The Bulgarian Ministry of Economy and Industry is trying to find a new investor for the Stamboliyski paper mill
aiming to preserve production capacity and protect local jobs
Economy Minister Petar Dilov responded to a question from MP Stoyan Taslakov (Vazrazhdane) about the government's actions regarding the plant
which is owned by the UK-based Mondi Group
The company has announced its full withdrawal from Bulgaria in October 2024 via a notice in the Financial Times
Minister Dilov explained that the ministry was alerted to the issue by the mayor of Stamboliyski and subsequently held meetings with the plant’s management and worker representatives
these discussions failed to clarify whether the facilities would be sold or if another investor might be brought in
the ministry sent a formal inquiry to Mondi’s headquarters in the UK seeking clarification and inviting negotiations. In response
Mondi confirmed the decision to cease operations was final
the company expressed readiness to cooperate with the ministry and local authorities to ensure a smooth transition
including assisting in the search for a new investor
A follow-up meeting with a Mondi representative took place in February 2025 to explore options for retaining as many jobs and as much infrastructure as possible at the factory site
Dilov noted that the ministry is actively considering several scenarios
with employment and industrial continuity as top priorities
He also highlighted that any new investment would need to address longstanding environmental issues associated with the site’s operations
If Mondi opts to sell the factory to a buyer that is not interested in maintaining full paper and pulp production
the government considers the partial preservation of pulp manufacturing an acceptable compromise - this would help sustain demand for softwood raw materials from Bulgaria’s forestry sector
“The ministry is fully committed to resolving this issue and is engaging actively with all stakeholders,” Dilov concluded
“Our main goal remains securing a new investor
and safeguarding the production facilities.”
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A 12-year-old boy from Plovdiv is in critical condition after suffering severe burns and internal injuries from an arc flash at Stamboliyski station
The incident occurred when the boy attempted a dangerous selfie near a high-voltage contact wire
Doctors at Plovdiv's University Hospital "St
while a blood donation campaign has been launched to support his treatment
including teachers and parents of his classmates
The incident unfolded when the boy’s classmate
quickly sought help after the arc flash struck
The classmate’s fast actions—removing his coat to help extinguish the boy—were described by the head of the Stamboliyski station as a stroke of luck
explained that the boys had ventured into a dangerous area
they intentionally crossed into a risk zone
He stressed that the dangerous proximity to the high-voltage wire
was less than two meters—a distance that is absolutely forbidden for safety reasons
were reportedly influenced by trends on TikTok
a platform where similar risky behavior is often glorified
Stamboliyski Mayor Petar Nedelev noted that children are increasingly drawn to such stunts to boost adrenaline
The boy's class teacher described him as a gentle child
one who would not typically engage in such reckless behavior but was unfortunately led astray by peer pressure and social media
The boy’s classmates and teachers have shown immense support
with teachers like Mariana Velikova describing him as a "wonderful child" and expressing hope for his recovery
commented on the growing influence of social media
particularly the desire for likes and validation
which many children are seeking to feel important
The local Blood Center in Plovdiv confirmed that it has enough supplies to help the child and assured that they will continue to assist in his recovery
emphasized that a mobile blood donation team is available for those in the Stamboliyski area who wish to contribute
Source: Bulgarian National Television (BNT)
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A 33-year-old man from the village of Semchinovo
has been taken into custody by the police for physically assaulting a 10-year-old child
A 12-year-old boy from Lukovit has been hospitalized with two broken arms and head injuries after reportedly being assaulted and thrown from a bridge
who disappeared from the village of Konare near Stara Zagora
