06.03.2025
Bulgaria has a strong arms industry, which we must modernize and develop and thus contribute to pan-European security. This was stated by Prime Minister Rossen Jeliazkov before the opening of today’s Special European Council. In Brussels, the Heads of State and Government of the EU countries discuss two main issues: the defense capability of the European Union, the strength of Ukraine and the achievement of lasting and just peace. „Nothing related to peace in Ukraine shall be decided if Ukraine is excluded,” Mr. Jeliazkov pointed out. The Prime Minister underscored that Europe must be prepared when the rule of law is confronted by the rule of force.
Prime Minister Rossen Jeliazkov was firm that from a financial perspective the development of defense capabilities should not threaten cohesion and cohesion funds. “Therefore, we will make a proposal to enable the use of funds that are unabsorbed or that are not absorbable from the Recovery and Resilience Facility by their reallocation within the Bulgarian economy but for this defense cluster. Serious work is ahead from now onwards within the country,” Mr. Jeliazkov said further. The Prime Minister pointed out that as of now the Bulgarian industry has the potential for development, which should materialize on the basis of industrial cooperation in line with NATO standards. “The funds that we would propose to be committed to that effect should be invested in Bulgaria’s public and private sector of industry,” Mr. Jeliazkov noted.
Regarding support for Kyiv, the Prime Minister emphasized that whatever commitments Bulgaria has made subject to sanctions from Parliament will be honored. To a media question whether there had been a discussion on the deployment of Bulgarian troops in Ukraine, Prime Minister Rossen Jeliazkov recalled the very clear position on this matter, as evident from the declaration that the Bulgarian Parliament approved. To another media question, Mr. Jeliazkov noted that it is yet to become clear what exactly the initiative of French President Emmanuel Macron stands for. “These are not initiatives within the framework of the European Union and the Union format; however it is important that we participate in all formats that ensure the security of the Union,” Rossen Jeliazkov said further.
Prime Minister Rossen Jeliazkov said that the United States must remain in all security formats and expressed his hope that the USA should continue to be committed to our collective security, which is based on shared values.
In his answer to a question from a reporter, Prime Minister Rossen Jeliazkov confirmed that Bulgaria would host the 47th Session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee to be held in Paris, France. The Prime Minister explained that the commitment to host the event had been made by the caretaker government but the financing was not secured so they did not proceed with the implementation. “When this government took office, we found a complete vacuum in terms of funding, organization, preparation and the whole logistics. The first thing I did was to request an analysis from the organizations and services. None of them gave an opinion to make us optimists that we would cope with the organization of the session in Sofia within three months,” the Prime Minister noted further. Rossen Jeliazkov added that a cabinet decision secures the funding of the forum.
