European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) President Seamus Boland supports the inclusion of the Black Sea region in the European Union’s next multiannual financial framework. In an interview with BTA in Brussels at the start of the Committee’s two-day October session on Wednesday, he stressed the strategic importance of the Black Sea for the European Union and warned that growing risks to shipping could lead to a further rise in the cost of living in Bulgaria.
“Making this region more vulnerable would effectively make the entire European Union more vulnerable,” Boland said in response to a question about whether he supported the proposal by Ionut Sibian, Vice-President of the EESC’s Section for External Relations, for the Black Sea region to be included in the EU’s future long-term budget. Sibian presented this position at a conference in Varna jointly organised by the EESC and Bulgaria’s Economic and Social Council.
Boland expressed unequivocal support for the proposal. In his view, the Black Sea is a vital strategic resource and an essential part of European infrastructure, and weakening the EU’s presence and connectivity in the region would have consequences for the entire Union. “I agree with him 100%,” the EESC president said of Sibian’s initiative.
In the interview, Boland also discussed the consequences of attacks on commercial vessels in the Black Sea and rising war-risk insurance premiums. According to him, disruptions to maritime transport directly affect costs for businesses and consumers, and the impact could be particularly severe for Bulgaria.
“In Bulgaria, disruptions to maritime transport could have a disproportionate impact on the cost of living, potentially causing serious difficulties for households,” he warned.
The EESC president drew a parallel with disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, which, he said, have contributed to substantial increases in the cost of living, potentially reaching 20 to 25%, with serious implications for poverty levels over the coming year. He stressed that changes to maritime routes, production chains and supply networks are part of a broader geopolitical transformation that poses new challenges for the European economy.
According to Boland, the EU must respond more cohesively to such risks and support affected member states, including Bulgaria. He linked shipping security to the need for Europe to strengthen its economic resilience and strategic independence, as it can no longer rely unconditionally on support from external powers.
Boland also spoke about growing tensions between defence spending and the need for social protection, the EU’s goal of eradicating poverty by 2050, the impact of artificial intelligence on employment, and the future role of civil society in European policymaking.
European Economic and Social Committee President for BTA: Making Black Sea Region More Vulnerable Would Make Entire EU More Vulnerable 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-10-21 11:17:54
World news, international news, global news, latest world news, breaking world news, world politics, international politics. Global economy, international business, world markets, global events, international relations, geopolitical news, global affairs. Europe news, European news, EU news, European politics, Balkan news, United States news, UK news, Asia news. Bulgarians abroad, Bulgarian diaspora, Bulgarians overseas, Bulgarian communities abroad, Bulgarian citizens abroad, Bulgarian expats, Bulgarian emigrants. Bulgarian diaspora news, news for Bulgarians abroad, Bulgaria abroad, Bulgarians in Europe, Bulgarians in Germany, Bulgarians in the UK. Bulgarians in Spain, Bulgarians in Italy, Bulgarians in France, Bulgarians in the USA, Bulgarians in Canada, Bulgarians in Greece. Bulgarian communities worldwide, Bulgarian schools abroad, Bulgarian culture abroad, Bulgarian businesses abroad, Bulgarian students abroad, Bulgarian workers abroad. Consular services Bulgaria, Bulgarian embassies, Bulgarian citizens overseas, Bulgarian elections abroad, Bulgarian voting abroad, Bulgarian nationals abroad, Bulgaria international relations.
BULGARIA NEWS – NEWS AGENCY 2009–2026 2026-10-21 11:17:54
Cabinet Approves Draft Cybersecurity Memorandum with Albania 2026
Leave a Comment