“It is not possible to have security that is only European and security that is only NATO. There must be good and productive cooperation and decisions in the interest of our citizens,” said Vice President Iliana Yotova during an online conference “Ahead of the future: Preparing for NATO 2030”. With this forum the Atlantic Club in Bulgaria is marking its 30^th anniversary.

“The conversation about the future NATO has begun and will run parallel with another very important discourse of crucial significance to all of us, citizens of Europe – the conference on the future of the EU and specifically “The future is in your hands” platform,” Vice President Yotova said. “It is time for a new declaration on the development of the EU that will live up to the changed world we are living in, and not just on our continent,” Iliana Yotova stated.

The fight against corruption is directly related to Bulgaria's position as a stable NATO member on the Alliance's southeastern flank. This is what US Ambassador to Bulgaria Herro Mustafa, who also joined the forum, said. According to her, Bulgaria and the Black Sea region should take advantage of the improved opportunities for connectivity in the spheres of security, energy and infrastructure.

Former NATO chief George Robertson has called on Bulgaria to lift its veto on the start of North Macedonia's EU Membership talks.

The President of North Macedonia, Stevo Pendarovski, pointed out that in recent years, none of the conflicts on the Balkans could have been resolved without synchronicity between the United States and the EU.