International Civil Society Seminar Opens in Sofia

Yoana Vodenicharova

Deputy Labour and Social Policy Minister Danail Rusev opens the two-day 2026 Connecting EU seminar in Sofia, July 6, 2026 (BTA Photo/Minko Chernev)

Sofia,

06.07.2026 18:01

(BTA)

Bulgaria's Deputy Labour and Social Policy Minister Danail Rusev Monday opened a two-day Connecting EU seminar, organized by the European Economic and Social Committee with the support of the Bulgarian Economic and Social Council, the European Parliament Liaison Office in Bulgaria and the European Commission Representation in this country. Held at Sofia University under the theme In Defence of European Values: The Power of Civil Society, the event brings together press and communication professionals from civil society organizations to exchange views on issues affecting Europe.

Addressing participants in the seminar, Rusev said that when the State and civil society work together, economic progress and democratic values translate into tangible gains for citizens. Referring to a study of 21,000 companies by two US analytical companies, he noted that businesses investing more heavily in AI tend to expand their workforces over the long term. "The key issue is ensuring that natural intelligence is prepared to work with artificial intelligence. This is a responsibility shared by public institutions and civil society," he said.

Teodor Stoychev, head of the European Parliament Liaison Office in Bulgaria, said that as European societies undergo profound geopolitical and technological changes, the question of how to strengthen democratic resilience and uphold shared values has never been more urgent. Disinformation, foreign interference and an increasingly polarized public debate intensify during periods of uncertainty and social fragmentation and are amplified by today's rapidly evolving information environment, where false narratives spread faster and further than ever before, he said. To counter these trends and strengthen democratic resilience, Europe needs active civic participation, dialogue, education and strong partnerships with civil society, Stoychev added.

Economic and Social Council President Zornitsa Roussinova emphasized the role of education in making manipulation and disinformation "far more difficult." She said disinformation fuels social division and stressed the need to strengthen media literacy while returning to Europe's core values of consensus and trust. Roussinova also pointed to the Council's efforts to combat disinformation through an initiative launched several years ago in cooperation with the European Economic and Social Committee. The initiative focuses on the role civil society can play in supporting the fight against fake news.

Sofia University Vice Rector Sonia Mileva said today's rapidly changing environment increasingly demands natural intelligence and critical thinking. She described universities as not only centres of education and research but also spaces where people actively contribute to dialogue on identity, the defence of democratic values, academic freedom, and rights.

Stoyan Trichkov MP of Progressive Bulgaria (PB) underlined the importance of independent journalism, saying that "quality, independent journalism" sustains the public conscience and helps render "empty political slogans" powerless. He noted that the concept of European values is increasingly being reduced to a political label and called on Europe to avoid developing at "two different speeds." Trichkov added that Europe should make the peaceful resolution of military conflicts in its proximity a top priority.

/NZ/