SOFIA – At a crucial time for European security, eastern EU member states are enhancing their collaboration. Bulgarian caretaker Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov emphasized their commitment to working together to bolster defense readiness along the Union’s eastern borders during the first eastern flank summit in Helsinki, as reported by the government press service. Zhelyazkov and leaders from seven other EU countries deliberated on the necessity of coordinated efforts to boost defense capabilities in partnership with NATO.
He expressed support for the Roadmap for European Defense Readiness 2030, highlighting that it, alongside key projects, enables significant enhancements in defense capabilities across coordination, capacity, and technological innovations. We are also engaged in the SAFE program with specific initiatives relevant to Bulgaria that aim to protect its borders, particularly around the Black Sea, Zhelyazkov noted, underscoring the critical nature of safe navigation in that region. “We outlined our participation and capabilities, as well as our plans to expand these capacities,” he stated.
Rosen Zhelyazkov also prioritized the development of transport corridors along the North–South axis, indicating that forums like the one in Helsinki aid in collaborative efforts in this area.
During the forum, leaders from Finland, Bulgaria, Sweden, Estonia, Latvia, Poland, Romania, and Lithuania examined security concerns on the EU’s eastern flank, stressing the need for synchronized actions to enhance defense readiness and long-term resilience in the context of EU–NATO cooperation.
In a joint statement, Finland, Sweden, Estonia, Latvia, Poland, Bulgaria, Romania, and Lithuania identified Russia as the most significant and enduring threat to security, peace, and stability in the Euro-Atlantic region, according to Reuters (16 December).
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