site.btaUPDATED European Council President Costa: Bulgaria's Made Substantial Progress toward Eurozone

Emerging from a meeting with Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov Sunday, European Council President Antonio Costa said that Bulgaria has made substantial progress in meeting the various accession criteria for adopting the euro.

Costa said that his visit to Bulgaria comes at an important moment: just after this country has become a full member of the Schengen free travel area, and just before its accession to the eurozone.

The last two convergence reports - from the European Commission and from the European Central Bank – are expected in June, Costa said and expressed hope that the assessment will be positive, which would open the door to a positive decision in the European Council and then a final decision by the European Parliament.

Costa will get a chance to see Bulgaria, he will visit Trakia University in Stara Zagora and the Arsenal AD factory in Kazanlak. He highlighted the regional defence expertise with which the Bulgarian defence industry plays a very important role not only for Ukraine, but also potentially for the future of European defence.

On Tuesday in Sofia, Costa will visit the Institute for Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence and Technology (INSAIT), which was recently selected as one of the six artificial intelligence factories in the European Union. In this context, he said that competitiveness is important for the development of the European economy, to create better jobs and opportunities for future generations. He pointed out this was important so that the transition to a green future to combat climate change could also be managed together in the European Union.

Responding to a question about North Macedonia, Costa said the enlargement of the European Union to the Western Balkan countries, as well as to Ukraine and Moldova, are the most important geopolitical investments for the Union. This is an ongoing process, he noted, adding that he will visit the Western Balkans region in two weeks' time and hold talks with the leaders of the countries there.

According to Costa, the security of Ukraine and the security of Europe cannot be separated, and the EU is a project for peace, but peace without defence is an illusion, so more investment in defence is needed. He said that all the defence capacity in the different member states must be mobilized, and Bulgaria is perfectly placed to play a key role in this process - not only to provide for Bulgaria's needs, but also to be a provider of defence services to the different European countries.