site.btaPresident Iotova Says Europe Has Realized It Needs to Take Control of Its Destiny

Speaking to reporters at the 62nd Munich Security Conference on Friday, Bulgarian President Iliana Iotova agreed with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz that Europe has been enjoying a vacation for far too long and is time to wake up to its own independence in terms of defence, industrial development, economy, and manufacturing. Iotova, quoted by the President's Press Secretariat, said that Europe has realized that it must take its destiny into its own hands.

According to the President, the message of the Munich Conference is that there is something broken in the international legal order. She added: "The world and European leaders realize that the world has changed a lot, and we must adapt to the new trends quickly."

Iotova said that there has been talk of an independent European defence system for a long time, but it is now recognized as a necessity. "This is not about a structure that would oppose NATO but about making the European pillar of the Alliance stronger," she added. 

According to the head of State, the European Union has been working with inadequate documents and excessive bureaucracy for many years, which has hindered its development. She highlighted the report on European competitiveness drafted by Mario Draghi, the former prime minister of Italy and former president of the European Central Bank. Iotova said that the report accurately diagnosed the state of the EU, but almost none of the proposals in it have been implemented.

The President highlighted the emerging conflict between Germany and France regarding manufacturing. "While France is in favour of manufacturing entirely in Europe, Germany supports part of European manufacturing remaining in third countries. We must develop Bulgaria's position on this important issue," she said.

Iotova stated that Bulgaria's voice in Europe must be strong. She added: "We must protect the national interest and, together with our European partners, seek the most appropriate solutions."

When asked whether Bulgaria remains a reliable partner given the political instability, Iotova said that both the country's European partners and its neighbouring countries are closely monitoring the political situation in Bulgaria. She expressed hope for a stable majority after the snap parliamentary elections scheduled for April.