February 2025 / Bulgaria

The Ministry of Innovation and Growth (MIR) has announced that micro, small and medium-sized enterprises will be supported with 16.3 million leva for the protection of intellectual property rights. The procedure takes place within the framework of the Programme for Competitiveness and Innovation in Enterprise (UCIP) and is expected to be announced by the end of February 2025.

The measure will be managed by the Patent Office of the Republic of Bulgaria. Part of the funds will be invested in developing the information environment, expanding the services offered by the institution and improving the conditions for their use by businesses.

The funds will be able to finance the costs of consultancy services for the preparation and preparation of documentation related to the filing of patent applications, utility models, trade marks and industrial designs. In addition, costs for fees for maintaining the validity of intellectual property security documents, as well as costs for utility model applications.

Source: Confindustria Bulgaria

Finance Minister Temenuzhka Petkova and BNB Governor Dimitar Radev signed a joint letter containing a request for the preparation of emergency convergence reports on the introduction of the euro and sent it to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde.

The letter was prepared and sent in accordance with the decision of the National Assembly of 26 July 2024 to accelerate and complete the process of preparation for the adoption of the euro in the Republic of Bulgaria. The Government decided to send the request for emergency reports after the last of the Maastricht criteria for Bulgaria's accession to the euro area - that for price stability - was accepted as covered.

Each of the two institutions, the ECB and the EC, will prepare a report assessing whether Bulgaria meets the convergence criteria and is ready to introduce the single currency. The final decision is taken by all EU Member States, voting unanimously.

Source: Confindustria Bulgaria