site.btaPM Zhelyazkov in Brussels: Bulgaria Exceeds Defence Spending Targets

Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov arrived in Brussels on Monday to participate in an informal meeting of EU leaders focused on strengthening European defence. Speaking to Bulgarian journalists, he noted that Bulgaria has exceeded its previous military spending targets.

"We believe that while a significant number of countries have not yet reached 2% of GDP, it is too early to discuss further increases," he said. "With the purchase of F-16s, Bulgaria has reached 3% of GDP—we have exceeded the targets," Zhelyazkov explained.

The informal meeting will focus on key issues such as interoperability, EU-NATO cooperation, and relations with the United Kingdom. Discussions will take into account both geographical and political factors, with Bulgaria’s position between the Western Balkans and the Black Sea making it a strategically significant region, Zhelyazkov said.

One of the main topics will be the dual use of transport infrastructure, particularly along key corridors such as Corridor 8 (Adriatic-Black Sea) and the Baltic-Black Sea connection. This includes both resource allocation and potential opportunities for strategic development. Another focus will be defence funding, with efforts directed toward strengthening financial support for security initiatives, Zhelyazkov said.

"The issue of redirecting funds from the EU's cohesion policy is important. Our position, especially in the context of enlargement with the Western Balkans, is that this instrument should remain for convergence policies," Zhelyazkov concluded.