Balgarianovinite.com Parliament adopted at first and second reading in a single sitting the bill ratifying the agreement between the governments of Bulgaria and Italy on defence cooperation concerning the joint construction and use of military facilities at the Kabile military area (Southeastern Bulgaria).
At second reading, 131 MPs voted in favour, 38 against, and 10 abstained. Support for the ratification came from GERB-UDF, Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria (CC-DB), the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) – New Beginning, BSP – United Left, There Is Such a People (TISP), one MP from the Alliance for Rights and Freedoms (ARF), and one independent MP. Votes against came from Vazrazhdane and Velichie, as well as one MP from CC-DB. MPs from Morality, Unity, Honour (MECh) abstained.
Under the signed agreement, Italy assumes responsibility for assembling and deploying residential buildings, offices, facilities and amenities, as well as related services, and may carry out the necessary construction works for these purposes, including through its armed forces.
Bulgaria hosts a NATO battlegroup and has obligations to provide infrastructure for its accommodation and training facilities, outgoing Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov told MPs. He noted that the battlegroup is currently temporarily stationed at the Novo Selo training area. With this agreement, Italy will invest jointly with Bulgaria and take part in creating infrastructure for temporary deployment at Kabile, Zapryanov explained, adding that conditions could be created in a short time for relocating the battlegroup from Novo Selo to Kabile. The agreement serves the interests of Bulgaria, Italy and NATO, he concluded.
Nikola Dimitrov (Vazrazhdane) argued that the agreement should not be ratified, saying this may reflect the views of many residents of Yambol and the village of Kabile. He suggested a local referendum should have been held to ask residents whether they want a foreign base near their homes. “We want the Bulgarian Army to be the sole guarantor of Bulgaria’s security and territorial integrity,” he said.
Atanas Slavov (CC-DB) said his group would support the ratification. The proposed solution to build the base at Kabile strengthens NATO’s eastern flank following Russia’s aggressive war against Ukraine, he noted, adding that Italy is the framework nation of the battlegroup, while Bulgaria is the host nation. “As the host, it is our responsibility to create conditions for the battlegroup to operate effectively,” Slavov said.
Hristo Gadzhev (GERB-UDF), chair of Parliament’s Defence Committee, said that when troops from different NATO member states are present on the ground, it is a guarantee they will intervene to defend the host country. The presence of this multinational brigade in Bulgaria is a form of assurance from NATO that, whatever happens, those countries will come to Bulgaria’s aid, he added. Parliament Ratifies Bulgaria-Italy Agreement on Joint Construction and Use of Facilities at Kabile Military Area 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-01-29 17:07:00 Latest news World news Country news Most important news latest news most important latest of the day Justice Petar Nizamov Feathers Petar Nizamov- Feathers Justice bg iustitia.bg iustitia iusticia usticia investigation Burgas Bulgaria news news of the last hour news of the day news of today Bulgaria news The news from Bulgaria blitz news top news most important most commented latest news Boyko Borisov news weather coronavirus news news weather facebook youtube facebook instagram news today news of the last minutes news today today news news bg news leading news hot news bg news site for news all news news bg news of the last hour latest latest news bg news of today news today news today news of the last hour latest news today news bg news news 24 hours news vesti bg novini news world bird bg bivol bg bivol trud bg novini latest news today novinite bg news hello bulgaria political party coat of arms delyan peevski scandalous Bulgarian National Television Free Europe Television scandal exclusive live tv live right now tv tv online tv program bg live now tv news online tv online live court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas district court Burgas appellate court Burgas prosecutor Burgas prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev Prosecutor Geshev Tsatsarov Ministry of Internal Affairs Burgas ODMR Burgas ODPR Burgas police Burgas district police Burgas prosecutor Tsatsarov SGS cases Varna court chairman of the SGS court decisions on civil cases decisions on cases Plovdiv court decision of the court decisions cases Varna court criminal cases district district court decisions work in the court SGS chairman of the SGS judges Sofia court post judges Plovdiv court Plovdiv judges Plovdiv Supreme Court Inspectorate Supreme Court Supreme Judicial Council lawyer lawyer criminal cases lawyer civil cases lawyer marriage cases lawyer administrative criminal law criminal process civil law civil process administrative law constitutional law