(SOFIA) - The European Commission on Monday lifted restrictions on Bulgarian airlines imposed last December for safety concerns, Bulgaria's European Affairs Minister Gergana Grancharova said Monday.

"I am very encouraged by the lifting of EU restrictions to Bulgarian airlines," Grancharova said.

"Bulgaria's air carriers are now full-fledged equals to their European colleagues," she added, noting that all Bulgarian airlines can now operate flights between EU airports.

Safety and staff problems with Bulgaria's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) prompted Brussels to bar Bulgarian airlines from full access to all European routes.

Air carriers could enter the bloc's airspace but did not have access to internal routes within the European Union.

In addition, air worthiness and maintenance certificates issued by the CAA have not been automatically recognised by other EU states.

But the EU proposed a lifting of restrictions in late June as Bulgaria grounded some 160 outdated Russian-built planes and helicopters, deprived four cargo carriers of air certificates and banned another from flying to the EU in a move to boost safety.

The regulation will enter into force following its official publication in the journal of the European Union on Tuesday, Grancharova added.

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