Bulgaria has an exceptionally strong tradition in the defense industry. In fact, you have the highest turnover in relation to gross domestic product within the EU and are the only country where the largest private employer is a company in the defense industry. Here, you produce large quantities of ammunition and explosives that support Ukraine and its fight for freedom. Since the beginning of the war, one-third of the weapons used by Ukraine have come from Bulgaria.

Bulgaria actively contributes to the defense and security of both Ukraine and Europe.

Your industry is a source of national and European pride, for which I thank you.  This was stated by EC President Ursula von der Leyen after a bilateral meeting with Rosen Zheryazkov and a visit to VMZ-Sopot, reports BGNES.  

Putin has not changed and will not change; he can only be controlled with disarmament measures, added von der Leyen.

Putin has not changed and will not change; he can only be controlled through disarmament measures, von der Leyen added. He has created a full-scale military economy, precisely because of the heavy sanctions we have imposed - an old-fashioned but full-scale war economy, and he will continue to produce on a large scale. As Ukraine's defense capabilities strengthen, we must also take greater responsibility for our own defense, and to improve our readiness, we must actively move forward at the European level, above all for financial support. Production capacity here must reach 2 million shells by the end of this year. The conditions for urgency must be met. You plan to expand the production of ammunition that meets NATO standards. This new production will create over 1,000 jobs here in the region, which means sustainable growth here, added the President of the European Commission.

In October, the European Council will discuss the gaps in the Union's defense capabilities.

There will be two Rheinmetall plants in Bulgaria, one of which will be at VMZ. The thousands of jobs that will be created and preserved are thanks to what is happening now, said GERB leader Boyko Borisov. He thanked Von der Leyen for her support for Bulgaria's entry into the eurozone. For decades, VMZ has been producing weapons for defense purposes, but now that Europe is modernizing, our production must also be modernized, Borisov added.

During the meeting, we discussed better coordination for European solidarity. Bulgaria is a loyal member state, and in order to guarantee this stability, we need the solidarity of parliamentary support, which we are receiving from the current government, said Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov.

Earlier, Prime Minister Zhelyazkov briefed the President of the European Commission on our country's defense capabilities and the actions taken for its development and technological modernization. The two also discussed Bulgaria's opportunities under the European security mechanism "Safe," including preparations for the construction of two new production facilities, for which the government is partnering with the largest defense concern, Rheinmetall.

BGNES recalls that Ursula von der Leyen is touring the countries on the EU's eastern border - Latvia, Finland, Estonia, Poland, Lithuania, Bulgaria, and Romania, according to the Press and Media Department of the European Commission Representation in Bulgaria. The visit by President von der Leyen aims to highlight the EU's support for member states facing challenges on their common borders with Russia and Belarus. IBNES