Bulgarian members of the European Parliament took an active part in debates on Tuesday in the European Parliament regarding the escalation of Russian attacks on shipping in the Black Sea. They called for stronger European security measures, support for affected sectors and diplomatic efforts to end the attacks.
Andrey Novakov of the European People’s Party (EPP) said the problems facing Bulgaria and Romania should be treated as an European concern. He called for an EU mission to protect merchant vessels in the Black Sea, and stressed that its purpose should be to ensure safe deliveries of fuel and goods at reasonable prices, rather than escalate tensions. Novakov said the evidence pointed to Russia’s responsibility for the attacks and urged Moscow to accept political responsibility and end the war.
Stanislav Stoyanov of Europe of the Sovereign Nations Group said Bulgaria and Europe had an interest in the Black Sea remaining a region of peace, trade and cooperation. He called for Russia-Ukraine negotiations towards lasting peace, arguing that Europe needed diplomacy rather than a wider war, as a direct confrontation with a nuclear power could lead to nuclear winter. He invited EU Foreign Affairs Representative Kaja Kallas and European Commission (EC) President Ursula von der Leyen to visit Varna and explain how the policy of peace through strength would bring peace and how many more sanctions against Russia would be needed.
Elena Yoncheva, a member of the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group, said European businesses and livelihoods must not be allowed to suffer as a result of the situation. She called on the EC to urgently establish a special guarantee fund to compensate affected sectors in the western Black Sea region, a fund for the ports of Varna, Burgas and Constanta to finance safety measures and backup equipment, and a mechanism to protect underwater infrastructure and rapidly restore cables, pipelines and energy links.
Kristian Vigenin of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats said Russia’s war against Ukraine had reached Bulgaria’s shores, with civilian vessels repeatedly targeted and sailors losing their lives. He warned against allowing the conflict to turn the Black Sea into another military zone. Vigenin called for immediate, coordinated European measures, including enhanced maritime and satellite surveillance, early-warning and counter-drone systems, and effective protection for merchant vessels and their crews. He also urged the EU to accelerate the establishment of a maritime security centre in Varna and pursue diplomatic efforts to end attacks on civilian shipping, noting that security could not be achieved through weapons alone.
Nikola Minchev of Renew Europe said “some government and state leaders” must stop avoiding explicitly identifying Russia as the aggressor. Given the changing geopolitical landscape, he argued that Europe must invest more than ever in its common defence, with active participation from Member States. He also stressed the need to uphold the principle of just peace and reject rhetoric advocating peace through surrender.
Taner Kabilov of the ECR group said the Black Sea was not merely a regional issue but a test of the EU’s ability to defend its strategic interests. He called for a united and decisive European response in close coordination with NATO allies, and urged the EU to accelerate its European counter-drone defence initiative so that planned capabilities could become operational without unnecessary delays.
Ilhan Kyuchyuk of Renew Europe said Black Sea security was an integral part of EU security and that Bulgaria and Romania needed support during the difficult situation facing both countries. He called for faster establishment of the EU maritime security centre, assistance with counter-drone systems, and expanded joint surveillance and patrols with regional countries, including NATO and Turkiye. He also urged diplomatic efforts and pressure to secure a moratorium on attacks against civilian vessels and grain infrastructure, alongside financial assistance.
Andrey Kovatchev of the EPP said Russian attacks on commercial shipping in the Black Sea had already claimed lives, with each subsequent strike increasing the cost to European security, trade and the food supplies of millions worldwide. He criticized the Bulgarian government’s reluctance to explicitly identify Russia as the source of the attacks, calling its position naive and dangerous. Kovatchev advocated a stronger NATO presence, closer European defence cooperation and active Bulgarian and Romanian participation in initiatives to increase funding for European defence capabilities.
Eva Maydell of the EPP said there could be no hesitation in responding to hostile Russian actions in the Black Sea’s European waters off the coasts of Bulgaria and Romania. She called for the EU and NATO to strengthen maritime and airspace protection immediately and without delay, demonstrating decisive strength. Maydell added that only a united and determined response could compel Russian President Vladimir Putin to negotiate peace.
Bulgarian MEPs Call for Stronger EU Response to Russian Attacks on Black Sea Shipping 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-10-20 11:24:12
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