MPs Approve Legal Changes Paving Way for NATO Coordination Center in Sofia

Defense Act changes facilitating the establishment of a coordination center of NATO in Sofia passed second reading in Parliament on Friday.

The legal changes allow Bulgarian military and civilian staff to be part of the local unit of the international organization, according to reports of the BGNES news agency.

The Bulgaria-based unit is to strengthen the role of NATO against the backdrop of the crisis in Ukraine.

The decision on the location of the NATO coordination center was taken at the 2014 Wales Summit.

The NATO coordination center in Sofia is to have a total headcount of around 40, half of them Bulgarians, and is to be fully operational at the end of 2015.

Defense Minister Nikolay Nenchev explained Friday that the repair works at the Defense Ministry building on General Totleben Blvd 34 in Sofia, which is to accommodate the unit, would be wrapped up by June or July.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!