site.btaUPDATED PM Welcomes European Commission President during Her Tour of Countries near War in Ukraine

Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov welcomed European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen here on Sunday, the Cabinet of Ministers' Facebook page reported. Von der Leyen is in Bulgaria for a one-day visit as part of her tour of seven countries located in close proximity to the ongoing war in Ukraine.

The common European defence capability and Bulgaria's contribution were the focus of the Prime Minister's conversation with von der Leyen. Zhelyazkov briefed her on Bulgaria's defence capacity and the measures taken for the national development and technological modernization. The two visited the VMZ ordnance plant in Sopot, Bulgaria’s largest state-owned defence factory and the largest armaments production site in the country.

Zhelyazkov and von der Leyen also discussed opportunities for Bulgaria under the European Safe security mechanism, including preparations for the construction of two new production facilities, for which the government is partnering with the German defence giant Rheinmetall.

The meeting was also attended by Minister of Defence Atanas Zapryanov, Minister of Economy and Industry Peter Dilov, and GERB-UDF leader Boyko Borissov.

Von der Leyen’s trip to Bulgaria is part of her tour of the EU’s eastern border countries, also including Latvia, Finland, Estonia, Poland, Lithuania, and Romania, the European Commission Representation in Bulgaria said. Her visit is intended to underscore the EU’s support for member states facing the challenges of shared borders with Russia and Belarus, the statement added.