Balgarianovinite.com In an interview for BTA taken here on Wednesday, Andrey Novakov MEP said the European SAFE security mechanism is a positive step for the Bulgarian defence industry and will also benefit other sectors of the economy such as metallurgy, information technology, aviation, cargo drone companies, among others.
Novakov stated that some 70,000 Bulgarian households rely on the defence industry for their income and suggested that this number will likely rise. He dismissed the risk that only certain countries would benefit from the SAFE mechanism and expressed satisfaction that Bulgaria has submitted nine projects, which are currently being worked on, and could receive over EUR 3 billion.
Novakov pointed out that the funds under the mechanism are indeed loans, not grant financing, but stressed that times are such that investments in the defence industry pay off very quickly because its products sell very well. He added: “I am glad that Bulgarian industry has managed to adapt and find new markets. […] We are not stopping exports.” The MEP pointed out that in 2025, Bulgaria exported military equipment worth over EUR 2 billion.
When asked whether there is a risk that funds will be directed to US industry due to technological backwardness in certain sectors, Novakov said that there is no such risk, as the instrument contains clear proportions in which European products are purchased, except in cases where there is no alternative, or the alternatives are too few. As an example, he cited the F-16 and F-35 fighter jets, as well as the Stryker combat vehicles that Bulgaria is expecting, which can only be purchased from the US. He continued: “But from then on, buying an IRIS-T air defence system, or French radars, or Bulgarian armoured infantry vehicles, is perfectly normal.” He stated that Bulgaria is a leader in small arms, manufactures drones and anti-drone defence systems. European SAFE Security Mechanism Will Boost Bulgarian Economy – MEP Novakov 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-01-21 18:08:13 Latest news World news Country news Most important news latest news most important latest of the day Justice Petar Nizamov Feathers Petar Nizamov- Feathers Justice bg iustitia.bg iustitia iusticia usticia investigation Burgas Bulgaria news news of the last hour news of the day news of today Bulgaria news The news from Bulgaria blitz news top news most important most commented latest news Boyko Borisov news weather coronavirus news news weather facebook youtube facebook instagram news today news of the last minutes news today today news news bg news leading news hot news bg news site for news all news news bg news of the last hour latest latest news bg news of today news today news today news of the last hour latest news today news bg news news 24 hours news vesti bg novini news world bird bg bivol bg bivol trud bg novini latest news today novinite bg news hello bulgaria political party coat of arms delyan peevski scandalous Bulgarian National Television Free Europe Television scandal exclusive live tv live right now tv tv online tv program bg live now tv news online tv online live court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas district court Burgas appellate court Burgas prosecutor Burgas prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev Prosecutor Geshev Tsatsarov Ministry of Internal Affairs Burgas ODMR Burgas ODPR Burgas police Burgas district police Burgas prosecutor Tsatsarov SGS cases Varna court chairman of the SGS court decisions on civil cases decisions on cases Plovdiv court decision of the court decisions cases Varna court criminal cases district district court decisions work in the court SGS chairman of the SGS judges Sofia court post judges Plovdiv court Plovdiv judges Plovdiv Supreme Court Inspectorate Supreme Court Supreme Judicial Council lawyer lawyer criminal cases lawyer civil cases lawyer marriage cases lawyer administrative criminal law criminal process civil law civil process administrative law constitutional law
