site.btaUPDATED Pro-European Political Unity Key for Bulgaria’s NATO and EU Support, Says Defence Minister

It is crucial for the pro-European political forces in Bulgaria to form a strong political government that will continue to support Bulgaria's membership in NATO and the European Union (EU) as a guarantee for the protection of our national interests, caretaker Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov told the opening of the Sofia Information Integrity Forum at the Central Military Club in Sofia on Thursday.

The forum focuses on latest technologies and strategies to combat disinformation, providing a platform for discussions on key threats in the information environment, the organizers said.

Disinformation also serves to interfere in Bulgaria's elections, supporting pro-Russian political formations and candidates. The negative trend of growing populism and voter apathy in Bulgaria is also due to information manipulation, Zapryanov said.

Building a sustainable information environment in Eastern Europe and the Black Sea region is a key challenge that needs to be addressed now. The Minister noted that hybrid attacks in the coming years will not only come from Russia. The information environment has become more complex than ever, Zapryanov said. According to him, Bulgaria's defence system is being targeted by Russian fake news.

The Defence Ministry has a well-functioning Information Centre, a newspaper "Bulgarian Army" and a Military TV channel, and they fight pro-Russian propaganda, Zapryanov noted.

The necessary effort that Bulgaria should make is to allocate 2.5% of its gross domestic product (GDP) to military spending, Zapryanov told journalists later. Zapryanov said given the risks and threats to NATO's military security, increasing GDP for defence is a necessary step.