FTTU and CITUB held a forum on the transition to cleaner and more efficient public transport

On 16.12.2025, the Federation of Transport and Trade Unions and the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions of Bulgaria (CITUB), organized a round table on the topic "Electrification of urban transport – a path towards green and sustainable mobility"

Representatives from the local administrations of Ruse, Stara Zagora, Pleven, representatives of "Metropolitan", "Sofia Electric Transport", "Sofia Auto Transport", Burgasbus, "Trolleybus Transport - Pleven", Municipal Transport – Ruse, "VITU Todor Kableshkov", UNWE and others took part.

Unfortunately, there was no representative from Sofia Municipality at the event, which once again demonstrates the lack of sustainable social dialogue and engagement from their side on sector-important issues. Their absence deprived the participants of the opportunity for direct exchange of opinions and good practices and emphasized the need for more active participation of municipal institutions in such professional forums.

The moderator of the forum was the vice president of CITUB, Ognyan Atanasov, who addressed issues related to the transition to electromobility as a key element of the European and national decarbonization policies for transport. "It has a strong social dimension as it affects access to mobility, transport costs and working conditions in the sector. Its effective implementation requires an integrated approach that unites environmental, social, and labor policies," he pointed out.

The transition to cleaner, more efficient, and more reliable transport systems is not just a technological or organizational challenge. It is a strategic process supported by European cohesion policies. In recent years, the Cohesion Funds have become the main driver for the modernization of urban transport infrastructure in Bulgaria – from the extensive development of the metropolitan, the implementation of electric buses and trolleybuses, to the construction of charging stations, intelligent traffic management systems, and energy efficiency solutions. Thus, Plamen Dimitrov – President of CITUB, opened the round table and explained that without the Cohesion Policy, our country would not have the opportunity to renew bus fleets, modernize trolleybus networks, reduce energy consumption of the rolling stock, and sustainably reduce emissions.

Dimitrov noted that there are also a number of other financing opportunities for the development of electric transport, which will be discussed during the forum. Among them is the development of public transport using green hydrogen, with financial instruments offered by the Just Transition Fund in the Stara Zagora region with a total resource of 134.6 million euros.

The Chairman of the Federation of Transport and Trade Unions, Eng. Alexander Shopov noted that the last few years clearly show that electric transport systems are no longer the future, but the present, requiring strategic planning, targeted investments, and good coordination among all participants in the process. "Data from transport operators in the country confirm this trend – in some Bulgarian cities, the share of electric vehicles in public transport already exceeds 40%, and the energy efficiency of the rolling stock is sustainably improving. We have specific examples of reducing the specific energy consumption from 281 kWh per 100 km to about 161 kWh per 100 km over a decade – a result that clearly demonstrates the importance of modernization, intelligent management, and new technologies," said Shopov, adding that numerous municipalities apply a comprehensive approach that includes building charging infrastructure, own electricity production from renewable sources, energy storage systems, and digital management of transport processes. Such integrated solutions allow higher energy independence, lower operational costs, and better sustainability for transport operators.

Eng. Alexander Shopov emphasized that the path to accelerated electrification is also associated with numerous challenges – the need for significant investments, adequate charging and energy infrastructure, digitalization of management, as well as ensuring a smooth and fair transition for workers in the sector. "Here, the role of social dialogue, the shared experience between municipalities, and good national and European practices are crucial. Trade unions have a key role in this process – as guarantors of labor rights protection, participation of workers in planning changes, and promoting policies for retraining and developing new "green" skills. Their active involvement is a prerequisite for technological progress to go hand in hand with social sustainability and job security. Examples from cities like Pleven and Burgas show that when there is a consistent policy and partnership between institutions and transport operators, progress is entirely possible," he pointed out.

In addition, the chairman of the FTTU said moreover that the active involvement of CITUB and the Federation of Transport and Trade Unions is especially important – both for defending the interests of workers and for participating in the development of sustainable policies that combine modernization of the sector with decent working conditions, job security, and human capital development. "Our goal is to outline realistic steps and specific solutions for cleaner, more convenient, and more efficient urban transport," he explained.

Good practices from the cities of Burgas, Pleven, and Stara Zagora were presented. Deputy Director of "Burgasbus" – Eng. Lyubomir Atanasov, presented the company's development from 2012 to today. In his presentation, he emphasized key stages of urban transport modernization in Burgas, including the introduction of an electronic ticketing system, the construction of a photovoltaic power plant, and the comprehensive renewal of the vehicle fleet.

Eng. Angel Nestorov from "Trolleybus Transport – Pleven" introduced participants to the development of the company, the state of the transport infrastructure, implemented technologies, and key stages during 2014–2025. His presentation also covered planned future projects, including the delivery of new vehicles aimed at improving the quality and sustainability of public transport. Special emphasis was placed on the upcoming 2026 introduction of a cashless payment system on rolling stock through debit cards, which will facilitate passengers and modernize the service.

Georgi Stanchev – manager of "Trolleybus and Bus Transport" – Stara Zagora, presented the activities and main areas in the company's work. Among the most serious challenges for the enterprise remains the shortage of qualified personnel, which hinders the normal functioning and development of the service. In the near future, a procedure for introducing a card payment system is expected to start, as well as the construction of a photovoltaic park to increase energy efficiency and reduce costs. Regarding hydrogen technologies, the project is currently on hold but is expected to be developed at a later stage depending on available funding and national policies in the sector.

Eng. Alexander Shopov highlighted the importance of collective bargaining and the signed agreements with mayors of the municipalities of Varna and Ruse, which are a key tool for ensuring stability and predictability in the public transport sector. They provide protection of income, working conditions, and social benefits for workers amid rapid technological and organizational changes. Through these agreements, CITUB and FTTU uphold the local authority's commitment to investment in human capital, training, and job preservation. It is precisely this social partnership at the local level that transforms transport modernization into a fair and sustainable process, oriented both towards citizens and the people working in the system.

Finally, Eng. Shopov added that a material with specific proposals will be prepared, which will be sent to all participants to add their additions, notes, and recommendations. After summarizing them, the document will be finalized and officially sent, as well as presented to the relevant institutions, to serve as a basis for subsequent actions and decisions.