site.btaWe Support Full Inclusion of Bulgaria’s Defence Industry in ReArm Europe Plan, Deputy Defence Minister Nikolova Says

The Ministry of Defence fully supports the integration of Bulgaria’s defence industry into the European Commission President’s Ursula von der Leyen ReArm Europe Plan and is making targeted efforts to raise awareness of the sector’s opportunities both within the country and across the EU, said Deputy Defence Minister Adelina Nikolova, as quoted by the ministry’s press office on Monday. Nikolova was speaking at the opening of the second module of the 36th European Session for Armament Executives (SERA-36), which is being held at the G. S. Rakovski National Defence College in Sofia between April 7 and 11. The Defence Ministry is hosting the event.

In March, the European Commission presented its White Paper for European Defence – Readiness 2030 and the ReArm Europe Plan, which foresees the potential deployment of over EUR 800 billion.

One of the Defence Ministry’s main priorities, Nikolova emphasized, is to accelerate the rearmament and modernization of the Bulgarian Armed Forces, as well as to implement national plans for building necessary defence capabilities.

"The 36th edition of the European Session for Armament Executives provides a framework to strengthen cooperation in the field of defence, promote innovation, and ensure that Europe remains prepared for tomorrow’s challenges," Nikolova said. She also underlined the growing importance and urgency of increasing investment in defence capabilities and boosting EU defence readiness through greater collaboration between European countries, joint procurement, and the expansion of the continent’s defence industrial capacity.

SERA-36 is organized by France’s Institut des Hautes Etudes de Defense Nationale (IHEDN) and the Armaments Policy Directorate at Bulgaria’s Ministry of Defence. The forum gathers national and international armaments experts with the goal of enhancing understanding of cooperation in defence procurement, decision-making processes, and the implementation and management of international joint projects within the EU framework.

The 2025 edition of the event focuses on adapting European armaments cooperation and the continent’s Defence Technological and Industrial Base (EDTIB) to current geopolitical developments. Key topics include scaling up defence production, launching new cooperative programmes, introducing long-term innovation, and ensuring supply chain security. Participants will also address the shifting security landscape and the role of EU-NATO partnerships in maintaining stability, as well as cyber defence and the need for technological advancements in the defence sector.