Bulgaria gets approximately EUR 1 billion under Recovery and Resilience Plan

Bulgaria gets approximately EUR 1 billion under Recovery and Resilience Plan

19.06.2026

"The European Commission has given a positive assessment to Bulgaria's fourth request for a disbursement under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP). The country will get approximately EUR 1 billion which is vital support for the budget and for the continuation of key investments in the country," said Deputy Prime Minister Atanas Pekanov at a briefing in the Government Headquarters.

"Today's result shows that when there is a clear political will, good coordination and consistency Bulgaria is able to uphold its interest successfully," Deputy Prime Minister Atanas Pekanov said.

A key to this positive outcome of the negotiations finalized during the European Commission's mission in Sofia two weeks ago was the meeting of the commitments in the field of justice and the reform of the Judiciary, the Deputy Prime Minister reported.

"I would like to thank in particular Prime Minister Rumen Radev for the steady political support and for the commitment made at the talks with the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen two weeks ago; also I would like to thank my colleagues, the ministers Nikolay Naydenov and Ivan Demerdzhiev for their work on the finalization of these two reforms related to the establishment of the Anticorruption Commission and the improvement of the mechanism of accountability of the Prosecutor General. I thank the Members of Parliament from Progressive Bulgaria and from all other groups who ensured the support required for the approval of the amendments to the legislation," the Deputy Prime Minister said.

The funds under the fourth disbursement are needed for specific investments that reach people across the country:

▸Over 2,000 STEM centers in Bulgarian schools - modern education and skills for the jobs of the future.

▸Modernized infant and cancer clinics and 23 specialized stroke treatment centers.

▸National emergency air ambulance service with 7 medical helicopters.

▸Over 73 nursing homes for elderly people across the country.

▸New trains and engines for better connectivity and regional development.

"People will not appreciate the Plan on the basis of the number of letters sent to Brussels but on whether they see better schoolhouses, better hospitals and better living conditions around," Atanas Pekanov said.

The European Commission services have assessed the fulfilment of 23 out of the total of 26 stages and objectives under the fourth disbursement as satisfactory. These stages and objectives include, inter alia, key reforms in the field of rule of law, vocational training, electric mobility and integrated public transport.

"It is particularly important that Bulgaria conformed to the requirements concerning withheld funds from previous disbursements. The reform of the mechanism of accountability of the Prosecutor General releases an additional EUR 150 million that will be paid together with the fifth disbursement by the end of the year," Atanas Pekanov said further.

The Deputy Prime Minister pointed out that Bulgaria is to implement and report the measures under the fifth final request for payment amounting to EUR 1.677 billion by 31 August 2026. The next two months require the full mobilization of all ministries, institutions and beneficiaries, he noted.