On September 8, 2026, Prime Minister Rumen Radev inspected the renovation works on the Plovdiv Ring Road. Minister of Regional Development and Public Works Ivan Shishkov also joined the inspection. During the visit, the Prime Minister stated that our country can no longer delay the construction of highways, as this directly hinders Bulgaria's economic development. He emphasized the urgency of this process and the necessity for high-quality execution of major infrastructure projects, noting that the government will seek solutions, including through concession procedures.

The Public-Private Partnership Act is currently under review, and within the coming week, the cabinet is set to approve a strategic analysis identifying the most priority road arteries in the country. Prime Minister Radev explained that large-scale construction requires time for administrative preparation and legal compliance. "In order to invite an investor, we must first do our homework. We must have so-called project readiness," the Prime Minister specified, pointing to next year as an optimistic timeline for announcing concessions.

Regarding the concept for future tenders, the Prime Minister clarified the following key parameters:

  • The procedures will be fully transparent, with invitations extended to all domestic and foreign companies.
  • The construction and subsequent maintenance of the projects will be carried out entirely at the investors' expense.
  • Funding from private companies will prevent compromises on quality and eliminate the corrupt schemes of the past that now necessitate the payment of burdensome contracts.
On the topic of tolling, Minister Ivan Shishkov added that the goal is a comprehensive change in the economic model. He reminded that according to a European Union directive, a unified mechanism for road infrastructure payment will be implemented across the entire bloc after 2030.

The Prime Minister also commented on current issues related to high food prices. He stated that the state cannot administratively impose prices in a market economy, but the goal is to limit their growth through greater stability and transparency. Among the steps taken are strengthening control and significantly increasing penalties for violations. Radev pointed out that bringing transparency to pricing throughout the entire supply chain will allow authorities to effectively penalize "unjustified markups and unfair commercial practices." Statistics from the last two months already show a trend toward curbing price growth.

In the context of the planned changes to the security services, Rumen Radev emphasized that the goal of the reform is technological modernization, higher professional training, and efficiency. According to him, the services must be focused solely on protecting national security, rather than serving political circles. Regarding the widespread questions about the influence of suspicious individuals, the Prime Minister confirmed that data on ties are being verified, and the competent authorities are expected to release further information.