site.btaCulture Minister Bachev, EU Commissioner Micallef Discuss Black Sea Centre for Culture Project in Bulgaria

Bulgaria’s Culture Minister Marian Bachev held a working meeting with Glen Micallef, European Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport, the Ministry reported on Friday. The two discussed the AgoraEU programme, which aims to direct support to the cultural, audiovisual, and media sectors for 2028–2034, the upcoming Culture Compass for Europe initiative, and the project to establish a Black Sea Centre for Culture, Art and Science in Bulgaria.

Bachev said that one of the Ministry’s priorities is to create a sustainable system for research, cultural tourism, and modern interpretation of Black Sea heritage by transforming the former naval base on St St Cyricus and Julitta Island near Sozopol into a Black Sea Centre for Culture, Art and Science. The Minister noted that Bulgaria was among the countries strongly supporting increased EU funding for culture, including the current Creative Europe programme, through a dedicated budget. He stressed that this funding continues to benefit cultural actors of all sizes and locations and welcomed the inclusion of cultural priorities in other EU funding programmes under the next Multiannual Financial Framework.

Micallef outlined his expectations for the Culture Compass for Europe, a non-legislative EU initiative designed to establish a strategic approach to culture at EU level and highlight the role of culture across other sectors and policies. The Compass is intended to define key principles for cultural cooperation and policy development, provide guidance for future cultural initiatives, and strengthen the position of culture at the heart of EU policymaking. Simplifying procedures is also among Micallef’s objectives.

The delegation led by Commissioner Micallef included Yordanka Chobanova, Head of the European Commission Representation in Bulgaria. Attending the meeting from the Bulgarian side were Deputy Culture Ministers Todor Chobanov and Ashot Kazaryan.