President Iliana Iotova has proposed a Black Sea security forum for the six countries that border the sea: Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey, Georgia, Ukraine and Russia, her press office said.
The aim is a moratorium on fighting in the sea. Russia has waged a full-scale war on Ukraine since February 2022, and drone attacks in the Black Sea are now more frequent.
Where it began: Borisov and three MEPs discuss drones in the Black Sea
Iotova presented the idea at a meeting at the presidency with members of the European Parliament. The delegation includes people from Austria, Germany and Poland. They are in Bulgaria at the invitation of MEPs Andrey Novakov and Emil Radev, and want to see for themselves what the situation in the Black Sea is like.
The president said instability in the region because of the war on Ukraine demands responsibility and active diplomacy, so that ships can sail freely and safely. She reminded the delegation that Bulgaria is pushing to get Black Sea security onto the agenda of the European Union and NATO. She said there had already been a series of meetings and talks at various levels with partners in both blocs, and with Romania and Turkey, to achieve closer coordination.
The main topic at the meeting at 2 Dondukov was the war in Ukraine and how it hits the economies and societies of European countries, the press office said. Iotova said she opposes a war of attrition and that Europe should take a more active part in the talks, with its own peace proposal. She pointed to Finland and Norway, whose leaders have spoken by phone with the Russian president to support diplomacy and ease tension.
"Bulgaria has the chance to be an active player in this process. Our country is geographically close to the conflict, has historic ties with both sides in it, and should take part in the search for a solution that brings lasting and stable peace," the president said. The conflict she meant is the war Russia is waging on Ukraine.
Those at the meeting agreed that the European Union must strengthen its defence and security cooperation and coordinate it better. "After the strikes in Bulgaria's exclusive economic zone, help came from NATO, not from the EU," Iotova said. She said monitoring and response technology needs to improve for times when there is a direct threat in the Black Sea area.
The talks also covered Europe's energy security and independence. Iotova said Europe has been slow to build the energy links that would guarantee that security, ever since Russia began its aggression against Ukraine in 2014.
The president reminded the delegation how important the interconnector linking the gas networks of Bulgaria and Greece is for European energy security. The same goes for the Vertical Gas Corridor, which will carry natural gas to countries in south-eastern, eastern and central Europe. The Bulgarian section of the corridor is finished. Iotova also sees good prospects for the planned green energy corridor between Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey and Bulgaria.
Earlier this month, the president said that a joint text on ending fighting over the Black Sea had been prepared with Romania and Turkey.