Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Defense Minister: Reinstatement of mandatory service could be on the agenda if vacancies in the army are not filled

Photo: BTA

For now, we do not envisage and do not propose to the Bulgarian parliament to return the conscription military service, Caretaker Minister of Defense Atanas Zapryanov told BNR. He expressed the hope that with the increase in the salaries of the military personnel from next year, the interest in the army will also increase in order to fill the vacant positions.

"In this way, we stimulate voluntary military service", emphasized the minister. However, he specified that if the measure does not lead to a change in the near future, the issue of the return of mandatory military service may be on the agenda in Bulgaria as well.

Minimum defense spending should rise to 2.5% of the GDP, said Atanas Zapryanov. "The Russian aggression against Ukraine generates a need for much greater capabilities and this leads to an increase in military spending in some countries," he reasoned.

Regarding the military aid we provide to Ukraine, the minister said that all the necessary armaments and equipment for our army is available. 



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Issue 3 for 2025 of the Bulgarian newspaper in UK "BG BEN" has been published

A new issue of the newspaper "BG BEN" in UK has been published, the media outlet's Facebook page reports. Among the highlights of issue 3 for 2025 are: The new powers of the police to combat neighborhood crime in England; Improving..

published on 3/20/25 1:02 PM

Bulgaria ranks 85th in the World Happiness Report

Bulgaria has improved its rating in the World Happiness Report , but remains 85 th out of 147 countries, which is the lowest position for an EU country, indicates data of this year's edition of the report, which is published annually around March 20..

published on 3/20/25 12:03 PM

Israel investigates the death of the Bulgarian UN worker in Gaza

Bulgaria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Georg Georgiev had a phone conversation with his Israeli counterpart Gideon Sa'ar. Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar expressed condolences to the family of the Bulgarian who died in Gaza . Gideon Sa'ar..

published on 3/20/25 8:36 AM