Velislava Petrova: Europe Needs Leadership That Builds Trust and Delivers Tangible Results
22 September 2026 News
At a time of military conflicts, geopolitical competition and growing uncertainty, Europe needs leadership that builds trust and delivers tangible results. This was the message of Minister of Foreign Affairs Velislava Petrova at the “Her Power @ UNGA81” forum, organised in New York by Foreign Policy, the US publication specialising in international affairs and foreign policy.
Speaking about leadership as a personal choice and a responsibility to society, Minister Petrova noted that her professional career has taken her from science and global health, through work in international organisations, to politics. Throughout her career, she has been guided by the question of where she can be most useful and contribute to meaningful change.
Addressing young people seeking to develop careers in public and political life, she encouraged them to be courageous, to seek opportunities to contribute and not to allow self-doubt to hold them back. According to Minister Petrova, the next generation of leaders needs not only education, but also practical experience, mentorship and genuine access to decision-making processes.
Minister Petrova also emphasised the need to provide women with greater support in their professional development. Their full participation in decision-making is not merely a matter of representation, but a prerequisite for stronger, more effective and more accountable leadership. “Europe must make full use of the potential of women. Their participation in decision-making processes makes leadership stronger and more effective,” the Foreign Minister emphasised.
Velislava Petrova also outlined Bulgaria’s place in Europe’s changing landscape. She noted that Bulgaria has now achieved full integration into the EU, the Schengen area and the euro area, and that the next task is to contribute more actively to common European decisions. “Bulgaria should not simply adapt to Europe’s changing geopolitical environment. It must play an active role in shaping it,” she said.
Minister Petrova highlighted Bulgaria’s strategic importance for Europe’s transport, energy and economic connectivity. She stressed that major infrastructure projects should not be viewed solely as national priorities, but as part of a broader European network providing more secure and diversified links.
“Security, energy and connectivity are no longer separate policy areas. Together, they determine Europe’s resilience – and Bulgaria has an important role to play in all three,” Velislava Petrova said.
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