The government adopted a decision authorizing the sending and use of up to 4 warships outside the territory of the country to participate in the mine countermeasures naval group in the Black Sea, BNT reported.
They are frigate class - with a crew of up to 153 servicemen, anti-mine class – with a crew of up to 50 military personnel with their full-time armament, in accordance with the schedules for their use and the area of operation, determined in the order provided for in the Memorandum of Understanding for the establishment of a Mine Countermeasures Naval Group in the Black Sea, signed between Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey on 11.01. 2024
The warships will carry out tasks, according to the Memorandum of Understanding on the Establishment of the Black Sea Mine Countermeasures Naval Group in the internal waters, territorial sea, contiguous zone and exclusive economic zone of the parties to the Memorandum.
The dispatch of up to 10 military personnel from the Armed Forces of Bulgaria to positions as part of the Mine Countermeasures Naval Group in the Black Sea on the territory of Romania and/or Turkey is permitted.
The cabinet also approved additional expenses under the budget of the Ministry of Culture for 2024
The draft decree proposes the approval of additional costs in the amount of BGN 5,000,000 under the budget of the Ministry of Culture for 2024 for financing projects of state and municipal cultural organizations carrying out activities in the field of performing arts, in order to create and develop cultural products.
Additional funds in the amount of BGN 5 million will be provided to state and municipal cultural institutes after an announced competition pursuant to Art. 14, para. 2, item 1 of the Law on the Protection and Development of Culture.
With another government decree on the budget of the Ministry of Culture, additional expenses provided for in Art. 1, para. 5, item 5.2 of the Law on the State Budget of the Republic of Bulgaria for 2024, area “Culture and Arts:
- According to “Policy in the field of preservation of movable and immovable cultural heritage”, budget program “Preservation and presentation of movable cultural heritage and visual arts” - BGN 1,700,000, incl. for the program “Movable cultural heritage” for museum and gallery projects - BGN 1,000,000 and for the program "Visual arts: (activities of municipal and private organizations) - BGN 700,000;
- According to “Policy in the field of creation and promotion of contemporary art in the country and abroad and access to quality art education”, budget program “Promotion of Bulgarian culture abroad” - BGN 4,000,000, incl. BGN 2,600,000 for additional financing of the cultural programs of the eleven BKI abroad, BGN 1,000,000 for active cultural policy of the Ministry on the territory of the Republic of North Macedonia and BGN 400,000 for financing cultural events in line with the Ministry's international activities of culture;