site.btaBulgarian Scientists to Attend 2025 UN Ocean Conference in Nice

Bulgarian Antarctic Institute (BAI) President Christo Pimpirev, Sofia University's National Centre for Polar Studies Deputy Director Dragomir Mateev and Rositsa Yaneva, Coordinator of the Bulgarian program at the National Polar Research Center, will attend the 2025 UN Ocean Conference in Nice, France on June 9-13, BAI said on Friday.

"The world summit will be attended by French President Emmanuel Macron, the prime ministers of Greece, Cyprus, Latvia, Croatia and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen," the press release states.

It adds that on the opening day of the conference, Ursula von der Leyen and Macron will present the main guidelines and priorities of the European Ocean Pact, adopted by the European Commission on June 5. This agreement focuses on research and innovation in the seas and oceans, and on strengthening European diplomacy and policy coordination related to the blue economy. A specific European law on ocean protection, research and exploitation of marine resources is foreseen for 2027.

"The presence and active participation of Bulgarian representatives at this prestigious global forum after three successful voyages of the Bulgarian research vessel Sv. Sv. Kiril i Metodii (RSV 421) to Antarctica underline our country's commitment to research not only in the Black Sea, but also in the world ocean," the BAI noted.

BAI organizes the annual Antarctic expeditions and operates the St Kliment Ohridski Bulgarian Antarctic Base on Livingston Island.

The expeditions involve specialists in various fields: geology, geomorphology, geochemistry, geophysics, meteorology, glaciology, biology, medicine and others. The results of these scientific studies have been published in numerous national and international reputable scientific journals.

BAI is a member of the Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs (COMNAP), the Standing Committee on Antarctic Logistics and Operations (SCALOP), the European Polar Board (EPB) and the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR), says information published on the institute's website.