Balgarianovinite.com Bulgarian President Iliana Iotova said Monday that she firmly opposes viewing the Black Sea region solely as a militarizing area, stressing that the sea is a major geographical and natural asset for Bulgaria.
Addressing the conference “Towards Shared Regional Security for Peace, Stability and Cooperation in the Balkans and the Black Sea”, organized in Sofia by the Friedrich Ebert Foundation and the Economics and International Relations Institute (EIRI), Iotova said developments in the region must be monitored carefully to avoid undermining tourism and the emerging industries along the Black Sea coast that provide livelihoods and income for local communities.
The event is being held in connection with Bulgaria’s Chairmanship of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP). On June 10, Iotova will host the SEECP Summit marking the initiative’s 30th anniversary.
The President said the international security architecture is undergoing unprecedented challenges, noting that the geopolitical fault line currently runs through Bulgaria, the Balkans and Southeastern Europe. Security can no longer be guaranteed by any single country, she argued, emphasizing the importance of cooperation within the European Union and NATO.
Iotova said Bulgaria should contribute its own perspectives to regional security debates rather than relying solely on common framework positions. According to her, the changing geopolitical environment has increased the strategic importance of the Balkans for Europe’s security, stability and prosperity.
She called for closer attention to developments in Serbia, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina and North Macedonia, warning that regional realities are changing faster than national policies.
The President noted that Russia’s war against Ukraine has returned security to the centre of the European agenda and transformed energy into a strategic instrument. Competitiveness, she said, is now directly linked to sovereignty, employment, social stability and citizens’ well-being.
Iotova stressed that the Black Sea has become one of the most important regions on the global security map and can no longer be regarded as a peripheral area of European security.
As a NATO member and Black Sea country, Bulgaria considers maritime security a strategic priority, she said. Together with Romania and in cooperation with European institutions, Bulgaria is developing a concept for a Black Sea Maritime Security Centre. The proposed civilian network structure would focus on situational awareness, protection of maritime infrastructure, countering hybrid threats, and responding to disasters and environmental crises.
She added that recent drone incidents in a Romanian port have highlighted the need for such a centre.
Iotova also said Bulgaria, Romania and Turkiye continue joint efforts within the Mine Countermeasures Task Group Black Sea (MCM Black Sea) to ensure safe and secure maritime routes.
She argued that the European Union’s SAFE (Security Action for Europe) and ReArm Europe Plan/Readiness 2030 initiatives should be expanded through joint procurement mechanisms. According to Iotova, Bulgaria’s participation in SAFE has so far not sufficiently involved the country’s defence industry, although expectations remain that Bulgarian companies will have broader opportunities under a future SAFE+ framework.
The President stressed that military modernization should be a systematic process based on realistic goals and clear deadlines. She expressed confidence that the new government would address economic challenges and establish priorities for defence-related investments.
Iotova said Bulgaria’s defence industry has the potential to become a technological hub within the EU’s evolving security policy.
She also highlighted the importance of regional connectivity, noting that stronger transport and energy links are essential for trade, tourism, military mobility and broader cooperation.
The President underlined the strategic importance of accelerating the construction of Corridor VIII and improving North-South transport and energy connections through cooperation between Bulgaria, Greece and Romania.
She also pointed to the importance of the tunnel under Mt Shipka project and called for progress on a third bridge over the Danube between Ruse and Giurgiu. Iotova noted that the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency has approved EUR 6.9 million for a feasibility study of the project.
She also emphasized the strategic significance of the Vertical Gas Corridor for Bulgaria.
Concluding her remarks, Iotova said genuine security is built not only through military capabilities and defence strategies, but also through trust, connectivity and a willingness to seek common solutions to shared challenges. President Iotova Opposes Viewing Black Sea Solely as Militarized Zone 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-06-08 10:51:09 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