A parliamentary committee has backed changes to Bulgaria's road transport law at first reading. The bill was put forward by the cabinet on September 9, 2026, and lawmakers on the innovation and digital transformation committee voted 10 in favour, one abstention and none against.

The changes bring Bulgaria's law in line with EU rules, Tsvetelina Ilieva-Yordanova, secretary general of the Road Transport Administration, told MPs as she presented the bill. She said it needs to pass quickly, because the European Commission has already opened two infringement cases against Bulgaria over the matter.

One of the biggest changes lowers the threshold for freight operators to need a licence. Until now only companies running trucks over 3.5 tonnes needed one; that will now apply to vehicles over 2.5 tonnes too, Ilieva said.

The EU register of community licences will also be expanded. New checks will be added to confirm that hauliers registered in Bulgaria actually operate and have a real presence here, rather than existing only on paper. Ilieva said this will make competition fairer and put companies on a level footing across the EU transport market.

Companies applying for a licence will have to prove they are financially sound under stricter rules, and new rules will also help collect any public debts they owe. There's another change too: freight operators will now be able to hire vehicles from any EU country, not just the one where they are registered. Ilieva said this will make life easier for the industry.

The law also sets out clear rules for drivers posted abroad — what papers they need and what checks they go through. Hauliers will have to file a posting declaration through a dedicated EU information system. The aim, Ilieva said, is to make sure drivers have decent working conditions and social protection while working outside Bulgaria.

Besides what EU law requires, the bill also cuts red tape for people and businesses, Ilieva added. One change is the electronic waybill, which will carry the same legal weight as the paper version. She said this is a step toward digitising transport, cutting companies' paperwork costs and making checks easier. The new electronic waybill rule takes effect on July 1, 2027.