Budgetary Needs for Consular Services and Cultural Institutes Abroad: What are the Government's Plans

During a meeting of the Committee on Policies for Bulgarians Abroad, financial plans for 2026 related to the activities of Bulgarian institutions abroad were discussed. The main focus is on expanding the consular network and maintaining the cultural and educational connection with the diaspora.

Consular Network and Schengen

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Hristo Polendakov noted that 3.7 million euros are required to fulfill the commitments arising from Bulgaria's membership in the Schengen Area. These funds are intended for the creation of 36 new consular positions.

What this means for citizens: Increasing capacity will allow for faster processing of type D visas, which is critical for the tourism sector and for employers hiring foreigners. Additionally, the new staff will focus on better communication with Bulgarian communities in the countries where the representations are located.

Education and Culture

In the field of education, the budget for the Ministry of Education's activities abroad is planned at over 38 million euros. These funds cover the work of Sunday schools and Bulgarian language lectures. According to Sonya Krastanova, Director of the Finance Department at the ministry, current funds are sufficient, with a planned increase in maintenance standards for schools of about 8-10%.

On the other hand, the cultural sector requires more serious recapitalization. Deputy Minister of Culture Zornitsa Grekova stated that an additional 3.5 million euros per year are needed for the normal functioning of the existing 11 cultural institutes in Europe. Currently, they have about 3.1 million euros, which primarily covers current expenses such as rent, salaries, and repairs, making it difficult to expand the network (for example, the planned institutes in Madrid, Tirana, and Taraclia).