At the invitation of President Emmanuel Macron, Prime Minister Rumen Radev is on a visit to Paris, where he is participating in the International Space Summit. A key moment of the program was the ceremony at the Élysée Palace, where EnduroSat and Arianespace signed a memorandum of understanding. This act was described by the Bulgarian Prime Minister as opening the door to fruitful cooperation between the two countries in the field of space and high technology, which will allow Bulgaria to take its rightful place in the European space ecosystem.
In the context of the partnership, Rumen Radev highlighted the achievements of the Bulgarian company EnduroSat. It is among the most dynamically developing entities in the sector, having managed to produce and launch into orbit a larger number of small satellites in recent years than all other European companies combined. As part of its growth strategy, the Bulgarian company has already made investments in France and plans to use French rockets for its future space missions.
European strategic autonomy was a leading topic in the dialogue between the national leaders. Rumen Radev recalled that President Macron was the initiator of the debates on this topic and emphasized that space science and industry are among the most important pillars for achieving it in the modern conditions of accelerated technological development. During their discussions, they also explored prospects for expanding bilateral cooperation, encompassing the economy, academia, and investments.
In addition to the meeting with the French president, the Bulgarian Prime Minister also held a discussion with Dr. Josef Aschbacher, Director General of the European Space Agency. The official delegation accompanying Rumen Radev to the summit in Paris also includes:
- Deputy Prime Minister Atanas Pekanov;
- Minister of Innovation and Digital Transformation Ivan Vasilev.