Von der Leyen in Varna pledges 50 million euros for Black Sea maritime security

A two-day mission to the Black Sea

Ursula von der Leyen began her mission on Monday, 9 November 2026, in Bucharest, where she met Romanian president Nicușor Dan. On Tuesday, 10 November, she was in Varna, Bulgaria, where she visited the Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy and held a press conference with Bulgarian prime minister Rumen Radev. Speaking in Varna, she told reporters that the EU stood with Bulgaria and promised a strong and united European response to the attacks on shipping.

“Here in Varna, on the Black Sea coast, I want to send a clear message: Europe is with Bulgaria.”

Attacks on merchant ships

Von der Leyen said drones were sinking commercial vessels, setting boats on fire and killing civilians, with lives lost at sea, navigation disrupted and insurance costs rising. She argued the attacks were designed to spread fear and uncertainty in Europe, and said incursions, threats and attacks in Bulgaria had increased this year, with a particular rise in the month before 10 November. Radev called the attacks unacceptable and said sailors were not part of the armed conflict. He added that rescue teams in his country had saved 56 sailors. Radev linked the incidents to the escalation of the war between Russia and Ukraine, but acknowledged that international investigations had not yet identified those responsible more than a month after the first attacks. Bulgaria, he said, wanted more data and concrete facts and would not make accusations without evidence. Radev also thanked the EU for backing a proposal, made together with Romania, for a moratorium on attacks against civilian ships in the Black Sea.

Funding for a Black Sea maritime security centre

Von der Leyen announced 50 million euros for a Black Sea maritime security centre that Romania and Bulgaria will manage, with the aim of making it operational in 2027. The centre is meant to improve monitoring of ship traffic and information sharing about the situation in the Black Sea, and to help protect routes used to carry goods, energy and food from Ukraine. Brussels will also give Bulgaria a further 10 million euros for authorities carrying out search and rescue missions at sea. She said Romania and Bulgaria must set a clear timetable for completing the project, and that it should begin operating as soon as possible. She also welcomed closer maritime cooperation between Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey.

Black Sea maritime security centre50

Search and rescue support for Bulgaria10

Black Sea maritime security centre

50 million euros

Search and rescue support for Bulgaria

10 million euros

Data from the article text

Ukraine, peace talks and the EU summit

Asked about talks between Ukraine and Russia in Abu Dhabi, von der Leyen said that if Ukraine stopped fighting it would be wiped off the map, while the war would end if Russia stopped. She added that everyone wanted peace and that Ukraine's partners were backing every peace attempt and discussion. The talks in the United Arab Emirates, under US mediation, were taking place on Tuesday and Wednesday. On a letter from Chancellor Friedrich Merz calling for all states to take part in financing Kyiv, she said the issue would be discussed at the European Council, where the 27 member states hold different positions but usually reach a positive conclusion.