site.btaEU Is Having Important Conversation about Science, Says Head of European Commission Representation in Bulgaria

These days of the year are some of the most beautiful, as the scale of Bulgaria's letters, books and faith are presented and Bulgarians realize how bright their imprint is on the European peoples and how all Europeans are one, feeling proud and united, Head of the European Commission Representation in Bulgaria Yordanka Chobanova said during the closing conference held here on Monday. The event was part of BTA’s Europe on Balkans: Cohesion Skills project.

"We have a common heritage and future", she pointed out, adding that the author of Varvi Narode Vazrodeni, Stoyan Mihaylovski, is from the town of Elena, where Chobanova also has roots. "On May 21, I had the pleasure of being there for the town's holiday. We talked with the people about respect for knowledge and about the fact that we, Bulgarians, see it as a supreme value", she recalled.

Chobanova quoted the words of the prominent diplomat and minister, Prof. Stefan Bobchev, who said: "Those nations that have more knowledge are strong, powerful. Enlightenment - this is our first pledge." She pointed out that knowledge has been elevated to a cult in Bulgaria. "It is a top priority in the European Union, it is a competitive advantage, and science is a source of wealth. The ability to transform raw materials into high-tech goods that markets want to buy,” Chobanova emphasized.

She cited the latest Eurobarometer statistics, according to which 83% of Europeans say that science and technology are important and have a positive impact on life. "On the other hand, however, it is met with a lot of skepticism and distrust among the population. One third of people dispute the human impact on climate change. RNA vaccines saved hundreds of lives, but at the same time they were victims of conspiracy theories that undermined faith in science", she stressed, adding that being a scientist today means defending the truth and scientific evidence and doing so even when few people are listening to you. "Being a scientist is a calling,” Chobanova stated.

Science drives innovation and competitiveness, she pointed out. “Every euro that we pour through the Horizon Europe programme, which flows into the European economy today, we expect to generate EUR 11 of added value around 2045, as gross domestic product", she emphasized. "However, the big debate is about people and the drive for progress, as well as man’s eternal drive to understand the world around him", she noted, adding that the big conversation in Europe is how to become the best place in the world to do science. "We are doing relatively well in Europe. A quarter of all innovators in the world are here. We are good at innovative ideas and startups. There are however also many difficulties, especially for young researchers,” Chobanova added.

“In the countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), three out of four researchers encounter difficulties in the workplace. Young scientists are often pressured by the need to publish. Women occupy only one in four high academic positions. For Europe, knowledge, freedom, reliability, openness are the answer to this uncertain world in which we live", she pointed out. She added that the European Commission is developing a law on the freedom of scientific research and that it be guaranteed. "Scientists should be mobile, fairly and decently paid, portability of social security rights and actions to support women in science. It is a source of progress, independence, sustainability, democracy," Chobanova emphasized.

She noted that the future is in quantum technologies and artificial intelligence and how to use them to be strong. "The battle of the 21st century is the battle for talent. The European Commission announced the Choose Europe for Science initiative, with the aim of attracting young scientists to return to Europe, to return here and do projects. A new, seven-year super grant has been created to finance scientific research. The debate about the new seven-year period of the EU is also ongoing, with science being one of the sectors that will be funded for the period 2028-2035,” she noted.

Chobanova said that for Bulgaria, EUR 1 billion have been allocated for innovation, scientific research and digitalization under the cohesion funds until 2027, which is twice as much as in the previous programming period.

She expressed her gratitude to BTA for the successful implementation of the project. "Very meaningful and in-depth conversations (took place), the vision of local authorities and universities (was presented). When a vision is skillfully combined with funding, cities become successful. We also heard the problems of the people. For me, this open dialogue was extremely valuable", she said.

"One thing we can say is that Bulgarians are proud to be Bulgarians, to be Europeans, to be in the Balkans and just as the EU makes Bulgaria strong, so does our country make the EU strong," Chobanova concluded.

BTA's Europe on Balkans: Cohesion Skills project aims to raise public awareness and foster open dialogue about cohesion policy, local achievements, and the implementation of the EU's policy priorities. The project kicked off with a conference in Veliki Preslav in November 2024. The project builds on the Europe in the Balkans: A Common Future and Europe in Bulgaria: A Common Future projects, implemented by BTA in 2023 and 2024, respectively.