Bulgaria already met the EU accession criteria but remained behind European levels in several key areas, Defence Minister Vesselin Bliznakov said.

The income level was lower than in other European countries and Bulgaria experienced significant demographic problems, Bliznakov said.

Even the country's biggest transition achievement, the ethnic model, was challenged and needed to be updated and developed further, Bulgarian news agency BTA quoted Bliznakov as saying.

Ethnic peace should not be taken as given and should be protected, Bliznakov said. The country played a role in stabilising the situation in the Western Balkans area and needed to further develop this function, said he.

Bliznakov also discussed Bulgarian participation in foreign military operations. Bulgaria needed to undertake actions to aid the international global security. The country was part of an international community and could not act as a side observer, said Bliznakov.