Bulgarian MEPs Andrey Novakov and Emil Radev of GERB/EPP want a European Parliament delegation to visit Sofia and Varna within the next two weeks, GERB's press office said. They cite the attacks on merchant ships in the Black Sea. See our original report: Stoyanov speaks to Romanian and Turkish ministers after attacks on ships in Black Sea.
The delegation will include members of the defence committee. They will visit critical infrastructure linked to people's safety.
Prime minister Rumen Radev reported new drone attacks on ships and called them completely unacceptable. One ship was hit by three aerial drones 18 miles east of Byala. A second ship was hit 17 miles east of Krapets.
Novakov and Radev, together with colleagues from the Parliament's defence committee, condemned the attacks off the Bulgarian coast. Novakov said they are no longer just a Bulgarian problem and call for a joint European response. Emil Radev said Bulgaria needs European support because the attacks put its economy and tourism at risk. He urged European partners and NATO allies to help protect merchant shipping better.
Members of the EPP Group expressed solidarity with Bulgaria in a joint video message and called for concrete action on security in the Black Sea. One proposal is a European naval mission modelled on "Aspides", with a clearly defined defensive mandate, to escort and protect merchant ships and their crews.