Europe stands in solidarity with Bulgaria following the drone attacks on ships in Bulgarian waters, EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos said at a press conference following the International Ministerial Conference on Corridor VIII in Sofia.
“We have been shocked by the drone attacks on ships in Bulgarian waters. These attacks are unacceptable, a blatant violation of core principles of international law and stark reminder of the security threats Europe faces. It also endangers food security of millions of people around the world,” Kos said.
The European Commissioner expressed her condolences to the families of crew members who were killed or remain missing and thanked Bulgarian rescue teams for their swift response.
On October 6, two commercial vessels were attacked by aerial and navy drones in Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone in the Black Sea, approximately 70 nautical miles east of Byala. The Togo-flagged Alfa Watan sank, and its crew members could not be located during the subsequent rescue operation. The second vessel, the Palau-flagged Able, was damaged and caught fire. All 18 crew members were rescued, while two injured sailors were taken to Varna for medical treatment.
The press conference was held jointly with the Foreign Ministers of Bulgaria, North Macedonia and Albania, Velislava Petrova, Timcho Mucunski and Ferit Hoxha. Nicola Verola, Director General for Europe and International Trade Policy at Italy’s Foreign Ministry, also took part.
Kos placed the development of Corridor VIII in the broader context of the European Union’s preparations for future enlargement. “Today, our continent faces many challenges, but we are always strongest when we work together, united as Europeans. This is why we are working on enlarging our union. It is an opportunity to make Europe stronger. It brings clear benefits to our citizens, more jobs and opportunities, and it brings more safety, security and solidarity,” Kos said.
She recalled that the European Commission had presented its assessment this week of how the EU should prepare for future enlargement. “It shows that enlargement is possible, but there are also challenges we need to address to make sure that a larger Union is also a stronger Union. One of the areas we need to work on is transport links across our continent. They connect people, reduce traveling time and reduce the costs of doing business. This brings us Europeans together,” she added.
“And this is exactly what we want Corridor VIII to do, to connect the Adriatic to the Black Sea and to bring benefits to the people of Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Albania and broader. This is why in North Macedonia and Albania alone, the EU is supporting Corridor VIII with three hundred and nineteen million in funding, and we are already building the connections of tomorrow’s Union today,” Kos said.
“And one day, these roads and railways will run through a united Europe without internal borders. This is the vision of our enlargement policy. Corridor VIII will serve economies and communities on each side of the borders. It will be part of a wider network of transport links from the centre of Europe to the heart of Asia. It will create more options for European businesses in the world where many trading routes are disrupted,” she added.
The European Commissioner thanked Bulgaria for its leading role in developing new transport and energy links and described the country as a gateway to Europe. “The Connectivity Summit you will host together with the European Commission in the spring 2027 will be a milestone in advancing the connections Europe needs. I’m looking forward to being back in Bulgaria next spring,” Kos added.
Corridor VIII connects the Adriatic and Black seas via Albania, North Macedonia and Bulgaria and includes both road and rail links. One of the corridor’s major unfinished sections is the railway connection between Bulgaria and North Macedonia. In November 2025, Sofia and Skopje signed an agreement on the construction of a cross-border railway tunnel, while approximately 2.4 km of railway remains to be built on the Bulgarian side between Gyueshevo and the border. The corridor is strategically important for security and military mobility between the Black Sea and the Adriatic.
Europe Stands in Solidarity with Bulgaria following Drone Attacks on Ships in Bulgarian Waters, EU Commissioner for Enlargement Kos Says 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-10-08 13:27:00
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