EU unfreezes €370 million in funding for Bulgaria after key anti-corruption reforms

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced on Thursday that the EU has unfrozen nearly €370 million in suspended funding for Bulgaria, following significant progress on anti-corruption legislation.

The announcement came during her meeting with Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev in Brussels during his first visit in that capacity. Von der Leyen congratulated Radev on his parliamentary election victory, saying it brings “much-needed stability to the Bulgarian people and to the region.”

The Commission chief praised Bulgaria’s recent achievements, highlighting the establishment of an independent Anti-Corruption Commission and the reorganisation of the Prosecutor General’s office. “These two pillars will allow us to unlock almost €307.5 million of suspended funding for Bulgaria,” she stated. “This is good news for Bulgaria and good news for Europe, as anti-corruption is a key value for the European Union.”

Von der Leyen noted that Bulgaria has already received nearly €3.3 billion under the Next Generation EU programme. With the August 2026 deadline approaching, she urged continued momentum on reforms to unlock remaining resources. She also welcomed the smooth transition to the euro, which has eased payments and travel while enabling businesses to take full advantage of the single market. Two out of three Bulgarians view the euro adoption positively, she added.

Energy reform was another key topic. Von der Leyen emphasised Bulgaria’s plans to strengthen its state-owned energy holding, particularly in clean energy production. The Commission will support the transition through the Just Transition Fund to ensure new jobs and growth reach all regions. In total, €1.2 billion is earmarked for clean energy investments in Bulgaria under the recovery plan.

The two leaders also discussed the EU’s long-term budget (MFF), aiming for agreement before the end of the year, as well as shared geopolitical concerns including the Middle East and Russia’s war against Ukraine. Bulgaria plays a crucial role on NATO’s eastern flank, and the EU is ready to provide over €3.2 billion under the SAFE instrument, with a loan agreement ready to be signed at any time.Prime Minister Radev described the meeting as timely for a country emerging from years of political instability.

“We now have a stable, reform-oriented government with a clear agenda to stabilise the budget, strengthen the rule of law, root out corruption, and enhance defence capabilities,” he said. Radev stressed that the Recovery and Resilience Plan is a strategic tool for Bulgaria to catch up on reforms and meet all deadlines. He highlighted the recent adoption of key anti-corruption acts, which enabled the unlocking of funds, and Bulgaria’s important role in regional energy stability and connectivity.

Radev also met European Council President António Costa. During his Brussels visit, he held talks with Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever.

Radev arrived in Brussels from Paris, where he met French President Emmanuel Macron. Little information emerged from that meeting, but Radev told Bulgarian media he has strong doubts about continuing military and financial aid to Ukraine. While acknowledging Bulgaria’s past support (military, political, humanitarian, and diplomatic), he said the country must now be “very careful,” particularly regarding military and financial assistance.

He stressed that the government’s priority is to protect the living standards and security of Bulgarian citizens first, before allocating more funds to Ukraine, citing major budgetary challenges.

Radev called for an immediate shift in Europe’s overall policy toward the conflict. He urged Europe to lead efforts to start negotiations with Russia, warning against the risk of pursuing a conventional victory over “the largest nuclear power” without adequate defences against modern hypersonic weapons. He described the current escalation, including Russian threats, as a serious risk.

Radev’s latest statements align closely with the positions he consistently expressed during his time as President of Bulgaria. The key difference is that, as Prime Minister and head of the executive – and thus Bulgaria’s direct representative at key EU summits – he now holds significantly greater influence to shape EU policy at this critical juncture for Ukraine.

Caption: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Prime Minister Rumen Radev made statements, but took no questions. [Photo: Georgi Gotev]