SOFIA, May 31 (Xinhua) -- The European Commissioner Elzbieta Bienkowska called on Thursday for the end of "fragmented defence market" of Europe, and the taking hold of collective Defence thinking.
Addressing a scientific conference during the 13th Hemus International Defence Equipment Exhibition in Plovdiv, the second largest city of the Balkan country, Bienkowska, the European Commissioner for the Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs, said a few years ago no one would have thought that the European approach to security and defence would change so rapidly.
However, she said, for more than six past years, the EU defence market was fragmented, with each member state focusing on its own national interests. But now collective thinking is quickly taking hold.
"We want to enhance our capacity and combat readiness, and we have a project for collaboration between various companies and the member states in order to develop the whole chain of acquiring military capacity," the Commissioner said.
Bulgarian Defence Minister Krassimir Karakachanov said in the conference his country was trying to upgrade its Armed Forces and to strengthen its position as an efficient and respected ally in NATO and a participant in the EU's common security and defence policy.
The acquisition of new combat equipment is a priority for the Bulgarian Armed Forces, he added.
The theme of the conference was "Scientific Research, Innovation and Industrial Cooperation for Common European Defence and Security." The event was held under the patronage of the Bulgarian Ministries of Defence and Economy and figured on the calendar of the Bulgarian Presidency of the EU Council.
