EU summit condemns Black Sea attacks after Bulgaria pushed for a moratorium

In conclusions adopted on 16 October, the European Council condemned attacks on civilian and merchant vessels in the Black Sea, including the recent strikes in the exclusive economic zones of Bulgaria and Romania. According to the BTA news agency, the leaders called the attacks unacceptable and a serious violation of international and maritime law, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, and called for the immediate restoration of safe passage for all civilian shipping. According to BNT, the conclusions express support for Bulgaria and Romania and call for an immediate halt to the attacks. Russia is accused of using food as a weapon.

For Sofia, the focus was on a proposal by Prime Minister Rumen Radev. Before the summit began, he said Bulgaria would ask for a moratorium on attacks against merchant ships in the Black Sea, so that it becomes a sea "in which no strikes are carried out against merchant and civilian vessels", BNT reported. BTA and BNT reports on the adopted conclusions do not mention a moratorium. Radev said there was still no clear evidence of who was behind the attacks, but logic pointed to Moscow, and proposed that Turkey, as a NATO member, join a joint initiative with Romania.

According to bTV, Black Sea security was not on the official agenda, but Bulgaria and Romania pressed for a discussion and received solidarity and offers of help from their partners. "We discussed the attacks in the Black Sea and hybrid threats," said European Council President António Costa. National Assembly Chair Mihaela Dotsova called in Rome for joint European action to ensure Black Sea security.