, it is widely known in energy circles that Russian gas is purchased through a swap deal with Greek traders who have long-term agreement with Gazprom for the supply of Russian gas," he noted, adding that some of these agreement expire next year.