site.btaEuro Area Membership to Ease Defence Trade - Minister Zapryanov

Bulgarian companies will benefit from easier defence trade as part of the euro area, Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov said on Tuesday in Veliko Tarnovo, where a meeting within the nationwide information campaign on the introduction of the euro in Bulgaria took place.

Defence product trade within the EU will be carried out without currency conversion, which will support integration in military cooperation, Zapryanov said. He noted that euro area membership will also bring greater resilience against hybrid threats, adding that this is part of economic security, which is closely linked to national defence.

According to the Minister, euro area accession means deeper economic and political integration within the EU, as well as opportunities for joint arms procurement and industrial cooperation. This will bring benefits such as economies of scale, better contract conditions, joint missions and exercises, and reduced risks of corruption. Another advantage is the strengthening of Europe’s defence industrial base, Zapryanov said.

He added that there is currently an open day for foreign companies in Bulgaria, as the White Paper for European Defence Readiness 2030 and the ReArm Europe Plan require stronger cooperation, the creation of a unified European defence market, and joint work on innovation and modernization.

Although euro area membership is not directly linked to defence policy, the stability, fiscal flexibility, access to financing and integration it provides can strengthen Bulgaria’s ability to participate in and benefit from EU defence initiatives, Zapryanov explained.