German Chancellor Friedrich Merz welcomed Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev in Berlin during the Bulgarian leader’s first foreign visit since taking office, describing the choice of Germany as a sign of the close relationship between the two countries. “We are glad that your first visit abroad is in Berlin,” Merz said during their joint appearance, stressing that Bulgaria and Germany remain closely connected economically and politically within the European Union.
The German chancellor also congratulated Bulgaria on its Eurovision victory, predicting that DARA’s winning song “Bangaranga” would become “the hit of the summer.” Merz noted that hundreds of thousands of Bulgarians live in Germany and described Germany as Bulgaria’s largest trading partner. According to him, strengthening European competitiveness, deepening the internal market, reducing bureaucracy and expanding cooperation among member states remain key priorities for Berlin and Brussels.
Merz said discussions at the recent informal summit in Cyprus with the European Commission and the European Parliament had produced a timetable for reforms and measures, some expected to move forward as early as 2026. “For me, the priorities are clear - investments in competitiveness and defense are needed,” he stated, while also warning against growing debt levels across Europe. “There should be no excessive indebtedness in the EU. Some countries pay more in interest than for defense,” he added.
