The basic salary a Bulgarian soldier would get from January 1 2009 will become 500 leva, after Council of Ministers approved Defence Minister Vesselin Bliznakov's amendments to Plan 2015 on March 20 2008. The plan contains elements of the reform that the Bulgarian army has to undergo by 2015, one of which is an increase in salaries. In July a further 10 per cent increase will take effect. Currently a soldier receives a minimum of 391 leva.

After the Council of Minister's meeting Bliznakov told reporters that a package with bonuses has been prepared which had the aim to make the military profession a more attractive one after the army was made fully professionalised as of the end of last year. Since then it has suffered a shortage of candidates.

Another part of the Plan 2015 is cutting the number of those employed in the army. A total of 4000 people will be released from the army, Bliznakov said. “We will send information about their qualification to various ministries so these people would not be left without options once they leave the army,” Bliznakov said.