site.btaUPDATED Bulgaria Must Formulate New Doctrine for Black Sea Region, Says Deputy Prime Minister Zafirov

Bulgaria must formulate a new doctrine for the development of relations in the Black Sea region, Deputy Prime Minister Atanas Zafirov said in Burgas, on the Black Sea, on Friday. He opened a forum on Bulgaria's role in the European strategy for a secure and sustainable Black Sea.

In his speech, Zafirov stressed that the role of the Black Sea region remains key for Europe against the backdrop of increasing geopolitical instability. "Our strategic location is both a responsibility and an opportunity for Bulgaria to be the initiator of policies that can really change the region," he emphasized.

He pointed out that Bulgaria has the potential to play an active role in the coordination between countries of the Black Sea region, thanks to the traditionally good relations with a large part of the countries along the Black Sea coast. Zafirov noted energy, transport, the environment, migration and security as key areas in which more in-depth regional cooperation is needed.

He stressed that the war in Ukraine has tested the resilience of the Black Sea region and interrupted important processes of cooperation. "The Black Sea will become an even more strategic region after the end of the war. Therefore, we have no time for delay and Bulgaria must formulate its own doctrine for the development of relations in the region," the Deputy Prime Minister stressed.

Zafirov also emphasized the importance of cultural cooperation, defining it as an often underestimated, but key element for more lasting cooperation. He pointed out that the Black Sea region is rich in ancient cultural values, which can serve as a basis for strengthening international relations. 

MEP Kristian Vigenin, head of the Bulgarian Socialists’ delegation in the European Parliament, said that the Black Sea region had long been underestimated in European policies, but the European Union now recognizes its importance and is placing renewed emphasis on its strategic role. The Black Sea today is a strategic zone for the European Union, Vigenin stressed, adding that the Union is still trying to adapt to the contemporary challenges that emerged after the annexation of Crimea and the conflict in Ukraine. According to him, these geopolitical realities cannot be ignored in Europe’s policymaking.

MEP Tsvetelina Penkova (BSP/S&D Group) said that the Black Sea region should not be viewed as a periphery but as a strategic centre when it comes to energy security, transport, and critical infrastructure. She explained that the new European package for the Black Sea has two main dimensions - geopolitical and socio-economic. The first focuses on protecting critical infrastructure, maritime security, and partnership with neighbouring countries, many of which are outside the European Union. The second aims at developing clean industries, creating new jobs, and fostering regional integration. “The stability of the Black Sea is a prerequisite for the stability of energy supplies across the European Union,” Penkova noted. Any disruption to transport and energy chains or attacks on underwater infrastructure directly affects Europe’s energy security, she added.