Foreign Minister Petrova: Europe needs leadership that builds trust

Europe needs leadership that builds trust and delivers concrete results amid growing uncertainty, Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova said in New York, where she is part of the Bulgarian delegation attending the 81st session of the UN General Assembly. Speaking at the Her Power @ UNGA81 forum, organised by US international affairs magazine Foreign Policy, Petrova pointed to military conflicts and geopolitical competition as some of the challenges facing Europe.

• President Iliana Iotova represents Bulgaria at the UN General Assembly

Petrova said Bulgaria’s membership of the EU, Schengen and the eurozone marked the completion of its European integration, and that the next step was to contribute more actively to common European decisions.

Petrova also pointed to Bulgaria’s role in Europe’s security, energy and transport links.

“Security, energy and connectivity are no longer separate policies. Together, they determine Europe’s resilience, and Bulgaria has an important role in all three,” she said.

In New York, the minister also said that through its role in the EU, Bulgaria was working with other countries actively involved in efforts to achieve peace, particularly in conflicts close to the region and of direct importance to Bulgaria.

Editor: Diana Tsankova

English editor: E. Radkova