site.btaEU Defence Ministers Discuss Current Topics on Agenda in Defence Sector

Bulgarian Minister of Defence Atanas Zapryanov participated in a meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council held in Brussels on Tuesday with the participation of the EU Defence Ministers and Ukraine's Minister of Defence, who joined via video conference. The discussions held within the forum focused on military support to Ukraine and the Union's defence preparedness, with an emphasis on the proposals set out in the White Paper for European Defence - Readiness 2030 and the ReArm Europe Plan, the Bulgarian Defence Ministry reported.  

The Member States' Defence Ministers expressed initial intentions of their countries to participate in joint projects to acquire priority capabilities. The Ukrainian side presented the most urgent needs of its armed forces for the protection of its territory and citizens and about the enhanced production capacity of the Ukrainian defence industry. Opportunities for Ukraine's participation in joint defence capability acquisition projects through EU mechanisms and instruments were discussed. Emphasis was also placed on possible guarantees for Ukraine's security and the integration of the Ukrainian defence industry into the European defence technological and industrial base.

Minister Zapryanov said that Bulgaria, like most of the other Member States, faces three main challenges - rapid modernisation of the Armed Forces, adaptation of the Bulgarian defence industry to NATO standards, and securing the resources for this. He stressed that the opportunities provided by the ReArm Europe Plan could be used to achieve Bulgaria's national interests and supported the development of the strategic dialogue with the defence industry and the simplification of EU legislation related to defence and joint acquisition.

Minister Zapryanov informed his colleagues that Bulgaria has already requested from the European Commission the activation of the national derogation clause under the Stability and Growth Pact, which will allow the country to increase defence spending.  

He called for the improvement of the dual-use transport infrastructure and an increase in the military mobility budget in the next multiannual financial framework. 

Bulgaria supported strengthening the protection of all EU land, air and sea borders, focusing on the eastern borders, including the Black Sea, and on the ability of Member States to conduct the full spectrum of operations. 

EU Defence Ministers also took part in a meeting of the European Defence Agency's Steering Board, during which they welcomed the new Chief Executive, Andre Denk. Discussions highlighted the Agency's role in the implementation of Member States' joint projects to develop defence capabilities and its capacity to support the implementation of the Union's security and defence priorities.