28.04.2025
“Security, competitiveness and digitalization are the European Union’s strategic goals in the context of the global race. The ongoing visit of the President of the European Council is planned to coordinate our joint efforts namely in these key areas.” This was stated by Prime Minister Rossen Jeliazkov at a joint briefing with the President of the European Council António Costa after their visit to the Arsenal Plant in Kazanlak and the innovative Demonstration Center for Aquaponics at Trakia University in Stara Zagora.
“Bulgaria is not just an active player in the processes but is also their driving force,” Prime Minister Rossen Jeliazkov noted and further he said that the government supports the EU policies to modernize defense capabilities. The Prime Minister recalled that the country’s defense spending makes up over 2% of its GDP. Alongside, the government’s intentions are to increase defense spending drawing on the escape clause concerning rearmament projects that are implemented under the European Union’s initiatives of joint acquisitions. Thereby, the cabinet meeting this week is to approve a decision to approach the European Commission with a request to that effect. “You may remember that Bulgaria was one of the countries that came up with this option,” Prime Minister Rossen Jeliazkov said further. As he put it, this modality would allow increasing defense spending in a way that is not detrimental to fiscal stability. The Prime Minister specified that investment would amount to up to 1.5% of the GDP on an annual basis while the reference year would be the year preceding the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, for a period of four years.
“Bulgaria marches confidently towards the fulfilment of the defense investment program,” Prime Minister Rossen Jeliazkov said further and emphasized the potentials of the Bulgarian defense industry. Completely new equipment and ammunitions, including unmanned systems, are to go into operation. The Prime Minister announced that the Specialized Defense Innovation Center is to open very soon and its main objective will be to enable the interconnection of three aspects: the needs of the army, the potentials of science and the capabilities of the Bulgarian defense industry. By the end of this year, the Center will call a tender to test three types of drones for the Bulgarian army’s needs, Rossen Jeliazkov went on to say. The Prime Minister was firm that Bulgaria strictly adheres to the White Paper for European Defense Readiness.
“Investment in defense will guarantee our security and, in addition, will create jobs and thus push the development of the regions. We saw it for ourselves today during our tour of the Arsenal Plant in Kazanlak,” said the President of the European Council António Costa for his part. He noted that the plant is a good example of how the objectives of defense and competitiveness unite and how this contributes to the European support for Ukraine.
Trakia University in Stara Zagora presented to António Costa innovations that the university applies in the fish farming and food industry. “It is very inspiring to see how Bulgaria’s economy develops and is now more diversified and better. Knowledge is the foundation stone of a stronger competitive economy. That is why education and science are important for our common future,” the President of the European Council emphasized in his statement.
