Bulgaria lifts ban on petroleum product exports to EU

Parliament has lifted the ban, in place since October 31, 2025, on exports and deliveries of petroleum products to the EU, mainly diesel and aviation fuel. The government proposal was approved with 121 votes from Progressive Bulgaria (PB) and will take effect once published in the State Gazette.

Forty-two MPs from Democratic Bulgaria, We Continue the Change, Vazrazhdane and three from GERB-SDS voted against. Another 23 GERB-SDS MPs abstained, while the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) did not take part in the vote, BTA reported.

The ban was introduced to safeguard Bulgaria’s energy security and keep the domestic fuel market stable following US sanctions on companies in the Lukoil group.

Slavi Vasilev of PB said lifting the ban would not affect diesel prices but would help the refinery and fuel traders.

“At a time when there is a fuel shortage and prices are rising worldwide, you are deciding to lift the export ban and trying to convince us that this is good for Bulgarian citizens,” Assen Vassilev of We Continue the Change said.

Editor: Miglena Ivanova