A 13-year-old boy is in critical condition after being struck by an electric arc while attempting to take a selfie on a train in Stamboliyski
where two young people were found dead after a day-long search by relatives and volunteers
A 16-year-old boy has been arrested in Asenovgrad for assaulting a 23-year-old man
Israel has turned to Bulgaria for assistance in battling the rapidly advancing wildfires in areas near Jerusalem
The Bulgarian mobile operator A1 has confirmed that it is experiencing technical difficulties affecting both calls and text messages across its network
A series of minor earthquakes were recorded in the Nessebar area
with the strongest tremor measuring 3.3 on the Richter scale
A woman sustained serious injuries after being attacked with pepper spray and an electroshock device
and subsequently set on fire inside a hospital in the Bulgarian town of Botevgrad
A 25-year-old man is in critical condition following an accident at the amusement park in Yambol
A serious traffic accident in the Bulgarian town of Harmanli has left a 13-year-old child in critical condition after he was struck by a car while riding an electric scooter
Google Street View Cars Return to Bulgaria for Major Mapping Update
Housing Prices Soar in Bulgaria’s Major Cities as Demand and Supply Strain Increase
An increase in fine dust particles is reported by the latest data of the mobile stations of the Regional Environment and Water Inspection (RIOSV)
This was announced by the regional governor of the city of Plovdiv
after a conversation with the director of the inspection
The increase in values is the result of the fire at the landfill in the village of Tsalapitsa
The RISV specified that the other indicators are normal
"It is recommended that the windows be closed
heart patients and small children stay indoors
The rest of the citizens should go outside with masks," added the regional governor after a conversation with the director of the Regional Health Inspection (RZI)-Plovdiv
Extinguishing the fire at the landfill continues at this time
It is limited and according to the information of chief inspector Dimitar Brishimov
head of the "Firefighting and rescue activity" sector in the Regional Directorate "Fire Safety and Protection of the Population" (RDPBZN)-Plovdiv
the flames are expected to be extinguished today
Plovdiv is gassed by the suffocating smell
a fire broke out on the territory of the regional landfill for non-hazardous waste near the village of Tsalapitsa
The flames covered an area of about 15-16 acres
Agricultural equipment was called in to help plow around the dump to prevent the fire from spreading to dry grasses in the field
The project was implemented with the financial support of the Agency for People with Disabilities Contract 6 - StN / 10/06/21 анд Contract № 2 - StN / 23.05.2023 г
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Por un futuro en el que los humanos vivan en armonía con la naturaleza
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On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the death of Agrarian Union leader and Prime Minister of Bulgaria
a national commemorative meeting is being held near Slavovitsa
Organizer is "The United Agrarians" party
Stamboliyski managed to lead Bulgaria out of the second national catastrophe
to create a working economy and raise the standard of living
"The commemorative event will be attended by many people from all over country"
Stavreva points out and adds that the 100th anniversary is an occasion to recall the work of Stamboliyski
"Let's see his example of how the state can be managed in the name of the people and prosperity"
the leader of "United Agrarians" also points out
The websites of two key institutions - the Customs Agency and the National Revenue Agency (NRA) - as well as the website of the Ministry of Electronic Government (MEU) were temporarily unavailable
The technical problem affected the work of.
Foreign Minister Georg Georgiev has left for Washington
where he will participate in the Munich Leaders Meeting (May 5-7
The forum is organised by the Munich Security Conference
The foundation Unity- Kočani has sent an open letter to key Bulgarian institutions
expressing gratitude for the support and humanitarian assistance provided by Bulgaria after the tragedy of the fire at a nightclub in Kočani
people will be able to withdraw money from ATMs only in the new currency
according to the website of the Bulgarian.
helicopters of the Bulgarian Air Force will fly at low altitude over Sofia in preparation for a military parade marking the Day.
