2026 Budget Approved: Minimum Wage Remains Unchanged in View of Euro Adoption

The Parliament has adopted, on second reading, the main parameters of the state budget for 2026. Following intensive debates lasting over 13 hours, deputies reviewed the allocation of funds for key institutions, social transfers, and strategic investments.

Social Parameters and Wages

One of the most significant decisions is the maintenance of the minimum wage at the level of 620.20 euros. In parallel, the budget provides a mechanism to ensure that the net remuneration of civil servants and judicial workers will not decrease following the introduction of the euro.

Important changes also affect farmers – up to 72.59 million euros are provided for the restoration of the excise duty on gas oil, including a one-time discount.

Transport and Infrastructure

A total of 256.485 million euros has been allocated for subsidizing public transport and compensating for preferential prices. Of these funds, 70.260 million euros will go toward urban transport in Sofia. Simultaneously, a Program for Priority Strategic Investment Projects for the period 2026–2028 has been established.

Among the approved state guarantees are significant sums for the "Seventh Block" project at the Kozloduy NPP, the modernization of the Chaira HPP, the expansion of the Chiren gas storage facility, and the construction of the Yadenitsa dam.

Fiscal Indicators and Taxes

The budget sets limits for the fiscal reserve (minimum 2.6 billion euros) and the state debt (maximum 37.7 billion euros by the end of 2026). It also provides for a gradual increase in excise duties on tobacco products, starting from August 2026.

Political Debates

The voting process was accompanied by sharp criticism. MP Asen Vasilev from "We Continue the Change" expressed dissatisfaction with the way funds for municipal projects are distributed, calling it an "autocratic" approach, and criticized the decision to freeze the minimum wage while maintaining the remuneration of heads of state-owned enterprises.