On 29 and 30 October 2026, Commissioner Piotr Serafin visited Bulgaria. This visit was particularly significant as it marked the end of his Tour d'Europe across all 27 EU Member States. This final stop focused on the next EU’s long-term budget, research, and space technology.
STOP 1: Where Europe’s next chapter begins (29 October)
Commissioner Serafin began his visit by delivering opening remarks at the conference The Next Multiannual Financial Framework: Priorities and Principles, organised by the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Sofia, together with the European Commission Representation in Bulgaria and the European Council on Foreign Relations.
With Member States working to finalise negotiations on the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), the conference provided an opportunity to exchange views on the priorities that should shape our Union’s long-term spending. The Commission continues to work with Member States and the European Parliament to support them in building an agreement on the future EU budget.
STOP 2: Every euro starts with a choice (29 October)
Commissioner Serafin met Galab Donev, Bulgaria’s Minister of Finance, to discuss the negotiations on the next EU budget, including the timeline for reaching an agreement, Bulgaria’s priorities and the financing of the future MFF.
During the meeting, the Minister expressed support for the Commission’s proposal and highlighted the importance of maintaining an ambitious EU budget while working towards a timely agreement. He identified cohesion policy and agriculture as key priorities for Bulgaria, while also emphasising the growing importance of security, defence and border management, particularly for regions bordering the Black Sea.
These exchanges provided an opportunity to better understand Bulgaria’s position on the different elements of the MFF negotiations.
STOP 3: Bulgaria’s priorities, Europe’s future (29 October)
Later in the day, Commissioner Serafin met with Rumen Radev, Prime Minister of Bulgaria, to exchange views on the country’s political and economic priorities, and the negotiations on the EU’s next long-term budget.
The Prime Minister highlighted the central role of cohesion policy and the Common Agricultural Policy as pillars of European unity and solidarity. At the same time, he emphasised the need for greater investment in competitiveness and defence, while continuing to address social challenges and support political stability.
On defence, the Prime Minister pointed to the growing importance of security-related expenditure, he highlighted the value of EU instruments such as Security Action for Europe (SAFE) in supporting Member States’ defence investments, and stressed the importance of strengthening cooperation across the European defence industry.
The meeting provided an important opportunity for Commissioner Serafin to hear Bulgaria’s perspectives and better understand its priorities, contributing to the broader dialogue aimed at securing an agreement on the next MFF that responds to the needs of all EU citizens.
STOP 4: Europe begins close to home (30 October)
The next day, Commissioner Serafin met with representatives of the National Association of the Municipalities. Their discussion focused on the regional and local dimensions of the National and Regional Partnership Plans under the next Multiannual Financial Framework (2028–2034).
Participants included the CEO of the National Association of the Municipalities, its Chairman and Mayor of Veliko Tarnovo, its Vice-Chairman and Mayor of Dimitrovgrad, the Mayor of Sofia, and the Head of Strategic Development of Municipalities.
The representatives welcomed the opportunity to exchange views with the Commissioner, highlighting the importance of recognising municipalities as key partners in the preparation and implementation of the future National and Regional Partnership Plans.
They also stressed the importance of ensuring sufficient funding for cohesion policy and agriculture, and underlined the need for arrangements that provide local authorities with predictable access to resources and enable them to continue delivering investments that respond to local and regional needs.
STOP 5: From the classroom to the cosmos (30 October)
Later in the day, Commissioner Serafin visited the National STEM Centre, together with Deputy Prime Minister Atanas Pekanov. The centre forms part of Bulgaria’s broader investment in STEM education under the Recovery and Resilience Plan. The EU contribution to the wider STEM-centres investment is €243 million, supporting modern learning facilities, teacher training, and STEM laboratories in schools, alongside the national and regional centres. The new centre provides specialist spaces for learning and practical exploration in areas including robotics, green technologies, 3D prototyping, mathematics, and natural sciences.
They then visited EnduroSat, a satellite manufacturer, whose goal is to make space universally accessible. The European Innovation Council has made a €10 million equity investment in the firm, supporting its development as an innovative European business.
These two visits provided an opportunity to see how EU budget support translates into concrete outcomes, helps innovative ideas grow, and strengthens Europe’s competitiveness.
