Prime Minister Rumen Radev calls again for “industrial cohesion” within EU at his meeting with European Council President António Costa

All member states should have the chance of equal share of Europe’s technology and industry development. If we fail to achieve this, the processes of fragmentation precisely in the field of high technologies and high value-added industries will continue to deteriorate the divide. This was stated by Prime Minister Rumen Radev after his meeting with António Costa, President of the European Council. Their discussion focused on European competitiveness and ways to ensure that all member states have equal access to the new European Competitiveness Fund. This will afford a chance to less developed countries to avoid falling behind in their technological and industrial progress. “I suggested to Mr. Costa that we consider a new term – ‘industrial cohesion’ – rather than the conventional cohesion under social programs and infrastructure,” Prime Minister Rumen Radev emphasized.

Regarding the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), the Prime Minister supported a strong focus on the European Union’s competitiveness and security. However, he noted that this must not be detrimental to the financing of the cohesion policy and the agricultural policy that guarantee the Union’s coherence. “These are crucial instruments in ensuring a united and prosperous Union capable of facing all challenges together,” Rumen Radev pointed out.

Also, the Prime Minister singled out Bulgaria’s contribution to the effort to strengthen common security and defense. He underscored the importance of new initiatives, such as the joint drone defense, the European Sky Shield Initiative and the European Space Shield Initiative. “Bulgaria works energetically to strengthen its industries and to develop its defense research so that we can make a truly active contribution and have a safer and stronger Europe,” Rumen Radev said.

Further, the Prime Minister pointed to the need for targeted efforts to improve EU connectivity across all sectors – the transport, energy and digital sector – as he specifically underlined Bulgaria’s role in the development of the Trans-Caspian Corridor that goes via Bulgaria as well as the future corridors of the Persian Gulf countries. Efforts are underway, with EU assistance, to improve Bulgaria’s road and railway infrastructure so that the country does not become a bottleneck amidst the growing goods traffic. Also, the Prime Minister emphasized the importance of green energy and new digital routes.

Regarding EU enlargement, the Prime Minister reiterated that Bulgaria is a strong driving force for the integration of the EU’s neighbors, particularly the Western Balkans, as an element in the expansion of the space of peace and prosperity in Europe. “We insist that the enlargement be not subject to shifting geopolitical trends but rather be based on the principle of individual merit,” Bulgaria’s Prime Minister said further.

For his part, the President of the European Council António Costa described 2026 as a crucial year for Europe. “We must approve the EU’s long-term budget for the period until 2034 before the end of this year. This is fundamental in order to ensure continued investment flows from 2028 onwards,” he noted. António Costa said further that a European budget is needed that meets European ambitions and ensures the funding needed to achieve joint priorities in key areas such as defense and security, competitiveness and innovation, strategic sustainability.

“Alongside, the budget must continue to support agriculture and cohesion policy, in Bulgaria, too,” António Costa pointed out. The President of the European Council noted that the next budget will feature an entirely new architecture, will be designed to the world we live in today and will be very different from the present budget that was agreed upon in 2020. “The new reality calls for a new approach to our common budget, with a new frame and a new method of resource allocation given that the greater part of the European Union’s budget now is made up of national revenue. We must ensure that the national revenue remains within reasonable and sensible limits,” António Costa emphasized.