site.btaMinister Zapryanov to Take Part in Informal Meeting of EU Defence Ministers

Caretaker Minister of Defence Atanas Zapryanov will participate in an informal meeting of EU Defence Ministers in Brussels on Friday, his Ministry reported on Thursday. The agenda will focus on strengthening the Union's defence preparedness by increasing defence funding and filling the defence capability gap using EU instruments.

The forum will discuss the EU's military support to Ukraine, as well as the possibilities to increase it by using the proceeds from frozen Russian assets and the proposed G7 loan to Ukraine. Ukraine's Defence Minister Rustem Umerov has been invited to attend.

The ministers will also discuss operational commitments under the Common Security and Defence Policy and the Union's defence preparedness. The challenges in the Red Sea, EUNAVFOR Operation ASPIDES and the situation in the Middle East and North Africa region will be on the agenda. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg as well as representatives from the United Nations and the European Parliament are expected to attend the meeting. Ministers will look into prospects for the development of the EU Satellite Centre.