site.btaMinister Stoyanov Presents Defence Priorities

At a press conference at the Defence Ministry on Tuesday, Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov presented his priorities and cabinet.

Katerina Gramatikova-Ivanova and Lyubomir Monov hold the deputy ministers posts. Vladko Vladov serves as the head of the minister’s political cabinet. Krasimir Grozev is the minister’s advisor. Desislava Terziyska heads the Strategic Communications, Public Relations, and Protocol Directorate.

A plan has been prepared to increase defence spending to 5% of gross domestic product by 2030, Stoyanov said, explaining that 3.5% of this amount consists of direct military expenditures, while 1.5% covers defence-related expenses such as infrastructure, cybersecurity, and other areas.

"Last year, defence spending was 2.13% of GDP, this year, we hope it will be 2.15%," Stoyanov said.

Regarding legislative changes, the minister noted that some of them will be directly related to working time regulations. The expenditure thresholds also need to be changed. Those adopted in 2010 are inadequate, the defence minister has the right to spend up to BGN 50 million, up to BGN 100 million with the approval of the Council of Ministers, and over BGN 100 million BGN with National Assembly approval. These are intended to prevent corruption, and corruption levels in the defence ministry are the lowest, Stoyanov added. He stated that these limits should be raised. He pointed out that defence spending is not included in the country’s budget deficit.

"We have already made it clear that the war in Ukraine will not be resolved on the battlefield. We are witnessing a war of attrition, and no matter how much weaponry is amassed, the only result is the loss of human lives. It is time to sit down at the negotiating table. It is time to seek a just peace that is defined by both sides. Of course, the role of the European Union is extremely important," Stoyanov said. He stated that Bulgaria does not plan to provide any more weapons to the Ukrainian army.

No one is sabotaging the Bulgarian pilots training process on the new F-16s. The MiG-29s will remain on duty as long as we can maintain them and there is a need for them. The F-16s will take over once the aircraft and pilots are ready, Stoyanov stated. He added that the F-16s currently have sufficient ammunition.

"We have accelerated negotiations with the European Commission, and I believe we will catch up and meet the 2030 deadline for absorbing all funds," Stoyanov added.

All commercial companies will undergo an extraordinary audit. The government’s overall goal is to reorganize the administration, to make it more efficient, when there is duplication, people will be laid off, Stoyanov said.

He added that advances totalling EUR 16.6 million had been disbursed, backed by fraudulent bank guarantees, thanks to the previous government. The documents have been handed over to the State Agency for National Security (SANS) and the Military Prosecutor’s Office. "We are holding meetings with the companies in question to have them present valid bank guarantees," Stoyanov added.