European Leaders Back Proposal for Moratorium on Attacks against Civilian Ships in Black Sea, PM Radev Says 2026

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Prime Minister Rumen Radev Tuesday said that Bulgaria and Romania’s proposal for a moratorium on attacks against civilian ships in the Black Sea had won backing from the European Commission (EC) leadership and European leaders. Radev spoke in Varna, where he conferred with EC President Ursula von der Leyen during her working visit to Bulgaria. He expressed his gratitude for the support given to the initiative he had proposed jointly with the President of Romania.
The Prime Minister spoke at a joint news briefing with the European Commission President at the Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy. He said he had been in contact with her from the very first hours following the attacks on merchant ships in Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone. “Bulgaria is not alone in these efforts,” Radev said and described Ursula von der Leyen’s presence in Varna as a sign of solidarity with Bulgaria.
He also thanked all Bulgarian personnel from the Navy, Air Force, Border Police and Maritime Administration, who, he said, had acted with exceptional dedication in extremely difficult circumstances to save lives. “We managed to rescue 56 sailors in a difficult situation,” he added.
Radev said that he and Von der Leyen had been briefed on the situation in the Black Sea region at the Naval Academy, adding that the security environment is changing rapidly. The Prime Minister noted that in one month more sailors had died in the Black Sea than in eight months in the Strait of Hormuz.
“These attacks are absolutely unacceptable. Sailors are not a party to an armed conflict and merchant ships must not be targets of attacks,” Radev said. He described the attacks as a breach of maritime and international law and added that achieving peace requires a ceasefire and active diplomacy.
He added that Bulgaria continues its diplomatic efforts to help achieve peace. Diplomacy, however, can succeed only if backed by real defence capabilities, he said. For this reason, Bulgaria has fully mobilized its capabilities, stepping up radar surveillance and maritime domain monitoring through the use of drones and the capabilities of the Navy and Air Force. All available resources, including aircraft, ships, Border Police units and drones, have been deployed, he said. Radev also noted that Bulgaria relies on maritime patrol aircraft provided by its allies, the United States and France.
“For us, the Black Sea is not just a matter of territorial waters and an exclusive economic zone; it is also an external border of the EU, which we protect just as we protect our land borders,” he added. Radev also personally thanked Ursula von der Leyen for responding in 2023 to Bulgaria’s call for greater support in protecting its borders. He recalled that a financial package worth EUR 600 million had been allocated primarily to Bulgaria, adding that the country’s land border is now sealed.
Radev further said that Bulgaria welcomes the idea of establishing a maritime security centre in Bulgaria and Romania. Bulgaria will contribute by taking action against hybrid and cyberattacks, conducting risk assessments and enhancing environmental security. “Pooling our efforts is the real formula for future success,” the Prime Minister said.
For Europe to succeed in ensuring its own security, it must develop a strong industrial base, scientific capacity and defence technologies, all of which are fully in line with the vision of the EU leadership, Radev said. Bulgaria is increasingly and successfully aligning itself with this new vision, he added. He noted that security is an important prerequisite for economic development, adding that connectivity is equally essential. In today’s challenging security environment, with supply chain routes being disrupted, it is crucial for Europe to strengthen its connectivity with Central Asia, the Caucasus and the Gulf countries, he said.
Radev said that he had informed Von der Leyen about a tragic incident involving two pile-ups on the Trakia Motorway near Yambol earlier on Tuesday. He noted that the death toll has reached 11, with 48 people injured, and offered his condolences to the families and relatives of those killed.
EC President Ursula von der Leyen was met by protesters shouting “Ursula, you are not welcome” as she arrived in Varna earlier in the day. The demonstrators waved Bulgarian national flags and flags of the Vazrazhdane party. Nikolay Kostadinov, a Varna municipal councillor from the party, said the protest had been organized by citizens through social media, rather than by the party itself. The protesters also displayed placards in Bulgarian, English and German calling on von der Leyen to leave, arguing that Bulgaria wants and needs peace, not war. As the motorcades entered the grounds of the Naval Academy in Varna, protesters threw several pieces of fruit at the vehicles. A police cordon kept them from approaching the motorcades.

European Leaders Back Proposal for Moratorium on Attacks against Civilian Ships in Black Sea, PM Radev Says 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-11-10 01:19:00

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BULGARIA NEWS – NEWS AGENCY 2009–2026 2026-11-10 01:19:00