Public Lecture on The National Programme Bulgaria in NATO and The European Defence - 2020

A public lecture on the National Programme Bulgaria in NATO and the European Defence – 2020 was delivered to students by the Minister of Defence Assoc. Prof. Dr. Velizar Shalamanov. The Forum was organized by the National and Regional Security Department and the Center for Strategic Researches in Defence and Security at UNWE. At the event attended the doyen of the Department Prof. Tilcho Ivanov and the Scientific Secretary Chief Assist. Dr. Konstantin Pudin.

From the left to the right: Prof. Tilcho Ivanov, Assoc. Prof. Velizar Shalamanov, Dr. Konstantin Pudin

The guest-lecturer who had also been a lecturer at the Department outlined the necessity of accepting a clear national programme with a managing body similar to the one of the operative programmes. “Bulgaria in NATO and the European Defence 2020 should define the mechanism of increasing the costs for defence to 2% from the GDP by 2020. Our country has invested over 2 milliard leva and practically the acquired military capabilities can be hardly seen, said the Minister. The other reason for implementing the new programme is the change in the security environment after 2010 – the year of acceptance of the last planning document – the White Book on Defence and Armed Forces.

The Minister Shalamanov announced also the principles for elaboration of the national programme which would define the directions for transformation in the army and for a unified plan for modernization of the armed forces. According to the Minister it is essentially necessary because during the last ten years it had been spent a lot of money but in conditions of bad management and poor planning.

In the Large Conference Hall

The Minister also pointed out that the UNWE has been creating a serious economic foundation and professionals so the Programme will provide an opportunity for development of young specialists from the university.