Visit of the Minister for European Affairs of the Kingdom of Denmark, Ms Marie Bjerre, to Sofia, 14-15 May 2025
15 May 2025 News
On 15 May 2025, consultations were held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Sofia between the head of the Bulgarian delegation, Deputy Minister Elena Shekerletova, and the Minister for European Affairs of the Kingdom of Denmark, Ms Marie Bjerre. The visit was part of Minister Bjerre’s tour of EU Member States in the context of the upcoming Danish Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
Minister Bjerre placed particular emphasis the strengthening of Europe's defence capabilities and enhancing the EU's resilience to external threats. She highlighted that, in the context of a dynamic and unstable geopolitical environment, security, defence, and support for Ukraine will be key priorities on the agenda of the Danish Presidency of the Council of the EU.
In addition to matters of security, another major focus will be on boosting the competitiveness of the European Union. Further emphasis will be placed on encouraging investment in research and innovation, supporting a green and sustainable economic transition, improving energy connectivity and reducing energy prices. The Danish Minister also expressed readiness of the upcoming Presidency to work towards easing regulation and reducing administrative burdens for citizens and businesses alike.
Other key topics identified for the upcoming Presidency include the enlargement policy, effective migration management, and the launch of negotiations on the new Multiannual Financial Framework of the EU.
Deputy Minister Shekerletova congratulated Ms Bjerre on the forthcoming Presidency and outlined Bulgaria’s priorities during this period.
She emphasised that accession to the Eurozone remains a key goal for the Bulgarian government, with the target of joining on 1 January 2026.
She also underlined the importance for Bulgaria of continued EU efforts to promote convergence among Member States and regions, noting that cohesion is not only a driver of economic growth and competitiveness, but also a cornerstone for maintaining public trust and support for the Union. This perspective shapes Bulgaria’s priorities for the next MFF and underscores the significance attached to cohesion policy.
Regarding the forthcoming Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), the Deputy Minister reaffirmed that our key priorities remain unchanged: cohesion policy, the Common Agricultural Policy, and effective management of the EU's external borders and migration. Given the evolving global political landscape, security and defence measures at EU level are emerging as shared objectives.
Migration remains a pan-European challenge that requires a unified EU response. As an external border of the Union, Bulgaria effectively manages one of the busiest border sections, such as the one with Turkey. The management of the EU's external borders is not solely the responsibility of individual Member States, which is why Bulgaria emphasises the importance of European solidarity.
We support efforts to enhance European competitiveness, ensure energy security and affordable energy prices, uphold the principle of technological neutrality, and recognise the role of nuclear energy in achieving the EU's climate neutrality goals – all of which are among our main priorities as an EU Member State.
At the regional level, we continue to support the enlargement policy, based on the principle of own merits. We expect clear political will from the candidate countries to implement reforms in key areas such as the rule of law, human rights and adherence to the principles of good neighbourly relations.
The discussions confirmed a shared desire to maintain an active bilateral political dialogue and to deepen cooperation in areas of mutual interest within the European and international agenda.
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