Something unprecedented happened this year in the European Parliament—something that many people missed in the news cycle.

For the first time in the 70-year history of European integration, a permanent Committee on Security and Defence was established. Andrey Novakov is one of its members and one of the few Bulgarians directly involved in building European defense policy.

But what exactly does this mean in practice? And why does it even matter to you?

How does the European Parliament work?

To understand why this news is important, you must first understand how the EP makes decisions.

The European Parliament is not like national parliaments. It does not vote on laws regarding taxes or pensions. Those matters remain within the jurisdiction of each individual state. The EP works with regulations and directives that set common rules for all 27 members: air quality rules, passenger rights, construction standards, and regional funding.

Work is organized into specialized committees, similar to parliamentary subcommittees. There are committees on budget, transport, agriculture, civil liberties, and dozens of others. Each committee prepares reports, proposes legislative changes, and oversees the European Commission in its respective field.

Until this year, there was no permanent committee on defense. The topic existed, but it was distributed among various bodies, without focus, resources, or real weight.

Why Now?

The war in Ukraine changed everything. Europe realized that for decades it had relied on the American military as the guarantor of its security and that this cannot continue forever.

Novakov says it directly: “We are pressed by circumstances.” The new committee is an admission that the EU must build its own defense capacity, and do so quickly.

What does the Committee on Security and Defence do?

The Committee on Security and Defence works in three main areas. The first is legislation: developing rules for European joint financing of defense equipment, standardization of weapon systems, and coordination between the armies of member states. The second is the budget: for the first time in its history, the EU is allocating significant funds directly to defense, and the committee participates in their distribution. The third is oversight: monitoring how defense programs are implemented and whether the money is going where it should.

What does this mean for Bulgaria?

Bulgaria has something that many Western European countries do not: a functioning defense industry. Factories that produce ammunition, machinery, and equipment are currently in higher demand across the EU and NATO than they have been in decades.

Novakov has already organized a visit for European MEPs to Bulgarian defense enterprises and has presented nine Bulgarian companies in Brussels. The goal is clear: to position them as key suppliers in the European defense chain before others join the queue.

History rarely offers such windows of opportunity. For now, it is open.

Read more: Bulgaria’s Defense Industry and the Opportunity Ahead · The First Sofia Security Conference