President says EU can regain leadership role through strategic autonomy

The European Union can achieve strategic autonomy and regain its leadership role by building on its existing strengths, President Iliana Iotova said during a meeting with ambassadors of EU member states in Sofia, the presidency said. The meeting was organised within the framework of Cyprus’s concluding presidency of the Council of the European Union.

According to Ms Iotova, Europe needs a consolidated position on global conflicts that it can consistently defend on the international stage. She said that the Cyprus presidency, whose motto is 'An autonomous union open to the world', had outlined the contours of the EU’s strategic autonomy.

The president also identified security, defence, and energy independence as key priorities for the future of the bloc.

Iliana Iotova also drew attention to Europe’s lagging position in high technologies and artificial intelligence, noting that Bulgaria has significant potential in this area and is one of six countries selected by the European Commission to host an artificial intelligence gigafactory.

Edited by Miglena Ivanova