Funding has been secured for the European programs “Care at Home” and “Hot Meal”
english@bnr.bg
we've been hearing about the incredible facility that opened in 2021 less than 20 kilometers from the city of the hills
and we know that it brings together dozens of children and their parents every day for tireless games and fun moments
we decided to see for ourselves what exactly impresses all residents and guests of Stamboliyski and makes them spend more and more time outdoors
Vaptsarov Center and on its spacious area gathers more than 20 facilities
Most are made of wood and are well secured
but there is also a separate area for the youngest
and the biggest attractions are undoubtedly the cable car and the tower
but it would not be an exaggeration at all to say that everything is excellently made and maintained
Comfortable tables and benches are also available for everyone
where parents and children can have a picnic and relax under the shade of the trees
and all of this is free and maintained by the Municipality
This includes a newly built facility that opened literally days ago - a unique mini golf course in the immediate vicinity
The models of animals located on the field are extremely attractive and attract young and old to the game
and a municipal employee hands out the required number of sticks and is available for any questions
on which it is possible to hold various fun events such as children's discos
There are also Instagram corners and coffee and water machines
the facility has been constantly enriching as an experience and we are convinced that every visitor will wish they were a child and be able to take advantage of the huge range of entertainment that the eco park offers
It's also the perfect idea for a weekend outing where everyone has a great time
Sofia is set to undergo significant infrastructural changes this year and in 2025
leading to the closure of several key boulevards
Andrey Zografski from the WCC-DB-SS group indicated that the city must significantly increase repair efforts to address its outdated infrastructure
The most notable renovations will occur on "Alexander Stamboliyski" Boulevard and "Maria Luiza" Boulevard
as announced by municipal councilor Boris Bonev
Renovations on Maria Luiza Boulevard are expected to start in March and continue throughout 2025
focusing on the tram route from Kozloduy Street to the Nadezhda overpass
This renovation was initially planned for last year but was halted by the former chief architect
The Alexander Stamboliyski Boulevard project will involve renewing both the car and tram tracks
which is crucial for the capital's rail transport
Bonev emphasized that this work has been anticipated for decades
Renovation plans also include "James Boucher" Boulevard
where improvements in surface water drainage and options for reuse are necessary
alongside work on the tram route and the underground infrastructure
a tender will be announced for constructing the Eastern Tangent of Sofia
which includes "Copenhagen" Boulevard and "Alexander Mickiewicz" Street
The expansion of "Copenhagen" to ten lanes is part of this initiative
with completion expected to take over a year
Bonev stated that these extensive infrastructure projects aim to address long-standing traffic issues within the city
He pointed out that both the previous and current management of "Sofinvest" were appointed by GERB and criticized comparisons to 2019 pricing as not accounting for inflation
The renovations will include the installation of bus lanes
and tram barriers to alleviate traffic congestion and encourage more sustainable transportation options
Heavy traffic is anticipated during the construction period
particularly with ongoing repairs on Opalchenska Boulevard and the extension of Todor Kableshkov Boulevard
where a new intersection with Cherni Vrah Boulevard is being constructed
The Municipality of Sofia assures that Todor Kableshkov will be operational by the end of the year
traffic on "Cherni Vrah" and "Todor Kableshkov" boulevards has been reopened
This reopening is part of the Kableshkov expansion project
although work continues on the section near "Louis Ayer" Street
Terziev reported that traffic between Cherni Vrah Boulevard and Emilian Stanev Street is now using the two new lanes
and the new tram route promises greener urban transport
Sidewalks and bike lanes are already in place
Traffic under the bridge at the junction of Bulgaria Boulevard and the Ring Road is expected to reopen by October 20
following months of closure due to a compromised support column
Residents of Sofia who are customers of "Toplofikatsia Sofia" can now benefit from a new mobile application
"My Heat," which offers a more accessible and user-friendly way to manage heating-related services
