07.03.2025
Strengthening the capacity of military industry is extremely important not just for Europe’s capability to defend its post-World War II rights, freedoms and concept of its system of values that were so hard to attain but equally for Bulgaria as a country that possesses these capabilities and can develop both markets and its own defense capacity. This was stated by Prime Minister Rossen Jeliazkov. A few hours after his attendance of the special meeting of the European Council in Brussels, the Prime Minister visited two of the largest Bulgarian defense industry plants – VMZ/Vazovski Mashinostroitelni Zavodi and Arsenal, where on site he saw the potential for development and upgrading. “I am extremely impressed by what I saw,” Mr. Jeliazkov said as he underscored the opportunities that are based on the European Defense Industrial Strategy (EDIS) and its program and on the funding that manufacturers in Europe will be able to benefit from soon.
“We must be the frontrunners. That is why we are establishing a Center for Defense Innovation to follow and promote trends in research and development and in the implementation of relevant technologies to modernize the defense industry,” the Prime Minister stressed. As he put it, the Bulgarian defense industry must be flexible enough to develop both in terms of the amounts of output and in terms of the diversity of output. The Prime Minister noted that there are about 30 high-tech enterprises in Bulgaria in this sector and that it is necessary for this cluster to be brought together in a shared synergy so as that we can have national defense independence and, in addition to it, to be leading in Europe. The aim is to maintain an uninterrupted supply chain, Mr. Jeliazkov pointed out and specially emphasized the importance of joint production with our partners within the European Union.
Regarding the funding of European defense capabilities, Prime Minister Rossen Jeliazkov noted that the issue was discussed in Brussels the day before. Unabsorbed resources from the Cohesion Fund were seen as possible sources of funding that the countries may contribute of their own free will. “We suggested to add resources under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF). This was incorporated into the Conclusions as a resource that can be resorted to,” the Prime Minister said and added that the applicability itself is a matter for further elaboration as rules and guidelines.
In his answer to a media question, Prime Minister Rossen Jeliazkov recalled that Bulgaria is among the EU countries that allocate the greatest percentage of their GDP to defense. “Ours is over 2%, while the purchase of F-16 Block 70 brought us to 3% of the GDP, therefore the ratio puts us in a very good position,” Mr. Jeliazkov noted. As he said, when it comes to the system of collective defense it is appropriate for shared responsibility to take the lead. “I believe that we will maintain all – the form and the commitments as an ally and the declared contribution of a higher percentage of the GDP while each country should draw on its specifics,” Mr. Jeliazkov said further.
In his answer to a media question about developments in the ruling coalition, Prime Minister Rossen Jeliazkov said: “Some call these developments turbulences, however, in my understanding these are unavoidable moves to adjust differing views.” In his opinion predictability is the most important thing in any partnership. “I think that creases will be ironed out more and more. I don’t believe that it is in anyone’s interest for the coalition to dissolve its partnership,” Mr. Jeliazkov said further. The Prime Minister pointed out that three of the parties that signed the coalition agreement are stable and that the supporting party, which is part of the parliamentary majority, has certain requirements, and it is important that these requirements are predictable and do not surprise the other partners. “Everything is to be subject to talks. Even the best agreement can be supplemented and modified, but this should be done in a spirit of partnership,” Prime Minister Rossen Jeliazkov concluded.
