site.btaOutgoing Defence Minister Zapryanov to Attend Meetings of EU’s Foreign Affairs Council (Defence), NATO Defence Ministers

Outgoing Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov will participate in a meeting of the European Union’s Foreign Affairs Council (Defence) and in a meeting of NATO defence ministers, to be held on February 11 and 12, 2026 in Brussels, Belgium, the Defence Ministry’s press centre said on Wednesday.

During the meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council (Defence), ministers will discuss EU military support for Ukraine, with a focus on cooperation in defence innovation. At a working dinner, ministers will also discuss their priorities in the context of the EU’s work in 2026. Topics on the agenda include the implementation of the White Paper on European defence readiness and the initiatives set out in its accompanying roadmap, progress on the implementation of the SAFE instrument, the development of an EU legislative package on military mobility, among others.

The NATO forum will provide an opportunity to discuss the implementation of the most important decisions related to the Alliance’s defence and deterrence capabilities, adopted at the Hague Summit in July 2025.

During the meeting, a number of key NATO agenda items will be examined, including the fulfilment of commitments to increase defence spending, long-term political and practical support for Ukraine, and the implementation of a more proactive approach to deterrence and defence, the statement said.