Bulgaria is facing a new round of fiscal scrutiny from Brussels after the European Commission concluded that the country is on course to breach the EU’s budget deficit rules and recommended the launch of an excessive deficit procedure. According to the Commission’s assessment, Bulgaria ’s public sector deficit rose from 3% of GDP in 2024 to 3.5% in 2025 and is expected to widen further to 4.1% in 2026 and 4.3% in 2027. Brussels argues that the deficit now exceeds the EU’s 3% reference threshold