On 7 July 2026, Ms. Anelia Marinova, Director General of the Bulgarian Civil Aviation Administration (BG CAA), hosted the working visit to Sofia of Mr. Florian Guillermet, Executive Director of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).
The EASA delegation also included Mr. Francesco Gaetani, Flight Standards Director and Chief Pilot, and Mr. Jeremy Teahan, Chief Institutional Relations Officer.
The main purpose of the visit was to provide an overview of the activities of the Bulgarian competent authority for civil aviation, as well as of the current state, development and future prospects of the Bulgarian aviation sector.
During his visit, Mr. Guillermet held meetings with the Minister of Transport and Communications of the Republic of Bulgaria, Mr. Georgi Peev, with the senior management of the Bulgarian Air Traffic Services Authority (BULATSA), representatives of SOF Connect, the concessionaire of Vasil Levski Sofia Airport, the aircraft maintenance organisation Aero Technic BG, and the Bulgarian drone manufacturer Dronamics.
A key highlight of the programme was a meeting between EASA's senior management and representatives of the Bulgarian aviation industry, organised by the Bulgarian Civil Aviation Administration. The discussion focused on current priorities on the European aviation agenda, including aviation safety, the effectiveness and simplification of the regulatory framework, sustainability, digitalisation and innovation in civil aviation.
The meeting reaffirmed the shared understanding that close cooperation between EASA, national aviation authorities and the aviation industry is essential for maintaining the highest level of aviation safety and supporting the sustainable development of European aviation. The Bulgarian Civil Aviation Administration reaffirmed its commitment to the consistent implementation of the European regulatory framework and to a collaborative, partnership-based approach to oversight activities, with the common objective of continuously enhancing aviation safety across Europe.
