SOFIA, Bulgaria — European Council President António Costa will travel to Bulgaria from April 27 to 29 to meet with Prime Minister Rossen Jeliazkov and other officials, as part of efforts to bolster EU priorities on defense, innovation, and regional stability.
Costa will also meet Bulgarian President Rumen Radev during the three-day visit, which will include tours of industrial and technological sites central to the EU’s green and digital transition initiatives.
“I look forward to my visit to Bulgaria to discuss European Union priorities and learn more about the country’s contributions to our joint efforts in fostering innovation and building a greener, smarter continent,” Costa said ahead of his trip. “In bolstering the European economy, enhancing security, and strengthening territorial cohesion, defence and competitiveness go hand in hand.”
During his stay, Costa will tour Arsenal JSCo, a leading firearms and munitions manufacturer in Kazanluk, reflecting the EU’s push to strengthen its defense capabilities and support Ukraine amid Russia’s war of aggression.
The president will also visit Stara Zagora, where he will tour Trakia University’s Aquaponics Centre, a facility pioneering sustainable agriculture by combining fish farming and hydroponic crop cultivation. The project forms part of the region’s broader economic diversification strategy and aligns with EU goals for a green transition.
Costa’s itinerary includes a stop in Plovdiv to visit the Philippopolis Art Center, before returning to Sofia to tour the Institute for Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence and Technology (INSAIT), one of Europe’s leading AI research hubs.
At INSAIT, researchers are developing AI-driven projects across industries as part of the EU’s “AI Continent Action Plan,” an initiative aimed at boosting European competitiveness in artificial intelligence.
“The EU’s strength lies in unity: only by pooling our skills and capabilities can we rise to our current challenges and shape a sustainable, competitive, and secure future for all Europeans,” Costa said.
During meetings with Jeliazkov and Radev, Costa is expected to discuss European defense policy, migration, enlargement, and continued support for Ukraine.
The trip underscores Bulgaria’s growing role in advancing EU strategic objectives and highlights local efforts to turn innovation and education into drivers of Europe’s broader prosperity and resilience.
