site.btaBulgaria Committed to Prioritize Building South-North Military Mobility Corridors, Defence Minister says

Bulgaria has committed to the priority construction of military infrastructure facilities along the North-South axis and their inclusion in EU-funded projects during the next programming period, caretaker Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov wrote in an answer to a question from MP Martin Dimitrov that has been published on the National Assembly website.

Dimitrov asked about what was being done for the fastest possible launch of a Ruse-Giurgiu ferry link, including its inclusion in the "military Schengen".

"The Ruse-Giurgiu ferry link is part of the South-North axis that is strategically important for both NATO and the EU, connecting the territories of Greece and Turkey with Bulgaria and Turkiye," Zapryanov pointed out, adding that this link is now "a key alternative to the future third bridge over the [Bulgarian-Romanian section of] the River Danube at Ruse".

"These corridors are essential for our country’s security, especially in the context of the present geopolitical situation," the Defence Minister writes.

"Military mobility is a key initiative of the cooperation between the EU and NATO, intended to ensure the fast and effective movement of military contingents and equipment, as well as routine operations, both at times of a crisis and conflicts within the territory of Europe, by all modes of transport and along all strategic directions," the answer reads. "The setting up of harmonized military mobility corridors contributes to the strengthening of this country's defence and deterrence potential, to an enhancement of its defence capabilities and increasing the interoperability with the Allies, and to consolidation of resilience," it says further.

Zapryanov has signed letters of intent with his counterparts of the neighbouring countries in connection with the establishment of a harmonized military mobility corridor along the axis concerned.

Bulgaria has repeatedly stressed its importance at multilateral and bilateral forums as defence minister level, including talks with the Romanian defence minister, a B9 meeting in Bucharest and at the EU Foreign Affairs/Defence Council, the Defence Minister recalled.