The fourth edition of the LUNAR Festival of Lights in Sofia will illuminate 10,000 square meters of art across some of the city's most iconic buildings and public spaces from May 8 to May 11
The Sofia Police has launched a targeted operation against drivers of electric scooters and electric motorbikes who engage in reckless behavior in the city's central areas
Todor Kantardzhiev warned that Sofia's sewer system should be cleared of rats
opened fire with a gas pistol near a kindergarten in Sofia's Lyulin district
Sofia Municipality is set to implement a revised framework for managing its municipal housing stock by introducing two distinct rental categories
Employers in Bulgaria are legally required to implement all necessary measures to prevent and minimize workplace accidents
with 45.2% of those aged 16–74 having bought goods or services via the internet in the past year
The National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology forecasts that May will bring temperatures ranging from 2°C to 33°C across Bulgaria
a trend that has persisted for over 30 years
A Romanian family paid 3,084.60 leva (1,500 euros) for medical treatment at the Burgas University Hospital following a serious road accident
A century has passed since the memorable date of June 9
when the government of the Bulgarian Agrarian People's Union (BZNS) led by Aleksandar Stamboliyski was overthrown by a military coup
Historiography from the times of socialism (1944-1989) labeled it as a "fascist coup"
but at that time a fascist party existed only in Italy and it ruled from October 1922 to 1926 in a coalition government with the other parties in the country
The regime established by the Agrarian Union and often called "Orange Dictatorship" was not only extremely left-wing
but was also quite similar to Benito Mussolini's fascists when it came to the methods used
The farmers came to power in Bulgaria after a failed coup attempt in 1918 during the so-called "Soldiers' Uprising" and Bulgaria’s defeat in World War I
The coming of BZNS in power also happened with the help of the Entente
as Stamboliyski agreed to sign the Treaty of Neuilly in 1919
Stamboliyski introduced a theory similar to the class theory of the Russian Bolsheviks according to which
the rural majority was oppressed by “parasitic” urban class that must be subjugated
Stamboliyski terrorized the leaders of the old bourgeois parties and put them in jail
The threatened parties united in the People's Alliance
The Bulgarian society was convinced that the Bulgarian Agrarian People's Union regime was behind the assassination
The rule of the party was characterized by corruption
the remnants of the army and the demobilized officers in the Military Union opposed the authoritarian regime
Fulfilling his obligations to the victorious countries in the First World War
Stamboliyski violated the rights of the Macedonian Bulgarians
He entered into conflict with their influential organization IMRO (VMRO) and even allowed Serbian military to attack IMRO bases in Southwestern Bulgaria
Aleksandar Stamboliyski changed the electoral law and in the elections of 1922
he took 212 out of 245 seats in the National Assembly
He also created the "Orange Guards" – a paramilitary formation that fought against his political opponents
the Military Union and IMRO were left without any legal
democratic opportunities to oppose the regime and organized a coup on June 9
was not supportive of the forcible change as the young monarch was afraid of Europe’s reaction
he accepted the realities imposed and signed the decree for creating a government with Prime Minister Aleksandar Tsankov and ministers from all parties
with the exception of BZNS and the communists
The Tsar’s condition was that Stamboliyski's life should be preserved
but the party leader had already been captured and killed by the IMRO organisation
The Bulgarian Agrarian People's Union elite fled to the Kingdom of Serbs
and Slovenes and became involved in a series of attempts planned by Belgrade and Moscow to organize military coups in Bulgaria until 1926
An ironic fact is that some of the officers who carried out the coups in 1923 and on June 19
also participated in the communist coup of September 9
"You must have strong faith and pray - then the saint will help you and carry your prayer to God," says Father Georgi Markov of the Church of St
Athanasius the Great in Gorni Lozen near Sofia
He adds that he has often witnessed the miracles of St.
marks 1160 years since the baptism of our Bulgarian people into the Orthodox faith and 1170 years since the creation of the Bulgarian alphabet and Slavic literature
the Varna and Veliki Preslav Bishopric Metropolis.
Bulgaria celebrates 149 years since the April Uprising – an event that led to the liberation of Bulgaria after almost five centuries of Ottoman rule
we must not forget that every participant in the April.
