Bulgaria Moves to Double Defense Investment Approval Thresholds Under New Law

Bulgaria's government has approved draft legislation that would nearly double the financial thresholds determining which authorities must approve major military investment projects, potentially giving the Ministry of Defense greater flexibility to advance equipment acquisitions without requiring higher-level political approval.

The Council of Ministers approved the proposed amendments to the country's Defense and Armed Forces Act on November 4, 2026. The legislation also addresses procurement procedures under NATO's Security Investment Programme, military personnel regulations and the use of weapons against unmanned systems.

The proposal follows a broader effort by Sofia to accelerate military modernization as Bulgaria replaces Soviet-era equipment and expands investment in NATO-compatible capabilities.

Defense Investment Thresholds Could Nearly Double

Under the proposed legislation, the financial thresholds for approving defense acquisition programs would increase from 50 million and 100 million Bulgarian leva to €50 million and €100 million, respectively.

If adopted, the new approval structure would allow the defense minister to authorize investment projects valued at up to €50 million. Projects between €50 million and €100 million would require approval by the Council of Ministers, while projects exceeding €100 million would remain subject to parliamentary approval.

The change would substantially increase the value of projects that can advance without requiring authorization from the next level of government.

Defense Minister Dimitar Stoyanov previously argued that existing thresholds had become outdated and were slowing decisions on military modernization. In June, he criticized delays and cost increases affecting several major defense programs, warning that prolonged approval procedures could cause Bulgaria to miss production slots and financing opportunities.

However, raising the thresholds also changes the level of political oversight applied to significant military investments. Projects that currently require parliamentary approval could instead fall within the government's authority, while some acquisitions previously requiring cabinet approval could be authorized by the defense minister.

The proposed changes concern investment-project approval responsibilities and do not, by themselves, eliminate other applicable public procurement and contracting requirements.

NATO Security Investment Procedures Also Under Review

The draft legislation would also clarify contracting procedures under NATO's Security Investment Programme, which supports infrastructure and capabilities required for collective defense.

Additional provisions address military readiness, mobilization and demobilization procedures, as well as the circumstances governing the use of weapons against unmanned aerial and maritime systems.

The proposed amendments include changes to military career development, personnel reassignment and service in the reserve forces. They would also introduce more clearly defined compensation arrangements for military personnel working beyond normal duty hours.

Modernization Programs Increase Pressure on Procurement System

The legislative proposal comes as Bulgaria advances several major military equipment programs.

On November 4, AdriaDefense reported that Bulgaria had handed over its first five locally assembled Stryker armored vehicles, marking progress in a modernization effort that also involves expanding the country's domestic defense manufacturing capabilities.

Sofia is also pursuing additional air defense systems. In October, Bulgaria advanced plans to acquire five additional IRIS-T SLM systems under a modernization package valued at approximately €1.1 billion.

Such programs illustrate the scale of investment passing through Bulgaria's defense approval system and the importance of decisions involving the Ministry of Defense, government and parliament.

The proposed legislation could give defense authorities greater flexibility when managing smaller and medium-sized investment projects, although its practical impact will depend on implementation and the final provisions adopted by lawmakers.

The bill has been approved by the Council of Ministers but has not yet become law. It must still proceed through the National Assembly before the proposed changes can take effect.