EU should not miss an opportunity on Ukraine diplomacy: Bulgarian foreign minister Velislava Petrova

Key Concepts

• RRF (Recovery and Resilience Facility): An EU instrument providing financial support for reforms and investments to mitigate the economic and social impact of the pandemic.
• Rule of Law & Anti-Corruption: Central pillars of the current Bulgarian government’s reform agenda to unlock EU funding.
• Fiscal Discipline: The maintenance of healthy budget deficits and debt levels in compliance with Eurozone criteria.
• Dual-Use Technologies: Technologies that have both civilian and military applications (e.g., AI, advanced drone systems).
• Merit-based Enlargement: The principle that EU expansion must be based on the candidate country's progress in meeting institutional and democratic standards.

---

1. Political Landscape and Governance

Following a period of instability characterized by eight elections in five years, Bulgaria formed a new government led by Prime Minister Rumen Radev. Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova emphasizes that the government holds a strong mandate to deliver on European integration, specifically focusing on:

• Judicial Reform: The government successfully pushed through legislation within four weeks of taking office, leading to the unblocking of the fourth installment of the RRF (370 million euros).
• Institutional Integrity: A primary goal is to establish transparent, functional institutions to combat corruption and restore public trust.

2. Fiscal Policy and Economic Challenges

Bulgaria faces scrutiny from the EU Commission regarding its budget deficit. Petrova attributes this to "populist measures" enacted by previous administrations during the election cycles.

• Strategy: The government aims to balance fiscal discipline with economic competitiveness.
• Action Plan: Instead of broad austerity, the government intends to eliminate "leakage" in the budget caused by corruption and inefficient administration. The focus is on transitioning toward a high-skilled, high-tech economy rather than relying on traditional public spending.

3. Foreign Policy and the War in Ukraine

Minister Petrova clarified Bulgaria’s stance on the conflict, advocating for a "three-pillar" approach: military support, economic sanctions, and diplomacy.

• Diplomacy: Petrova argues that Europe has been too reliant on external actors (like the US) and must lead its own diplomatic efforts. She stresses that discussions regarding peace or ceasefires must include both the EU and Ukraine.
• Special Tribunal: Regarding the war crimes tribunal, Petrova noted that the previous caretaker government’s hesitation was based on practical concerns—specifically funding and the institutional mechanism for enforcing rulings—rather than a lack of support for the tribunal's values.
• Unity: She emphasized that the EU must identify "non-negotiables" and maintain internal unity before engaging in serious negotiations with Russia.

4. Defense and Future Technologies

Bulgaria aims to leverage its historical expertise in the military industry to become a leader in modern defense.

• Technological Shift: Petrova highlighted that the war in Ukraine demonstrates the superiority of cost-effective, next-generation technologies (e.g., drones and AI) over expensive, traditional weaponry.
• Strategic Goal: Bulgaria intends to transform its military industry to focus on "dual-use" technologies, ensuring long-term competitiveness and avoiding investments in obsolete hardware.

5. EU Enlargement

Bulgaria remains a strong proponent of EU enlargement, particularly regarding the Western Balkans, a priority it championed during its 2018 EU presidency.

• Core Principles: Petrova reiterated that enlargement must be merit-based.
• Conditions: The focus remains on the "fundamentals"—rule of law, transparency, and functional institutions. She argued that enlargement should be viewed as a tool to increase the EU’s geopolitical and economic strength, provided it does not foster skepticism among existing member states.

---

Synthesis and Conclusion

The new Bulgarian government is positioning itself as a pragmatic, pro-European actor focused on internal reform and regional stability. By prioritizing judicial reform to unlock EU funds and shifting its defense industry toward high-tech, dual-use innovation, the administration seeks to move past the populist policies of the previous era. Petrova’s perspective underscores a desire for the EU to take a more proactive, unified role in diplomatic negotiations regarding Ukraine, while maintaining a strict, merit-based framework for future EU enlargement.