German Chancellor Friedrich Merz welcomed Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev in Berlin during the Bulgarian leader’s first foreign visit since taking office, describing the choice of Germany as a sign of the close relations between the two countries. “We are pleased that your first foreign visit will take place in Berlin”, Merz declared during their joint appearance, emphasizing that Bulgaria And Germany remain closely linked economically and politically within the European Union.
The German Chancellor also congratulated Bulgaria on his Eurovision victory, predicting that DARA’s winning song “Bangaranga” would become “the hit of the summer.” Merz noted that hundreds of thousands of Bulgarians live in Germany and described Germany as Bulgariathe country’s largest trading partner. According to him, strengthening European competitiveness, deepening the internal market, reducing bureaucracy and expanding cooperation between member states remain key priorities for Berlin and Brussels.
Merz said discussions at the recent informal summit in Cyprus with the European Commission and the European Parliament had resulted in a timetable for reforms and measures, some of which are expected to advance as early as 2026. “For me, the priorities are clear: investments in competitiveness and defense are necessary.” ” he said, while warning of rising debt levels in Europe. “There should not be excessive debt in the EU. Some countries pay more in interest than in defense,” he added.
Ukraine and European security took center stage in the negotiations. Merz reiterated GermanyKiev supported kyiv and said Europe would continue to increase pressure on Moscow while working toward what he described as a just and lasting peace. “Kyiv can count on our constant support” he said, adding that Europe was ready to participate in negotiations involving Ukraine, Russia and the United States. The German leader argued that political changes in Hungary had created “a new cohesion” within the EU, making European unity on Ukraine stronger than before.
Merz also addressed tensions in the Middle East, calling on Iran to end its nuclear ambitions and reopen the Strait of Hormuz to unrestricted maritime traffic. “Iran should no longer hold the whole world hostage” the chancellor said, adding that he and US President Donald Trump shared the same position on the need for a negotiated solution in the region.
For his part, Rumen Radev describe Bulgaria as a country with “significant potential” and highlighted its strategic location connecting Central Europe, the Balkans, the Black Sea region and routes to the Middle and Far East. He said Bulgaria had expanded key transport, energy and digital corridors and developed a stronger industrial and technological base with the support of German investments.
According to the Bulgarian Prime Minister, German companies have contributed to the growth of sectors such as automobile production, robotics, mining, defense and high technologies. Radev also highlighted the development of Bulgariaof the startup ecosystem and the artificial intelligence sector, arguing that the country should no longer be seen as the periphery of Europe. “Bulgaria has established itself as an important industrial and logistics partner of Germany in South-Eastern Europe, » he said.
Radev related party of BulgariaDARA’s international exposure to Eurovision success was also praised by Merz. He argued that years of political instability and conflicts over the rule of law had previously limited the country’s potential, but he said the situation was changing under the new government. The prime minister described his administration as technocratic and focused on economic modernization, energy security, the development of AI and accelerating industrial growth.
The Bulgarian leader also called for stronger European diplomacy regarding the war in Ukraine. “It’s high time to show diplomacy” Radev said, warning that a prolonged war of attrition was exhausting both the countries directly involved and those supporting them. However, he agrees that Europe also needs a clear strategy to strengthen its own defense capabilities and industrial security.
The two leaders openly disagreed on certain aspects of the EU’s future financial framework. Radev expressed concern that the proposed reforms could reduce cohesion and agricultural financing while simultaneously increasing member states’ contributions to defense spending. “We need a balance” he argued, insisting that food security, competitiveness and military security must remain priorities.
Merzhowever, maintained that defense and competitiveness must take precedence in the years to come. He reiterated that Europe must remain economically strong while avoiding unsustainable borrowing.
The meeting also discussed cooperation in the field of defense manufacturing and advanced technologies. Radev said Bulgaria saw opportunities for broader cooperation with Germany beyond existing projects involving companies such as Rheinmetall. He discussed joint work on patrol ships, drone production and defense-related artificial intelligence technologies. The Bulgarian Prime Minister said that local companies were already capable of developing drones of the same class as the stalled Franco-German Eurodrone project.
Radev further announced plans for a future gigafactory project in Bulgaria involving a German partner, arguing that AI and high technology would increasingly shape modern warfare and industrial competitiveness. He also highlighted the cooperation between Sofia and Berlin in the fight against illegal immigration, terrorism and cross-border crime, while emphasizing that more than 400,000 Bulgarians currently live, study or work in Germany.
Earlier today, Radev was received with military honors at the Federal Chancellery in Berlin. He was accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Alexander Pulev and Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova, who were part of the Bulgarian delegation.
Source: Novinite
