The handover of duties to Bulgaria’s new acting foreign minister, Nadezhda Neynski, took place in the absence of her predecessor, Georg Georgiev, who was abroad. Neynski said Georgiev did not specify where he was, but the two are expected to discuss the formal transfer of responsibilities on Friday.
Neynski outlined her main priorities as an active diplomatic policy in the Balkans, maintaining a clear stance on the war in Ukraine, and advancing Bulgaria’s bid for membership in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). She also stressed that the Foreign Ministry is ready to respond quickly if the number of Bulgaria’s diplomatic missions abroad needs to be adjusted beyond the limits set by current legislation. The issue has been returned to the National Assembly after a presidential veto.
Commenting on U.S. President Donald Trump’s initiative on Gaza (the “Board of Peace”), which involves Bulgaria, Neynski said the situation remains unclear. While Bulgaria has expressed political support, it has not yet been determined whether the initiative constitutes an international treaty. The matter is expected to be discussed with the Special Representative for Gaza, Nickolay Mladenov.
Looking ahead, Neynski announced that she will travel on Monday to attend a meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council, which will be her first major engagement in her new role.
Nadezhda Neynski is returning to a post she previously held in the 1997–2001 SDS government, a period during which Bulgarians obtained visa-free access to EU countries. She later chaired the United Democratic Forces (SDS), served as a Member of the European Parliament, and was Bulgaria’s ambassador to Turkey from 2015 to 2020.
