site.btaEurope Must Significantly Increase Its Defence Readiness to Guarantee Its Own Security - Foreign Minister Georgiev

Europe must significantly increase its defence readiness and military capabilities to guarantee its own security and to be a reliable guarantor of global stability, Bulgarian Foreign Minister Georg Georgiev said during a meeting with French High Commissioner for Strategy and Planning Clement Beaune, the Foreign Ministry said on Saturday.

The sides met during the 20th GLOBSEC Forum in Prague, where they discussed key issues related to defence and security, the current and future development of the European Union (EU), and prospects for its enlargement.

Minister Georgiev said that ongoing crises, including the war in Ukraine and escalating tensions in the Middle East, have profoundly reshaped the global security architecture, according to his Ministry's press release. 

He noted that one of Bulgaria’s top priorities is for the EU to continue promoting economic and social cohesion among Member States and regions. “Cohesion in the EU is not only a tool for economic growth and competitiveness, but also for strenghtening public trust and support for the European Union,” Georgiev said. He also reaffirmed Bulgaria’s commitment to finalising the process of adopting the euro, describing it as a step toward greater economic stability and integration within the euro area, as well as increased investor confidence in the Bulgarian economy.

Georgiev said that EU integration remains the only viable path to peace and prosperity in the Western Balkans.

He also noted that joining the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development is a key foreign policy priority for Bulgaria. Speaking with his Czech counterpart Jan Lipavsky, Georgiev said that Bulgaria counts on continued strong support from the Czech Republic and other EU Member States for its OECD membership bid.