Dealing with the crises facing Europe requires boosting Europe's global competitiveness and guaranteeing EU security. This is what President Rumen Radev said at a meeting with European Council President Antonio Costa on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference. The Head of State stressed that the EU should take action to optimise the process of making its common decisions so that they respond to the high dynamics of international processes.

The numerous crises in Europe's neighbouring regions make increasing investments in the defence and security sphere a necessity, but the capacities of each individual country should also be taken into account as to what percentage of its GDP it can allocate to this, the President stressed.

In Rumen Radev's words, the ambition of the Western Balkan countries to join the EU is an opportunity to expand the space based on the principles of democracy and the rule of law and will strengthen the stability of our region. In this context, Radev expressed hope that the Republic of North Macedonia will as soon as possible start the actual implementation of the European Consensus of 2022. Bulgaria does not make any new demands regarding the European perspective of North Macedonia, but it does not accept any changes in the agreements reached and enshrined in the negotiating framework, the Head of State added.  

Earlier in the day, Rumen Radev held a session with the Director General of the European Space Agency (ESA), Josef Aschbacher, during which a review was made of our country's partnership with the Agency in space exploration. The necessary steps Bulgaria should take to fully participate in its programmes and become a full member of ESA were also discussed.

In Munich, the President also held talks with Christian Baruch, President and CEO of Siemens Energy, with whom he discussed the opportunities for expanding the company's investment presence in Bulgaria.