Velislava Petrova: The EU Must Strengthen Its Role as a Strong Geopolitical Player
02 September 2026 News
The European Union must become a more effective geopolitical actor, capable of defending common European interests and actively contributing to finding solutions to crises in our immediate neighbourhood. This was among the key messages delivered by Minister of Foreign Affairs Velislava Petrova during the informal meeting of EU foreign affairs ministers – Gymnich, held in Ireland.
The meeting marked the beginning of the EU’s active political season and provided an opportunity for an open political discussion on the key challenges facing the Union and common European priorities.
The main topics of the meeting were the war in Ukraine and the ongoing crisis in the Middle East. Participants also discussed ways to enhance the effectiveness of the EU’s external action, including through further strengthening coordination between the European External Action Service and the Member States, as well as among the European institutions.
In this context, Minister Petrova emphasised the need for Europe to play an active role in diplomatic efforts to bring an end to hostilities and achieve lasting peace in Ukraine and the Middle East. According to her, Europe must be part of the diplomatic efforts and the process of finding solutions.
With regard to Ukraine, Velislava Petrova also highlighted the importance of the Vertical Gas Corridor, in the development of which Bulgaria plays a leading role, as an important element in diversifying the country’s gas supplies.
The informal Gymnich meeting does not provide for the adoption of formal decisions, but offers an opportunity for an open political exchange of views among the foreign ministers of the Member States on strategic issues facing the European Union and for national positions to be clearly presented as part of the broader European debate. The occasion also provided the Bulgarian Minister with an opportunity to discuss with her counterparts the future EU budget and projects of importance to Bulgaria.
The foreign ministers of Canada, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Ukraine also participated in the meeting.
During her visit to Ireland, Minister Petrova also visited Eurofound – the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions, the EU agency working on issues related to improving living and working conditions, employment and industrial relations in the European Union. The discussions focused on changes in the European labour market and the need for policies to respond to new demographic and technological realities, including digitalisation and the development and application of artificial intelligence.
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