site.btaBulgaria's Defence Chief Participates in EU Military Committee

„Bulgaria appreciates the fact that the changes in the security environment, the lessons from the war in Ukraine and the goals of the European Union in the area of defence have been taken into consideration when setting out the new priorities of the Union. They are aimed at development of capabilities necessary for the full range of missions and operations under the Common Security and Defence Policy, Chief of Defence Admiral Emil Eftimov said during the European Union Military Committee, quoted by the Defence Ministry in a press release on Thursday. The high-level meeting was held October 17-18 in Seville, Spain.  

The revised package of priorities for the development of defence capabilities is set to be approved by the EU defence ministers in November 2023. Admiral Eftimov said that these priorities should serve as a starting point for EU member countries in the process of defence planning and capabilities development at a national level.   

Within the framework of the forum the defence chiefs discussed EU’s rapid deployment capacity, the development of the planning and conduct of operations division and the Union’s future command architecture. 
Admiral Eftimov noted that for Bulgaria it is important that the range of the rapid deployment capacity includes the nearest regions to the EU, and particularly the Western Balkans and the Black Sea region. „Bulgaria backs the gradual development of the command and control system and the separation of the planning and conduct of operations division from EU’s Military Staff,“ Eftimov was adamant.     

The meeting took stock of the ways to contribute to Ukraine’s security in the long term, and in particular EUMAM Ukraine. Of the worsening political situation and security in the Sahel region, they concurred that now is the time for in-depth analyses and assessments to adjust the Common Security and Defence Policy in the region to the specifics of the individual countries.  

On October 19 the EU defence chiefs observed a demonstration of capabilities at the MILEX 23 crises management exercise at the Spanish naval base Rota. The exercise began on September 18 and is on until October 22 with the participation of 19 EU member countries.