Background information

Following the sharp increase in fuel prices after the outbreak of the conflict in the Middle East on 28 February 2026, the Bulgarian government introduced a support measure aimed at ensuring the continuity of public passenger transport services and mitigating the financial burden on transport operators. The programme targets operators providing services on national, interregional, regional and municipal bus routes that are not already covered by the existing state subsidy scheme. The measure was adopted by the Council of Ministers through Decision No. 288 of 9 April 2026 approving a Programme for subsidising transport operators affected by increased fuel prices. Funding is provided from the state budget and distributed through municipalities to eligible operators in accordance with the Road Transport Act and Regulation (EC) No 1370/2007 on public passenger transport services by rail and by road.

Content of measure

The measure covers transport operators providing public passenger services on national, interregional, regional and municipal bus routes that are not already subsidised under the existing state support scheme. Eligible beneficiaries are operators holding public service contracts in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1370/2007 and complying with the requirements of the Road Transport Act. The programme is financed from the state budget and implemented through municipalities, which distribute the funds among eligible operators on the basis of declared mileage and verified financial data. According to government information, up to EUR 18 million was allocated to support public passenger transport operators affected by the increase in fuel prices. The amount granted to each operator depends on the reported transport activity and the net financial effect resulting from higher operating costs. The programme does not allow overcompensation.

Use of measure

No official estimate of the expected number of beneficiaries has been published. The programme is open to eligible public passenger transport operators providing services on non-subsidised national, interregional, regional and municipal bus routes across Bulgaria.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Does not apply to workers	Companies providing essential services	Does not apply to citizens

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government Company / Companies	National funds

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	Consulted	No involvement as case not in social partner domain
Form	Any other form of consultation, institutionalised (as stable working groups or committees) or informal	Not applicable

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• Only trade unions
• Main level of involvement: EU level

Involvement

Although the measure was designed and implemented primarily by the national government and municipalities, trade unions were involved in the broader public debate regarding support measures related to rising fuel prices and inflationary pressures. In particular, the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (CITUB/KNSB) publicly proposed targeted subsidies for public transport operators and compensation mechanisms for increased fuel costs affecting the transport sector.

There is no evidence of formal institutionalised social dialogue or direct participation of employers’ organisations in the drafting or implementation of the programme. The role of trade unions was mainly consultative and advocacy-oriented at national level, through public policy proposals and recommendations aimed at protecting transport services, employment and affordability of public transport.

The implementation and monitoring of the programme itself remain under the responsibility of national authorities and municipalities.

Views and reactions

Trade unions generally expressed supportive views towards measures aimed at compensating the increased fuel costs affecting public transport operators. In its public position on the updated package of support measures for households and businesses, the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (CITUB/KNSB) called for targeted subsidies for state-owned and municipal transport operators, as well as compensation mechanisms for rising fuel and energy costs in the transport sector.

The adopted programme is therefore broadly in line with some of the proposals advanced by trade unions regarding the need to preserve the functioning and affordability of public transport services during the fuel price crisis. At the same time, there is no publicly available information indicating formal joint agreements or institutionalised negotiations between the government and social partners concerning the specific design of the measure.

Sectors and occupations

This case is not occupation-specific.

Sources

• 20 April 2026: Решение №289 на Министерския съвет от 2026 г. (strategy.bg)
• 07 May 2026: ЗА ОДОБРЯВАНЕ НА ПРОГРАМА ЗА СУБСИДИРАНЕ НА ПРЕВОЗВАЧИ ПО АВТОБУСНИ ЛИНИИ ОТ УТВЪРДЕНИТЕ ТРАНСПОРТНИ СХЕМИ – РЕПУБЛИКАНСКА, МЕЖДУОБЛАСТНА, ОБЛАСТНИ И ОБЩИНСКИ, ЗА УВЕЛИЧЕНИТЕ ЦЕНИ НА ГОРИВАТА СЛЕД ИЗБУХВАНЕ НА КОНФЛИКТА В БЛИЗКИЯ ИЗТОК НА 28 ФЕВРУАРИ 2026 Г. (www.strategy.bg)
• 13 May 2026: Информация, свързана с разпределение на получените от общините средства съгласно Решение № 288 на Министерския съвет от 9 април 2026 г. за одобряване на Програма за субсидиране на превозвачи по автобусни линии от утвърдените транспортни схеми – републиканска, междуобластна, областни и общински, за увеличените цени на горивата след избухване на конфликта в Близкия изток на 28 февруари 2026 г. и Решение № 289 на Министерския съвет от 9 април 2026 г. за одобряване финансиране на трансфери за общини за 2026 г. (РМС № 289) (rta.government.bg)