The Deputy Minister of Defence Atanas Zapryanov participated in the traditional annual European Defence Agency’s conference, which is conducted today, 29 November 2018, in Brussels. This year, the topic of the conference is “From Unmanned to Autonomous Systems: trends, challenges, opportunities”.

The Forum was opened by the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini. Among the high-level participants and key-note speakers at the opening of the conference were Dr. Wolfgang Baumann, Secretary General of the Austrian Ministry of Defence, who introduced the Austrian Presidency of the Council of the EU, and General Claudio Graziano, Chairman of the European Union Military Committee.

The Deputy Minister of Defence Atanas Zapryanov participated in the first panel of the conference in the center of which was the topic Adapting Today’s Armed Forces to Tomorrow’s Technology. In his speech, the Deputy Minister focused on the tendency related to the spread of technologies based on unmanned systems not only among sovereign states, but also among non-state actors. The sovereign states will continue to work hard towards development and acquisition of revolutionary technologies with the goal to achieve military supremacy. Increasing the level of autonomy of the weapon systems inevitably gives rise to a series of humanitarian, moral and ethical issues, which is a prerequisite for the endeavors to restore the interaction between man and machines i.e. control by human beings has to be present at every stage of using systems of this type. Deputy Minister Zapryanov analyzed the consequences of these issues for the doctrines, structures, command, management and training of the armed forces.

The European Commissioner for Digital Economy and Society Maria Gabriel also took part in the conference. In her speech, she highlighted the connection to the future Digital Europe Program in the framework of which the European Union and the EU member states will focus on cybersecurity related technologies. The European Commissioner underlined the importance of the investments in technologies of this type, which constitutes a basic priority in the work performed by the European Commission, and is supported to the fullest extent by the President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker. The European investments in research and development in this sphere have already been launched through the implementation of the Preparatory Action for defence research, and this process will find its natural continuation at technological development level in the European Defence Industrial Development Program (EDIDP) and in the future European Defence Fund (EDP). With respect to the civilian sector and funding dual-use technologies, Horizon 2020, and respectively Horizon Europe in the new program period 2021-2027, play an essential role.

“The topic of the conference, which is a part of the agenda of the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, is of an exceptional importance because cybersecurity is a very high level priority both for EU and for NATO. This forum provides us with an opportunity to speak about the cooperation between the two organizations in the area of cyber defence,” said the Deputy Minister of Defence Atanas Zapryanov who today, 13 June 2018, opened the international scientific conference on cybersecurity and cyber defence entitled Building a Rapid Response. The conference will be conducted on 13-14 June 2018 in the Central Military Club, Sofia. It is organized by the Defence Institute “Professor Tsvetan Lazarov” in partnership with the European Defence Agency (EDA).

“With respect to cybersecurity, we need proactive policy and proactive measures which will allow the armed forces to build cyber defence capabilities,” the Deputy Minister declared, emphasizing that the Bulgarian Government “has already proposed a draft act in the sphere of cybersecurity, and the National Assembly is expected to pass this act in the near future.” Deputy Minister Zapryanov explained that “the draft act incorporates specific functional responsibilities assigned to the respective ministers, including the Minister of Defence and the Chief of Defence. These responsibilities are related to establishing cybersecurity policy at the Ministry of Defence, to structuring the cyber defence capabilities and the resources necessary for the implementation of this goal,” said the Deputy Minister of Defence and added that the MoD “plans to build capabilities and to include cybersecurity as a part of the operational planning of military exercises.”

At the international scientific conference on cybersecurity and cyber defence, the participants will discuss approaches and possibilities related both to rapid response in counteracting cyber-attacks and to cyber challenges by offering solutions in the sphere of research and technologies, education and specialized training at EU level.

Representatives of Governments of EU member states, of EU institutions, academic community, innovation centers, defence industry and the armed forces participate in the conference with the goal to encourage the dialogue among the interested sides, focusing on necessary, appropriate and emerging innovations in the sphere of cyber defence.

On 7 June 2018, the European Defence Agency (EDA) and the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Bulgaria co-organised the conference “Military Mobility – Key to European Security” in Brussels. Political and military decision-makers including Federica Mogherini, Head of the European Defence Agency, High-Representative and Vice-President of the European Commission, Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Krasimir Karakachanov, NATO Deputy Secretary General Rose Gottemoeller and EDA Chief Executive Jorge Domecq as well as Ministers and high level officials of Member States and allied countries, EU bodies, NATO, and other relevant stakeholders assessed progress in and exchanged views on European military mobility.

In his opening speech, Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, Krasimir Karakachanov, said: “The boundaries between internal and external security issues are getting less distinct, the hybrid nature of conflicts is already established as a rule. Improving military mobility is key to the EU's ability to effectively carry out its Common Security and Defense Policy’s operations. Assuring fast and efficient movement of military contingents and materiel, within and outside EU territory, will enable our Union to effectively react to the challenges of the contemporary highly dynamic strategic environment”.

