Bulgaria must set its own national goals, mainly in foreign policy, on top of its membership of the alliances it already belongs to, foreign minister Velislava Petrova told the Sofia Economic Forum.
Petrova spoke on a discussion panel at the seventh edition of the forum. It covered economic resilience during geopolitical shocks, better transport and energy links, and regional security challenges.
Better transport links with Turkey and Romania are a priority for Bulgaria, the minister said. They include wider border crossings with Turkey, a railway line from the Turkish border north to Romania, and bridges over the Danube.
Petrova said it must become clear not only where Bulgaria stands, but what it adds. "Geographical advantages alone do not guarantee economic benefits," she said.
The minister said Bulgaria's location lets it be a crossroads for transport corridors, with alternative routes for Europe. She said corridors should be built as whole projects, not section by section, with a clear economic case and the potential to draw investment. Until the current limits in the transport network are overcome, Bulgaria cannot take full part in international corridors, Petrova said. She added that connectivity should unite political efforts in the country's interest.
The fighting, which has not stopped, is hurting stability in the Black Sea region, freedom of navigation and the safety of merchant ships, Petrova said. She stressed the need for active diplomacy to end it and to reach lasting peace.
Maka Bochorishvili, deputy prime minister and foreign minister of Georgia, also took part in the panel. Petrova held a bilateral meeting with her during the forum. The two last spoke at the UN General Assembly in New York in September. At the meeting, Petrova confirmed Bulgaria's support for the European and Euro-Atlantic aspirations of Georgian society, and for Georgia's democratic and European future.
The two also discussed the upcoming Regional Connectivity Summit. Bulgaria will host it in spring 2027. The summit will focus on investment and specific projects to develop transport, energy and economic links between Europe and neighbouring regions.