The government is preparing changes to the Criminal Code — certain customs violations that have so far only carried fines will become criminal offenses. Prime Minister Rumen Radev announced this at the start of the Council of Ministers session on September 23. According to him, the goal is to increase pressure on smuggling networks and on the administrative officials who assist them. "We are tightening customs control, and smuggling will now be treated as a serious crime," the prime minister said.

Under Article 242 of the Criminal Code, certain forms of smuggling already carry prison sentences. At the same time, the Customs Act regulates other violations administratively — with fines and property sanctions, provided the act does not constitute a crime. It is precisely this second category that the cabinet wants to shift into the realm of criminal liability. Exactly where the line will be drawn and what the penalties will be, however, will only become clear once the bill is published and debated by lawmakers.

Radev specifically addressed accountability within the customs structure itself. According to him, the new provisions should target not only people who smuggle goods illegally and customs officers directly involved in illicit schemes, but also those who knowingly turn a blind eye to violations. For this group, the prime minister used the phrase "officials on call." For now, this is more of a political message behind the idea — the specific elements of the offenses and the required degree of culpability still have to be written into the code itself.

The amendments to the Criminal Code also cover cases of misuse of European and national funds. According to Radev, anyone who knowingly provides false data or falsifies records in order to unlawfully obtain public funds should bear criminal liability. He did not name a specific case or individual, presenting the measure instead as part of the cabinet's broader policy against financial crime and corruption. Days earlier, the prime minister announced upcoming inspections of public procurement, inter-agency transfers and financial relationships, but stressed that it is up to the prosecution and the courts to determine whether a crime has been committed.

The session also included a number of financial decisions directly affecting the state and municipalities. The Council of Ministers is set to approve the report on the implementation of the 2025 state budget, as well as a report on progress in implementing the European Council's recommendations to Bulgaria. The agenda also includes a new mechanism under which the central budget would provide interest-free bridge loans to municipalities for interim and final payments under the Strategic Plan for the Development of Agriculture and Rural Areas for 2023–2027. The draft underwent public consultation between August 18 and September 17.

Radev also mentioned new measures to control gambling, without disclosing details at the start of the session. The topic is already on the legislative agenda for 2026, with discussions underway on additional restrictions on gambling advertising. The cabinet has not yet announced the final package of measures, so it remains unclear for now whether they will affect advertising, licensing, oversight of operators, or another part of the regulatory framework. The government will subsequently need to submit the changes to the National Assembly, where lawmakers will review and vote on them.