The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has underlined this Thursday the "crucial" role that Bulgaria plays in protecting the European Union's eastern flank against the risks arising from the Russian war against Ukraine, and has indicated that Brussels wants to activate the 3.2 billion euros reserved for the country through the SAFE instrument.
"From air raid alerts to deliberate hybrid attacks by Russia, security threats on our eastern border are testing Europe as a whole. And Bulgaria has a crucial role to play in our collective defense, particularly in guarding our eastern flank," she stated at a press conference alongside the Bulgarian Prime Minister, Rumen Radev, in the Belgian capital.
The head of the Community Executive added that the Commission is ready to sign "at any time" the agreement with Sofia that will allow the release of more than 3.2 billion euros through the European SAFE instrument, designed to strengthen the EU's industrial base and defense capabilities.
In the meeting, the two leaders also discussed the state of reforms linked to the European recovery plan, with special attention to anti-corruption initiatives promoted by the Bulgarian government.
The Community President applauded the progress made with the creation of an anti-corruption commission and the restructuring of the General Prosecutor's Office, changes that, as she explained, will make it possible to release nearly 370 million euros in European funds that were blocked for Bulgaria.
Von der Leyen also highlighted Bulgaria's progress since its entry into the euro last January, indicating that two out of three citizens consider the adaptation to the single currency to have been "smooth and efficient."
At the same time, the German leader insisted on the importance of reaching an agreement on the European Union's next multiannual financial framework before the end of the year, and reaffirmed the European commitment to a "lasting and diplomatic" solution for the Middle East.