News

The concession of Sofia Airport has lots of advantages and no disadvantages, stated the Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications Rossen Jeliazkov from the rostrum of the National Assembly. He specified that currently the concessionaire has fulfilled most of the preliminary requirements and the Concession Agreement is publicly available and has been published in the National Concession Register.

The European Commission is launching a discussion with Member States and the European Parliament in connection with published results of studies about the negative impact of texts of the Mobility Package I. This confirms the Bulgarian position that regulations such as the provision for the return of the vehicle every 8 weeks, as well as the cabotage rules for combined transport, are in contradiction with the principles of the Green Deal and the plans for climate neutrality.

"I call for the urgent protection of the free flow of transport traffic and for maintaining the normal functioning of the „green corridors”, stated the Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications Rossen Jeliazkov in a letter addressed to the EU Commissioner for Transport Adina Vălean. The reason is the information on unilaterally applied measures and restrictions on drivers imposed by Member States. They lead to difficulties in the carriage of goods by road within the European Union.

The pandemic can be also seen as an opportunity, not just as a problem - an example is that in a month have been created the main modules of a health information system, which has been discussed for years and which gives us a completely different approach to the health system. Stated the Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications Rossen Jeliazkov during an international video conference forum organized by the world economic edition The Economist.

Patriarch Kiril is a great clergyman who lived in turning times in a historical epoch, which in its tragedy has no analogue in human history. This was noted by the Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications Rossen Jelyazkov during the validation of a postal and philatelic edition on the topic "120 years since the birth of Patriarch Kiril Bulgarski".

By the end of February the projects included in the National Recovery and Sustainability Plan (NRSP) will be submitted for approval by the European Commission, as announced by the Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications Rossen Jeliazkov during an online round table named "For expert discussion and implementation of NRSP", organized by the Railway Signalling, Automation, Telecommunication and Industry Association (RASTIA).

The Ministry of Transport, Information Technology and Communications paid BGN 29,119,637 to support bus carriers to deal with the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic.

By the application deadline, 639 applications had been submitted. MTITC assessed administrative compliance and eligibility by approving for funding 580 bus undertakings with which it concluded grant agreements.

The Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications signed the Ordinance amending Ordinance № 34 on Taxi Transport of Passengers. The Ordinance was sent for publication in the State Gazette, and the changes are the result of lengthy discussions with branch organizations.

Some of the main changes stem from the latest amendments to the Road Transport Act and are related to the transition to the municipalities of the registration regime for taxi transport of passengers.

The Ministry of Transport, Information Technology and Communications approved another 28 applications for funding from bus hauliers, worth a total of nearly BGN 2.4 million. This concludes the evaluation of all applications received in the first and second evaluation sessions, under procedure BG16RFOP002-2.091 "Support for SMEs operating bus services to overcome the economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic". Thus, the Ministry provides operating capital to a total of 580 bus hauliers to deal with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Within a week, there will be a final decision on the main changes laid down in the texts of Ordinance №34 on taxi transport of passengers. This became clear at today's meeting of the Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications Rossen Jeliazkov and representatives of the taxi industry.

In connection with interpretations in various media on the topic of airport fees at Sofia Airport, the Ministry of Transport, Information Technology and Communications (MTITC) is obliged to submit the following explanation - the amount of airport fees is determined by of the airport operator. Airport operator at Sofia Airport is the company Sofia Airport EAD. The airport fees collected by Sofia Airport EAD are fees for: landing of aircraft; parking; passengers; use of a jetway; security and noise (environmental).

In connection with published information with false content, disseminated by and with reference to the Bulgarian National Radio, the Ministry of Transport, Information Technology and Communications (MTITC) informs that to date the amendments to Ordinance 34, incl. changes in prices of taxi services have not been made and published in the State Gazette.

The Ministry of Transport, Information Technology and Communications approved for funding another 344 applications by bus carriers from the second evaluation session. They have a total value of nearly BGN 12.8 million. Thus, the number of all bus companies approved so far is 552. Almost BGN 14 million is the funding already paid for the 208 project proposals approved at the beginning of the month under the measure from the first evaluation session.

By the middle of 2021, 15 new locomotives will enter the railway system, which will serve the main and busiest routes of the country. This was stated by the Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications Rossen Jeliazkov during the opening of Poduyane railway station, the commissioning of two new Siemens Smartron locomotives and the presentation of the new heavy machinery for maintenance and repair of the railway.

The Bulgarian seafarer Eduard Tavityan received the annual award of the International Maritime Organization for outstanding courage. He was nominated by the Bulgarian government in connection with his remarkable dedication and professionalism in saving lives.

On October 9, 2019, Eduard Tavityan, an engineer on board a ferry, threw himself into the stormy waters of the ocean to rescue a passenger who fell overboard.

Sea rescue is one of the most valiant human deeds, according to the motives of the international organization for awarding the prize.

The Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications Rossen Jeliazkov and the European Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries Virginjius Sinkevicius opened a virtual Ministerial Meeting on the Common Maritime Agenda in the Black Sea. The initiative includes representatives of the European Commission and the countries of the Black Sea region – Bulgaria, Georgia, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Turkey and Ukraine. Bulgaria is the first coordinator of the initiative since its establishment in May 2019.

The Minister of Transport, Information Technologies and Communications Rossen Jeliazkov, the Minister of Health Kostadin Angelov and the Director of the Center for Emergency Medical Aid Dr. Georgi Gelev validated a postage stamp. The publication is dedicated to the 85th anniversary of the establishment of the Emergency Service in Bulgaria. The ceremony was also attended by the Executive Director of Bulgarian Posts Deyan Daneshki, the President of the Union of Philatelists Spas Panchev and the artist of the project Svetla Decheva.

The Ministry of Transport, Information Technology and Communications approved for funding the first 208 applications of bus carriers, from the first evaluation session. The applications approved so far are worth a total of nearly BGN 14 million. The funds are allocated under procedure BG16RFOP002-2.091 "Support for bus and coach SMEs to overcome the economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic".

Within the shortest possible notice, the Ministry will proceed to the conclusion of the grant agreements with the applicants whose applications have been approved.

In the context of the unprecedented crisis we are in, we cannot afford initiatives that would lead to increased costs and administrative burdens for countries and airspace users. This was stated by the Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications Rossen Jeliazkov during today's informal videoconference meeting of the Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council of the European Union – Transport format.

The socially significant data can become more accessible if the organizations that share them voluntarily are provided with incentives as an easier access to EU funding, and reduction of the regulatory barriers for testing and innovations. Stated the Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications, Rossen Jeliazkov during the Informal videoconference of EU Telecommunications Ministers. The proposal of the Data Governance Act was discussed in the course of the conference.