Bulgarian PM Radev attacks his country's MEPs over Black Sea resolution
The European Parliament urged Sofia to do more against Russian attacks in the Black Sea. Radev accused Bulgarian MEPs of using the assembly for an election campaign.
Archive image · Photo: Bulgarian Presidency / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.5 bg (cropped and resized)
Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev sharply criticized Bulgarian members of the European Parliament on Thursday. His remarks followed a resolution the assembly adopted the same day by 432 votes to 52, with 88 abstentions. The resolution blames Russia for deadly attacks on civilian ships off Bulgaria and Romania. It urges the EU to consider a naval operation to protect shipping and calls for EU funding for the two countries' security. It also asks Bulgaria to confirm by Oct. 30 that it will take part in NATO's counter-drone initiative.
Speaking after a meeting of his Progressive Bulgaria party, Radev said the European Parliament was being used as an instrument by Bulgarian MEPs. According to BTA, he said the MEPs had limited political legitimacy at home and were running a national election campaign they were doomed to lose. He called that unworthy. Radev also objected to the parliament telling a sovereign state when to take which decisions. He said the defense minister had already announced when Bulgaria would join the initiative, which has existed since February 2025.
According to Club Z, 8 of Bulgaria's 17 MEPs voted for the resolution, including members from GERB, DPS and PP. The two MEPs from the Vazrazhdane party voted against, three abstained and four did not vote. The resolution is political and not legally binding. On the attacks on ships in Bulgaria's exclusive economic zone, Radev said the government was awaiting expert findings from investigators and from a specialist team sent by an allied country. He said the public would be informed after that.