Bulgarian Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will visit the country's largest state-owned military enterprise, Vazovski Mashinostroitelni Zavodi EAD, on Sunday, the government press service announced.

The two will hold a meeting to discuss issues related to European security and defense. Afterwards, Zhelyazkov and Ursula von der Leyen will tour the factory and learn about its capabilities.

President von der Leyen's visit will underscore the EU's support for member states facing challenges on their shared borders with Russia and Belarus. She will discuss European security and defense with government leaders and military representatives.

BGNES reminds that Europe's largest defense company, Rheinmetall, will build two factories in Bulgaria - for gunpowder and ammunition.

The news was announced on Monday by GERB leader Boyko Borisov and Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger.

The German defense company is expected to sign a billion-euro investment agreement with Bulgaria within three weeks.

On Wednesday, Bulgarian President Rumen Radev attended the opening of the company's new factory in Lower Saxony, which will be the largest artillery shell production facility in Europe.

The European Commission notes that von der Leyen's tour of the countries on the EU's eastern border, which begins today, will also take her to Latvia, Finland, Estonia, Poland, Lithuania, and Romania. | BGNES