SOFIA, July 23 (Xinhua) -- Bulgaria would ask the European Union (EU) for a loan of up to 3.06 billion euros (3.6 billion U.S. dollars) to modernize its armed forces, the country's Government Information Service announced in a press release on Wednesday.
According to a decision made by the Council of Ministers on the same day, the minister of defense was authorized to sign and submit an expression of interest to the European Commission by July 29, the press release said.
The loan would be requested under the EU's Security Action for Europe (SAFE) instrument.
The expression of interest is not legally binding, the press release added. (1 euro = 1.17 U.S. dollar) ■
