site.btaVice President: Certainly It Is Good Sign That Prime Minister Convened Security Council Yesterday

It is undoubtedly a good sign that the Prime Minister convened the Security Council on Tuesday, Vice President Iliana Iotova told journalists before the ceremony of commemoration of the medics who died in the Liberation War 147 years ago in the battles of Pleven, Plovdiv, the village of Mechka and Shipka Peak. 

She added that it is obvious that Rosen Zhelyazkov intends to have a consolidated Bulgarian position to go to the EU leaders' summit on March 6. 

"I hope we will hear a more developed position there, because yesterday it was more information than a position," Iotova said. 

According to Iotova, an answer is needed on what Bulgaria's position will be following the letter of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, sent to the leaders of the 27 member states, which includes the proposal for military spending to be transferred from the cohesion funds. 

Bulgarian municipalities and Bulgarian projects need these funds, so Bulgaria's position should be very well thought out and firm, the Vice President added.

According to Iliana Iotova, an answer should be sought to the question of how the EUR 800 billion, which are envisaged for defence, will be spent and what they will be used for. 

It should not be forgotten that EUR 150 billion of debt is foreseen, which after the debt the EU has already incurred to deal with the consequences of COVID-19 is a very serious debt for generations to come, Iotova added. 

According to her, Europe's independent defence policy should have been on the agenda a long time ago and recalled that there have been three options for a common defence policy of the EU in the last 20 years. 

It is time to reopen this discussion, but in a way that preserves the interests of all countries, the Vice President added.