The EU transport ministers are discussing road safety and cyber security measures.

During a meeting of the EU Council on Transport, Telecommunications and Energy in Luxembourg, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Communications of Bulgaria Grozdan Karadjov stated that the country is examining the European Commission's proposals for the Vehicle Technical Roadworthiness Package mainly through the prism of road safety. He pointed out that at the national level there is already an action plan with specific measures to improve road safety, including strengthening control with technical and physical means, as well as making road safety a priority in the planning, design and construction of road facilities.

Minister Karadjov welcomed the proposed EU-level provisions, including those for tracking the mileage of vehicles, which will prevent abuses. However, he called for a responsible approach in discussing changes to the Directive on the mass and dimensions of road vehicles. As a country with intense transit traffic, Bulgaria faces serious challenges in maintaining infrastructure due to the increasing cases of movement of overloaded vehicles, leading to rising costs for repairs and maintenance.

During a bilateral meeting with the Swedish Minister of Infrastructure and Housing Policy Andreas Carlsson, it became clear that the countries need to seek a balanced approach to changes in the directive, acceptable to all Member States.

Regarding the expected air traffic load in the summer of 2025, Deputy Prime Minister Karadjov commented on Bulgaria's commitment to ensuring smooth movement in the airspace, as the national air navigation service provider has planned the necessary capacity and checks have been carried out on operators and ground handling companies.

In the debate on infrastructure financing after 2027, Minister Karadjov emphasized the importance of security and crisis response by smoothing military mobility capacity, as well as the strategic importance for Bulgaria of the modernization of the railway sections along Corridor VIII and the construction of a new combined Danube bridge.

On the topic of satellite connectivity, the Bulgarian position was that such technologies are often the only way to ensure connectivity in remote regions, and are key in crisis management, security and protection of critical infrastructure. Minister Karadjov called for effective management of the radio frequency spectrum to ensure a fair balance between existing and emerging technologies.