The defence ministry is stepping up intelligence and surveillance in the Black Sea, along with data exchange with NATO and the army's readiness to respond to incidents, defence minister Dimitar Stoyanov said. He opened the international conference "The Black Sea and Eastern Europe: A Key to Europe's Security" in Sofia today. President Iliana Yotova chairs the forum. See our original report: After attacks on two ships, experts meet in Sofia to discuss Black Sea security.

"Our goal is to turn the Black Sea region into a zone of reliable deterrence and defence," Stoyanov said.

The ministry has already improved co-ordination between agencies and the readiness of the armed forces, and has put in place extra steps to protect military units and critical infrastructure sites. The armed forces are better prepared to help state bodies and to respond to new incidents.

Drones, counter-drone systems, cyber defence, electronic warfare and space capabilities are among the main priorities for the army's development. The ministry is also working to introduce artificial intelligence to protect the armed forces better from cyber attacks.

Stoyanov said security in the Black Sea matters for the stability of the whole of Europe. He believes deterrence and defence need stronger capabilities and unity in NATO and the EU.

The minister said the war in Ukraine continues to pose serious risks for Europe and that fighting is already taking place in the Black Sea too.

Stoyanov said the war, together with growing hybrid threats, creates new risks for freedom of navigation, economic stability and the protection of critical infrastructure. A strong allied presence and joint work by state institutions, local authorities, business and civil society are also needed, he said. He called the Black Sea a testing ground for new ways of waging war. These new methods will determine what defence capabilities will be needed in future, he said.

Interior minister Ivan Demerdzhiev, deputy foreign minister Hristo Polendakov and ELEC International president Javier Arias attended the conference. Also there was MEP Gen. Christophe Gomart, deputy chair of the European Parliament's security and defence committee.

Other guests included Prof. Neli Koseva, chief scientific secretary of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, and Prof. Branimir Botev, vice-president of ELEC International and president of ELEC Bulgaria. Representatives of European institutions and organisations also attended the forum.