At the conference, high-level speakers from national governments and armed forces as well as NATO representatives and European defence actors discussed the way ahead in key note speeches and two panel discussions focussing on synergies and coordination as well as on military requirements for military mobility respectively.

Deputy Minister of Defence Atanas Zapryanov was the moderator of the first panel which discussed issues related to synergies and coordination at national level and in the framework of EU and NATO.

In his closing speech, Jorge Domecq, Chief Executive of the European Defence Agency, emphasized that “Military mobility is not just about defence. A whole of government approach is necessary to achieve results. At EU level we already took our share of responsibility and all relevant EU institutions, agencies and bodies are already working hand in hand to better serve the Member States’ needs. Looking at the European Council at the end of June, it is important for Heads of States and Government to address the issue in order to mobilise a whole of government approach.”

On June 7, 2018 in Brussels, Belgium, Minister of Defence Krasimir Karakachanov will open a Symposium devoted to the theme of Military Mobility – Key to European Security. The Forum is organized by the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Bulgaria and the European Defence Agency and is part of the official calendar of the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The event will be attended by Federica Mogherini, Head of the European Defence Agency, High Representative and Vice-President of the European Commission, Rose Gottemoeller, Deputy Secretary General, North Atlantic Treaty Organization, General Mikhail Kostarakos, Chairman of the European Union Military Committee, Jorge Domecq, Chief Executive of the European Defence Agency, the Ministers of Defence of the Netherlands, Slovenia and Finland Ank Bijleveld, Andreja Katič and Jussi Niinistö, representatives of EU and NATO structures as well as of state bodies of EU member states, the USA and Canada. The focus of the discussions will be placed on military mobility, one of the leading projects for cooperation between the EU and NATO.

Deputy Minister of Defence Lieutenant General Atanas Zapryanov (Ret.) will be the moderator of the first panel which will discuss issues related to synergies and coordination at national level and in the framework of EU and NATO.

“Today is a notable day as at Sofia Airport we welcome one of the aircraft of the E-3A Component (AWACS) of the NATO Early Airborne Warning& Control Force. To us, this visit is a manifestation of the coherence of the Alliance, of Bulgaria as a NATO member state and as part of NATO Integrated Air Defence System. AWACS aircraft conduct surveillance and electronic airspace management, which are also in the interest of the air defence of the Republic of Bulgaria,” stated Deputy Minister of Defence Atanas Zapryanov today, June 5, at Sofia Airport during the static display of a NATO E-3A aircraft for airborne warning and control (AWACS).

“The landing of an E-3A (AWACS) aircraft is a symbol of the solidarity of the member states and the efforts of Bulgaria at modernization of her Air Force in compliance with NATO requirements as well as an expression of our will to contribute to collective defence within the air component,” said Deputy Minister Zapryanov.

“In this complex geopolitical environment, the implementation of the tasks of NATO member states Armed Forces is calling for more collective efforts and sufficient resources, respecting at the same time national priorities and specificities. The E-3A aircraft provide the Air Operations Center (AOC) with extremely valuable information on the air situation far beyond the range of our radars, they exchange operational information,” said in his address Brigadier General Petyo Mirchev, Deputy Commander of the Bulgarian Air Force.

The visit of the E-3A aircraft is organized by the Bulgarian Air Force Command under the initiative of NATO Allied Air Command Ramstein, Germany and is an expression of the commitment of the Alliance to the security of the South-Eastern region of Europe.

Brigadier General Mirchev pointed out that the need of better training and co-action among the Air Forces of NATO member states is not a goal in itself but ensues from the new realities of the strategic environment. He also shared that this year the Bulgarian Air Force will participate in 12 joint exercises and trainings with NATO allies, which is noteworthy not only because of the greater number of participants but also due to the complexity of the performed tasks.

“The NATO Е-3А AWACS as part of the NATO Early Airborne Warning and Control Force is a key element in NATO’s Assurance Measures. We support NATO’s deterrence and defence activities and contribute as a high readiness force to the leading air elements of the NATO Response Force,” said in his statement the Commander of the NATO Airborne Warning & Control System E-3A Component at Geilenkirchen, Germany, Brigadier General Karsten Stoye.

“To be here at Sofia International Airport today sends a clear message that Bulgaria is an integral part of “NATO’s homeland” and that we – as an Alliance – are defensive and we are vigilant,” said Brigadier General Stoye. He also stated that since 2014, as part of NATO’s Assurance Measures, over 1400 missions and 11 000 flight hours have been executed in European NATO air space.

The static display of NATO Е-3А „AWACS“ was also observed by the participants in the 3-day NATO Airborne Warning Scheduling Conference which was held in Bulgaria.