The wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, hybrid attacks and the new technology race are putting Europe in a different reality. What does this mean for Bulgaria? This question was at the center of the discussion “Strong Bulgaria in a Secure Europe“, organized by “Continuing the Change - Benelux“ and “Democratic Bulgaria in Brussels“. A full hall in Brussels and dozens of questions from the audience made one thing clear – Bulgarians want to know how we can develop a strong Bulgaria in a strong Europe.
Academician Nikolay Denkov warned that one of the biggest risks for Bulgaria today is internal division and lack of trust in both society and institutions. “The first political task of all of us who are interested in the future of Bulgaria is to find common ground so that the society, which is fragmented, can begin to come together, and this should be linked to the feeling that our security can only be ensured through participation in these two alliances - the EU and NATO,“ he said.
In his words, it is paradoxical that, against the backdrop of growing international uncertainty, parties such as “Vazrazhdane“ simultaneously warn of the dangerous geopolitical situation, but insist that Bulgaria leave its key alliances. According to Denkov, Bulgaria's security lies precisely in a clear strategic orientation towards the EU and NATO, despite the attempts of populist forces to suggest the opposite.
“States that trust each other are beginning to integrate more and more closely. Bulgaria must be part of this process“, he stressed.
A large part of the conversation was devoted to disinformation and hybrid warfare. Acad. Denkov pointed out how well-organized online networks spread propaganda, often hidden behind seemingly harmless pages. “The infrastructure for influence is there and it looks scary“, he warned, noting that some of these profiles are bots, but their effect on public debates remains significant.
Krustyo Preslavski, Deputy Head of the “European Defense Fund“ Department at the European Commission, also outlined the broader European trend. Data from sociological surveys show that member states are increasingly aware of the need for greater defense investments. According to him, public support for these policies no longer comes only from the need for security, but also from the opportunity for economic development – new technologies, industries and jobs.
Former Minister of Defense Prof. Todor Tagarev emphasized that Bulgaria has the potential to be part of this transformation. The country's strength often lies in small, high-tech companies, especially in the IT sector, which manage to establish themselves in international markets. However, in order to develop this potential, more specialists, knowledge and clear political ambition are needed.
Today, the choice before us is whether Bulgaria should be an active participant in European decisions or remain on the periphery of the new security architecture.