NATO crisis management centre in Sofia approves 2027 programme and budget

The Steering Committee of NATO’s Crisis Management and Disaster Response Centre of Excellence (CMDR COE) approved its work programme and budget for 2027 at a meeting held on 4–5 November in Sofia, the Ministry of Defence said. Representatives of the Centre’s five member countries attended: Bulgaria, Greece, Hungary, Poland and Romania.

Resilience and interoperability are priorities for 2027

According to the ministry, next year the Centre will continue to develop the crisis management and disaster response capabilities of NATO, its allies and partner countries. The focus will be on resilience and interoperability: the ability to maintain operations during disruption and for different participants to act in coordination.

The meeting also discussed the results of the Centre’s work in 2026 and directions for its future development. The decision on the programme and budget was taken by the Centre’s Steering Committee. The announcement does not describe any separate approval by NATO as an organisation.

The budget total, the allocation of funds and the specific training courses, exercises and projects were not disclosed. The approval alone therefore provides no basis for concluding that funding is increasing or that the Centre will acquire new capabilities.

Bulgaria has a direct role in setting priorities

Bulgaria is the framework nation for the Centre, which is headquartered in Sofia. The meeting was chaired by Major General Zdravko Pehlivanov, Director of the Defence Staff and Chairman of the Steering Committee. Bulgaria was represented by Colonel Yordanka Stoyanova of the Defence Policy and Planning Directorate.

This participation gives the country a direct role in setting the multinational centre’s priorities. However, which specific activities will involve the Bulgarian Armed Forces or disaster response structures will only become clear once more details of the programme are published.