site.btaDefence and Armed Forces Act Amended on First Reading

On Wednesday, Parliament passed on first reading amendments to the Defence and Armed Forces of the Republic of Bulgaria Act submitted by the Council of Ministers and rejected a bill moved by Democratic Bulgaria.

The Council of Ministers' bill regulates the Armed Forces' participation in operations, missions and other international initiatives in the country's territory. The body authorizing the passage through, or stay in, Bulgarian territory of Allied and/or foreign armed forces must also determine the conditions and modalities for their participation in the respective operation, mission or international initiative.

The amendments also set up a framework for determining the length of the participation of Bulgarian service persons from an international organization or initiative in an operation or mission in Bulgarian territory.

The rejected bill of Democratic Bulgaria envisaged creating an Investment Fund for Rearmament and Sustainable Defence as an investment facility for rearmament and modernization of the Armed Forces. The Fund for multiannual financing of projects and programmes for rearmament and innovation in defence was intended to achieve sustainable development of the defence industry.