site.btaDefence Minister Describes Proposed Amendments to Defence Act as Most Comprehensive to Date

The amendments to the Defence and Armed Forces Act proposed by the Council of Ministers represent “the most wide-ranging and comprehensive revision since the law’s adoption in 2009,” Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov told Parliament on Wednesday.

He said that the changes are necessary due to recent developments in military planning and management, as well as emerging security threats, including the use of drones and the growing importance of collective defence and deterrence. The amendments will enable the defence system to function under a clearer and more modern regulatory framework, Zapryanov said.

The draft law introduces an explicit framework defining the activities of the Supreme Command and authorizes the use of weapons or technical countermeasures against unmanned aerial or maritime systems during the protection of military facilities. The Defence Minister will be empowered to approve such actions, but only against drones with military intent, he clarified.

In wartime, the State Agency for Technical Operations will be incorporated into the structure of the armed forces, according to the proposed changes.

Zapryanov also noted that the amendments will expand eligibility for professional military colleges, creating a new category of trainees - Bulgarian citizens undergoing vocational training in defence and military affairs for the needs of the Defence Ministry and other institutions. The status of cadets and trainees will be regulated, as they are considered service members with a special status, he said.

The proposal further refines the rules for deferred and annual paid leave, setting a three-year grace period for using accumulated leave, which otherwise strains the military budget when personnel leave service. It also introduces restrictions on early termination of service contracts.

Additionally, the bill removes the current limit on the number of times a soldier’s service term may be extended, previously capped at three renewals.