Summer in the city with children is really a challenge for parents
as the little ones are constantly looking for activities and need engagement and new games
Kindergartens and private daycares are a solution
when you wonder where to go and what to do to diversify away from the traditional places
Some time ago we gave you ideas for some very exciting destinations near Plovdiv such as Stamboliyski Eco Park and the Fairytale Forest in the town of Rakovski
but today we’ll stay in the city under the hills to reveal where to take your little ones tonight
Just in time for the great heat and for the summer holidays
one of our favorite spaces for outdoor entertainment presented two new playgrounds at the foot of the Youth Hill
They are an excellent option as they are suitable for all ages and are set amongst the trees which is perfect for hiding from the sun in the heat
wooden bridges and different types of climbing frames
made entirely in the spirit of the place - these are just some of the advantages that we can point out right away
The proximity to the Children's Railway and the mini amusement corner in one part of the meadow are also an important priority for all families with small children who can literally spend the whole day there
Plovdiv Stage Park is made of wood and stone
the whole family has an opportunity to have a pleasant time in the urban environment
and you can either eat something on site or use the huge green areas around to have a picnic
and the place is also suitable for celebrating various occasions outdoors
which you shouldn’t miss visiting this weekend
The beginning of the 1920s was a period when many Bulgarian architects and engineers returned to their homeland after studying abroad and worked for turning post-war Sofia into a true European city
One of them was 30-year-old architect Lazar Parashkevanov
who had a degree in engineering and architecture from Prague and settled in Sofia in 1920
the country was ruled by the Bulgarian Agrarian National Union and the government was headed by his close friend Aleksandar Stamboliyski
Stamboliyski offered to architect Parashkevanov to create a project for a new building
which would house the headquarters of the party
but also have separate halls for organizing cultural events
The military coup in Bulgaria and the murder of Stamboliyski in the summer of 1923 stopped the realization of the avant-garde project
Parashkevanov resumed work on the idea and in the spring of 1947 construction began
the authorities in Bulgaria decided that a small part of the building would remain for the agrarians
while the rest would be home to the National Opera
the architect ordered everything that was already built demolished and created a new project
"The project went through a lot of changes," urbanist Zdravko Petrov says
“In the 1920s it reflected the architecture trends of the time
with many art-deco elements and elements of modernism
What we know today is the result of the second project and it is a building with a much more classical look
there was a tendency towards Stalinist type of architecture in this country
which we can also see in the opera house."
granddaughter of the great Bulgarian composer and conductor Academician Marin Goleminov
still remembers the stories of Lazar Parashkevanov
who was a frequent guest at her grandfather's home
She recalls his words that when you build an opera
the most important thing was to know about acoustics
because no matter how beautiful you make the building
if the hall inside is not suitable for performances
"He himself used to say that he had to read piles of book about acoustics of opera halls in Czech
as well as to prepare and train a team of builders
with whom he worked together during the construction
but gradually savings started to be made before he was told that no materials would be ordered from abroad and he had to deal with what was available in Bulgaria
Parashkevanov began to get acquainted with the local materials
The international team that came to check the acoustics of the opera hall
ranked it among the halls with the best acoustics in all of Europe.”
"This is one of the most unique buildings in the world
The inner large hall has the shape of a musical instrument and looks a bit like a snail
the ceiling has an opening like a wind instrument
On the balconies and lodges there are cavities that reflect the sound
The wooden paneling is also made of a material that is used in making musical instruments
The acoustical properties of our Sofia Opera place it among the best halls in the world," Stamov adds
Compiled by: Vessela Krasteva /based on interviews with BNR-Radio Sofia/
Young musicians from 11 countries will take part in the first Sofia Cantus Firmus International Violin Competition
organized with financial support from the National Culture Fund
We’ve all heard of ideas that come to artists in their dreams
That’s exactly how the melody for Orlin Pavlov’s new single “Syanka/Shadow” was born — he dreamt it
he turned to brothers Milen Kukosharov and Rosen Kukosharov to bring the.
The first edition of the Senza Frontiere International Music Stars Festival will bring together children and young people from all over Europe in the resort of Albena from 17 to 21 June 2025
The festival includes a competition and provides a platform.
