No country in Europe can currently defend itself. But in Brussels, the consciousness has firmly settled that we must help ourselves. Finally, the EU has started talking about defense and defense investments. And Bulgaria may be profitable because of its industry.
This was commented on by GERB MEP Andrey Novakov to NOVA.
In his words, what US President Donald Trump managed to do in 2 weeks, political leaders in Europe have not been able to do for 10-15 years.
„I have not observed such unification, awakening, shaking, sobering up at all, maybe since 2009. The awareness that you have to take care of yourself has finally settled permanently in the institutions in Brussels. And I think this is for the good, especially for Bulgaria. In the 1990s, we wisely preserved our industry and are currently number 1 in the EU in terms of revenue from the sale of defense equipment,” explained the MEP.
Novakov also commented on the words of Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk that Europe must be ready to defend itself from a possible Russian attack by 2030. “Since Mr. Tusk is talking with dates, he probably has documents that he considered necessary to disclose. All kinds of scenarios are discussed in various meetings in the EP, but a specific threat with dates is more of an over-exertion to protect ourselves,” said Novakov.
„Bulgaria cannot afford to be naive any longer. I do not want to sing in the choir of those who see an enemy behind every tree. I continue to believe that problems can be solved through diplomacy and dialogue. But I prefer to be pacifists with military training,” said Novakov.
The barracks should not be mandatory, the MEP, who himself volunteered for military service at the end of 2023, also believes.
„I will not enter the trench with someone who has entered there by force and whose hands are shaking and you wonder whether he will shoot you or someone else. You go there because your heart dictates it, you do it out of your own conviction and you have a desire to learn,”, Novakov believes.
No country in Europe can currently defend itself on its own, the MEP explained.
„Over the past 30 years, the defense industry has been neglected. If we can produce 12 million cars a year, but we can't produce 500,000 shells to protect ourselves - this is a problem. I'm glad that the EU has finally started talking about defense, investments in defense and our own European defense products. Here is a golden opportunity for Bulgaria”, believes Novakov.
“10 years ago there was no defense commissioner, no defense committee in the EP, would that have stopped the wars?”, asked Novakov. “Mines and drones have started to surface on the Bulgarian coast, where we should be doing tourism. Whether you want to deal with war doesn't matter, because it already deals with you. When drones fall in the center of Zagreb, it already affects you, you have to take care of yourself”, explained Andrey Novakov.
According to him, the PVU has a disastrous result at the moment. He hopes that Bulgaria will not allow it with the new rearmament program proposed by the EU.
He also commented on Donald Trump's words that negotiations are underway on the division of territories between Russia and Ukraine.
“Since it comes from the White House, we certainly cannot ignore it. It is obvious that it is part of the topic of the talks. I am not sure whether Ukraine is ready for this step. I do not want to imagine what position the Ukrainian people are in right now, because this is a message for the whole of Europe - if you have minerals, we can talk about guarantees and security. If you do not, we have to talk about territories”, commented the MEP. However, he believes that the fire must first cease.
Regarding the political situation in our country, Novakov said that he sees no alternative to this government. "Given what is happening in the Balkans, to throw Bulgaria under the bus again seems irresponsible to me," Novakov said.