In brief
During a two-day stop in Sofia, EU Budget Commissioner Piotr Serafin held talks with Bulgaria’s prime minister and finance minister, opened a conference on the upcoming Multiannual Financial Framework, and visited science and satellite facilities funded by the EU. The meetings focused on defence investment, revenue strategies, and simplifying funding procedures. Both sides urged a swift consensus on the EU budget for 2028–2034.
On Thursday and Friday, the European Commissioner for Budget, Piotr Serafin, arrived in Sofia, Bulgaria, for a two‑day visit aimed at consulting Bulgarian leaders on the EU’s forthcoming 2028‑2034 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). The Commissioner’s schedule included meetings with Prime Minister Rumen Radev, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Galab Donev, and Deputy Prime Minister Atanas Pekanov, all of whom oversee aspects of EU fund management within the country.
Thursday’s agenda began with the opening of a conference titled “The Next Multiannual Financial Framework: Priorities and Principles.” The event, jointly organized by the European Commission Representation in Bulgaria, the Embassy of Poland in Bulgaria, and the Sofia office of the European Council on Foreign Relations, brought together policymakers and experts to outline the three‑year priorities for the next EU budget cycle. Serafin outlined the importance of a balanced package that includes defence spending while maintaining cohesion and agricultural policies as central pillars of the European Union’s strategic vision.
Friday’s itinerary shifted to a direct engagement with local stakeholders and scientific institutions. After a session with members of the National Association of the Municipalities to discuss the regional implications of the National and Regional Partnership plans, Serafin turned to the National STEM Centre in Sofia Tech Park. There he witnessed the centre’s role as a hub for science, technology, engineering and mathematics, co‑funded by the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Plan. He then visited EnduroSat’s laboratory and mission control room, where EU funds flow into satellite manufacturing and space services under the European Innovation Council.
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Galab Donev said the meeting underscored the need for robust revenue strategies that keep the EU’s cohesion commitments intact while avoiding an additional burden on national budgets. He highlighted the role of the Common Agricultural Policy as a safeguard for food security across the Union: “The growing number and scale of the challenges we face require an adequate and timely response, but this must not come at the expense of policies enshrined in the EU treaties,” Donev said.
In a separate statement, Commissioner Piotr Serafin emphasized the urgency of reaching consensus on the MFF: “We face an uncertain future, which is why I hope a consensus on the Multiannual Financial Framework can be reached by the end of the year,” Serafin said. He added that defence investment must be included in the next seven‑year budget if the EU is to maintain peace and security along its borders.
The discussions run in the broader context of EU budget negotiations, where officials have pushed for simplification of funding procedures to reduce administrative burdens and improve transparency. Stakeholders in Bulgaria and other member states have repeatedly stressed the need to streamline the application process, cut overlapping regulations, and ensure consistent legal frameworks to make EU funding easier to navigate. These concerns echo the Commission’s broader effort to craft a 2028–2034 MFF that balances ambition with practicality.
Following the engagement in Sofia, the Commissioner will continue his European tour, engaging with stakeholders across member states to shape the direction and priorities of the upcoming MFF proposal. While he has urged swift agreement on the budget package, both sides recognize that compromises will be necessary and that defence, cohesion and agricultural issues remain central to the negotiation process.
