site.btaBulgaria Needs Accelerated Integration into Common European Defence

Sofia, May 22 (BTA) - Accelerated integration into the common European defence is without alternative for Bulgaria, Reserve Colonel Assoc. Prof. Zaharin Markov said here on Tuesday. He presented a survey on "Bulgaria in the Common European Defence" at a conference organized by the Centre for Research of Security and Defence Policies (CRSDP) and the Friedrich Ebert Foundation.

The security expert noted that, politically, Bulgaria has supported all EU initiatives but, in terms of contribution to the European defence budget, this country ranks 20th. Markov said that, among the Member States, Bulgaria spends the least per member of the armed forces: 93 euro, compared to 783 euro in France and a EU average of 329 euro. He commented that this amount is supposed to cover training, logistics, working environment, armaments and standards conformity. Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) is an opportunity that must be utilized, Markov argued.

The CRSDP Director, Reserve Colonel Ivan Ivanov, noted that PESCO is about developing joint projects for armament procurement and modernization of EU Member States' armies. So far, the European Defence Fund has announced 17 modernization projects, and Bulgaria has applied for participation in three projects and is an observer of another three, he pointed out. The CRSDP believes that Bulgaria could be a lead country in at least two PESCO projects.

"It is high time that Europe took its defence and security into its own hands. At the same time, EU-NATO cooperation must continue," Ivanov said.

The President's Security and Defence Advisory Iliya Miloushev said the conference that a clear national vision and action plan for the next 10 years are urgently needed.

In her statement, Bulgarian Socialist Party leader Kornelia Ninova highlighted two crucial aspects of army modernization: personnel retention and development and involving Bulgarian companies in the modernization of the equipment through offset programmes, following the example of Romania. Ninova said that the EU draft multiannual financial framework, which has already been presented, will come up for discussion in the coming months and professionals need to be consulted in drawing up Bulgaria's national position.

Social policy and service persons' social reintegration, ways to address the undermanning and underarmament of the armed forces and defence-related research were also discussed the forum. Taking part were MPs, three former Chiefs of General Staff, representatives of the Ministry of Defence and military patriotic unions and organizations.