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Visit of Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, to Bulgaria

Visit of Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, to Bulgaria

On 31 August 2025, Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, went to Sopot, Bulgaria, where she met with Rossen Jeliazkov, the Bulgarian Prime Minister. She was joined by Andrius Kubilius, European Commissioner for Defence and Space, Boyko Borissov, Member of the Bulgarian National Assembly, Atanas Zaprianov, Bulgarian Minister of Defence, and Peter Dilov, Bulgarian Minister of Economy and Industry. Together, they were received by Ivan Getsov, Executive Director of VMZ Sopot, during a visit to the country's largest arms manufacturing facility. The purpose of the visit was to discuss the strengthening of European defence capabilities and to support the increase in arms production in Bulgaria to meet the strategic needs of the European Union. The visit concluded with a press conference.
Statement
Media information
ID P-067700
Date 31/08/2025
Photos 20
Category Report
Tags European Commission - visits made Security policy EU relations with Member States See more
Personalities Andrius Kubilius Peter Dilov Atanas Zaprianov See more
Location Bulgaria Plovdiv Sopot See more
Visit of Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, to Bulgaria

Andrius Kubilius, 1st, Peter Dilov, 2nd, Ivan Getsov, 3rd, Rossen Jeliazkov, 4th, Ursula von der Leyen, 5th, and Boyko Borissov, 6th (from left to right)

Visit of Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, to Bulgaria

Rossen Jeliazkov, on the left, and Ursula von der Leyen

Visit of Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, to Bulgaria

Peter Dilov, 1st, Atanas Zaprianov, 2nd, Boyko Borissov, 3rd, Rossen Jeliazkov, 4th, and Ursula von der Leyen, 5th (from right to left)

Visit of Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, to Bulgaria

Handshake between the helicopter commander and Ursula von der Leyen, in the foreground; Rossen Jeliazkov, 2nd from the left, in the background

Visit of Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, to Bulgaria

Rossen Jeliazkov, on the left, and Ursula von der Leyen, in the foreground; Andrius Kubilius, 4th from the left, in the background

Visit of Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, to Bulgaria

Handshake between Boyko Borissov, on the right, and Ursula von der Leyen

Visit of Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, to Bulgaria

Pièces métallique stockées dans un atelier

Visit of Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, to Bulgaria

Employée manipulant une pièce métallique dans un atelier

Visit of Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, to Bulgaria

Ivan Getsov, 1st, Boyko Borissov, 2nd, Ursula von der Leyen, 3rd, and Rossen Jeliazkov, 4th (from left to right)

Visit of Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, to Bulgaria

Boyko Borissov, on the left, and Ursula von der Leyen, in the foreground

Visit of Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, to Bulgaria

Andrius Kubilius, 3rd, Ivan Getsov, 4th, Peter Dilov, 5th, Rossen Jeliazkov, 6th, and Ursula von der Leyen, 7th (from left to right)

Visit of Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, to Bulgaria

Employée manipulant une pièce métallique dans un atelier

Visit of Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, to Bulgaria

Andrius Kubilius, 2nd, Rossen Jeliazkov, 3rd, and Ursula von der Leyen, 4th (from left to right)

Visit of Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, to Bulgaria

Peter Dilov, 1st, Atanas Zaprianov, 2nd, Boyko Borissov, 3rd, Rossen Jeliazkov, 4th, and Ursula von der Leyen, 5th (from right to left)

Visit of Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, to Bulgaria

Rossen Jeliazkov, on the right, and Ursula von der Leyen, at the tribune

Visit of Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, to Bulgaria

Peter Dilov, 1st, Atanas Zaprianov, 2nd, Boyko Borissov, 3rd, Rossen Jeliazkov, 4th, and Ursula von der Leyen, 5th (from right to left, in the foreground)

Visit of Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, to Bulgaria

Peter Dilov, 1st, Atanas Zaprianov, 2nd, Boyko Borissov, 3rd, Rossen Jeliazkov, 4th, and Ursula von der Leyen, 5th (from right to left, in the foreground)

Visit of Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, to Bulgaria

Peter Dilov, 1st, Atanas Zaprianov, 2nd, Boyko Borissov, 3rd, Rossen Jeliazkov, 4th, and Ursula von der Leyen, 5th (from right to left, in the foreground)

Visit of Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, to Bulgaria

Rossen Jeliazkov, on the right, and Ursula von der Leyen, at the tribune

Visit of Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, to Bulgaria

Airbus H215M military helicopter parked on a runway

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