MEP Andrey Novakov: Bulgaria must receive targeted defense funding

Photo: Irina Nedeva

Bulgaria must receive targeted defense funding. This is what Bulgarian MEP from the European People's Party Andrey Novakov has requested from the new EC Defense Commissioner.

In addition to the topic of the tariffs that US President Donald Trump intends to impose on European steel and aluminum from March 12, the second key topic of the EP plenary session this week is the budget, and this also means a strategic discussion of defense funds in the preparation of the so-called "White Paper", which must be presented by February 19.

MEP Novakov: Europe will increasingly have to rely on itself in sphere of defense

The initiative for a meeting with Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius has come from the only Bulgarian full member of the Security and Defense Committee in the European Parliament, Andrey Novakov, who invited Kubilius to visit Bulgaria.

"What is happening all over the world inevitably affects us and it affects us immediately. It doesn't matter whether we are talking about war or tariffs. Bulgaria is an unavoidable factor in the region and as such, along with Romania, on the entire eastern flank, it should receive targeted funding, because by guarding the borders, our borders, we are actually guarding the peaceful sleep of all of Europe. Let's start coordinating the construction of a defense potential and finally start ordering equipment through joint public procurement, so that the price drops and we can profit sufficiently from economies of scale."

According to Novakov, the tariffs that Trump will impose on European steel and aluminum will not distract the EU from supporting Ukraine if Europe suddenly finds itself in a new trade war.

"I don't think it will be distracted by what is happening in Ukraine, it will most likely be distracted by the Green Deal. There has been such tension between the US and Europe in the past before, then Jean-Claude Juncker took steps and this trade war was suppressed. I have hope that this will happen also now".

MEP Novakov responding to journalistic questions at the EP in Strasbourg

In response to a question of BNR's Horizon channel whether the meeting of Borislav Gutsanov, the social minister from the BSP in the current GERB government, changes and how Bulgaria's support for Ukraine, Novakov said:

"In terms of support for Ukraine, there is no intrigue here. There are few countries that have helped Ukraine as much as us with weapons, equipment and support for the personnel of the Ukrainian army. If you ask me what I think about the fact that in the current situation there is someone who went to the ambassador and took such a photo, I certainly cannot be pleased".

According to Novakov, the formation of a regular cabinet in Bulgaria, despite the inevitable compromises, is a positive sign because:

"The first benefit of this government was in the first 24 hours, when they stopped laughing at us here or scaring people and each other, by saying, 'make sure it doesn't happen like in Bulgaria', they even gave it the name 'the Bulgarian merry-go-round'."

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Photos: Irina Nedeva, Rositsa Petkova

English publication: Rositsa Petkova

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