The first edition of the Senza Frontiere International Music Stars Festival will bring together children and young people from all over Europe in the.
That’s exactly how the melody for Orlin Pavlov’s new single “Syanka/Shadow” was born — he.
restoring the city's oldest tram route to the "Knyazhevo" district
The reinstatement of this historical line signifies not only a revival but a substantial transformation
accompanied by sweeping upgrades and reconfigurations across the city's public transport infrastructure
including the complete replacement of rail tracks
and the construction of modern platforms and parking shelters
These measures aim to elevate commuter experience and streamline services along this reinvigorated route
In tandem with the tram line's restoration
adjustments to other transport services have been instituted
Night bus lines N3 and N4 undergo notable route changes
Line N3's revised course encompasses a journey through multiple boulevards and squares
eventually converging with the route of bus line No
The changed route of Line N3: on the established route to the stop with code 1219 "Ovcha Kupel" straight on "President Lincoln" Blvd.
right along "Alexander Stamboliyski" Blvd.
along the established route to stop code 2107 "Hadji Dimitar Metro Station"
A new two-way stop is being opened on "Alexander Stamboliyski" Blvd
with codes 6401 and 6553 "Vazrazhdane Square"
Line N4 will run: from Gotse Delchev district along the established route to the stop with code 1301 "Pl
and along the established route to Druzhba 2 district
Bus lines N3 and N4 will stop at all existing tram
All types of transport documents issued by the Central Government are valid for travel in them
The protest organized by public transport workers in Sofia concluded in front of the Sofia Municipality building
Urban transport employees in Sofia staged a protest on Monday morning
Sofia's public transport employees will stage a protest
blocking three major intersections in the city to demand higher wages
The transport visa-free regime between Ukraine and the European Union has been extended until the end of 2025
Public transport workers in Sofia will stage another protest on Monday
with plans to block three major intersections in the capital
A nationwide 24-hour strike is taking place across Greece today
The largest paper mill in Bulgaria in the town of Stamboliyski is closing down until further notice due to the global financial crisis
The shutdown is part of the mill owner Mondi's restructuring plan aimed at curbing the effect of the economic crisis
The company has temporarily closed or offloaded factories in the UK
France and Spain to focus on core operations and optimise production
"The difficult situation on the market and the problems we have with suppliers of energy and timber are the main reasons behind our decision," Mondi Executive Director Alexander Krikler told Bulgarian daily newspaper Dnevnik
one of the biggest employers in the small Central Bulgarian town
They will be paid compensation provided by Bulgarian law
Operations may resume once demand returns and the mill signs favourable long-term contracts with its suppliers
Another negative impact on Mondi in Bulgaria has been the significant rise in natural gas and timber prices which
Mondi entered the Bulgarian market in 2006 and in 2008 its Bulgarian subsidiary worked at around 60 per cent of its top annual production capacity of 120 000 tons
The mill in Stamboliyski was established in 1957
bTV reported that following recent measures to widen bicycle lanes and increase parking spaces by narrowing "Vitosha" Blvd
authorities in Sofia are now planning to convert a section of another prominent boulevard into a ped
The mayor of Stamboliyski Georgi Maradzhiev was arrested this morning
He is also the regional coordinator of GERB in the Plovdiv region
fewer than 10,000 people will stay in hospitals because of a COVID-19 infection
Bulgaria's exports of alcoholic beverages totaled 30.4 million euros
Bulgarian garment companies are struggling to find new markets due to the recent increase in tariffs on industrial goods under Donald Trump’s administration
Bulgaria recorded the highest annual growth in construction output among EU member states
The digital entertainment landscape is evolving rapidly
with new platforms and experiences reshaping how we spend our leisure time
Bulgaria has seen a record influx of workers from non-EU countries in recent years
yet the demand for labor in various industries remains unmet
Industrial production in Bulgaria continued to experience a downturn at the start of the year