Minister Velislava Petrova Participates in the EU Foreign Affairs Council Meeting
13 July 2026 News
Minister of Foreign Affairs Velislava Petrova participated in the regular meeting of the European Union's Foreign Affairs Council, held today in Brussels.
In the course of the negotiations on the 21st sanctions package, the three individuals to whom Bulgaria had raised objections and over whose inclusion it had been prepared to block the package were removed from the sanctions package. The arguments put forward by the Bulgarian Government were accepted by the European Commission and the Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union. According to Minister Petrova, this outcome demonstrates that the consistent defence of the national interest does not lead to isolation but rather reinforces Bulgaria’s equal standing among its partners in the European Union when based on consistency, predictability and clear, well-founded arguments.
A key focus of the discussions was ensuring Ukraine’s energy security ahead of the forthcoming winter season. Minister Petrova underlined that Bulgaria has the potential to play a pivotal role in these efforts.
In this context, she announced that she would visit Kyiv later this week, describing the visit as a natural continuation of the high-level political meetings held recently in Brussels and Ankara. The visit will focus on strengthening bilateral cooperation in the energy sector and exploring opportunities to increase natural gas supplies.
Another key item on the agenda was the situation in the Black Sea region and the implementation of the EU Strategic Approach for the Black Sea. Bulgaria’s Foreign Minister highlighted the country’s active role in advancing key regional initiatives in the areas of security and connectivity.
She presented the joint Bulgarian-Romanian concept for the establishment of a Black Sea Maritime Security Centre – a flagship project under the Security pillar of the EU Strategic Approach for the Black Sea. The Centre is envisaged as a networked structure comprising two complementary hubs, located in Varna and Constanța.
Under the Connectivity pillar, Bulgaria reaffirmed its role as a key gateway to the European Union through a number of transport and energy corridors that can contribute to the region's energy security and provide alternatives to the Strait of Hormuz. Minister Petrova welcomed the European Commission's efforts to further develop the capacity of the Middle Corridor.
The meeting also featured the Third High-Level Forum on Regional Security and Cooperation between the European Union and the Member States of the Gulf Cooperation Council.
Ministers also held an in-depth discussion on the situation in the Middle East, including the resumption of military operations, the situation in Gaza, and the implementation of the Peace Plan aimed at advancing the two-State solution.
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