In brief
A meeting in Blagoevgrad brought together local youth and MEPs to examine European security strategies. Participants debated the need for national consensus in Bulgaria and the EU’s role in bolstering member states’ defenses. The discussion highlighted youth engagement in shaping future policy.
On the evening of 28 October 2026, the Youth Centre in Blagoevgrad hosted a meeting organised by the European Commission’s Representative Office in Bulgaria and the Europe Direct Blagoevgrad Centre, where local students and Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) gathered to discuss the future of European security.
The dialogue, titled "Navigating Security: Europe's Choices and Young People's Views", was attended by two Bulgarian MEPs: Andrey Novakov of GERB/European People’s Party and Radan Kanev of Democrats for Strong Bulgaria/European People’s Party. The event drew a full hall on a weekday, underscoring the high interest among youth in the subject.
Prior to the discussion, Kanev told reporters that the event had been planned well in advance but had proven particularly timely. He stressed that security was the most important topic to discuss with young people, given the uncertainty of the world today and the need for Bulgaria to address major questions of security and peace for the generation now entering active adulthood. He said that Bulgarian society needed to build a new national consensus on security, rather than allow the issue to become divisive. Young people, he added, should help guide society's thinking on how to address the most important risks and challenges together.
"The event had been planned well in advance but had proved particularly timely. Security is the most important topic to discuss with young people, given the uncertainty of the world today and the need for Bulgaria to address major questions of security and peace with a view to the future of the generation now entering active adulthood," said Radan Kanev, MEP.
Novakov remarked that the solid turnout reflected young people’s growing interest in security matters. He added that the discussion lasted about two hours, during which participants probed how Bulgaria could protect itself while continuing to invest in its own economy. "Young people clearly needed more meetings, time and discussions to better understand complex processes," Novakov noted.
Teodor Stoychev, head of the European Commission’s Representative Office, highlighted how the EU is developing programmes and activating mechanisms to strengthen member states’ security. Speaking to BTA, Stoychev said the meeting aimed to hear from young people who were already involved in decision‑making and would soon become future politicians, public administrators, entrepreneurs or security professionals. His message underscored that their views should be taken into account by Bulgarian representatives in the European Parliament.
"The EU is developing various programmes and activating mechanisms to help strengthen the security of its Member States," said Teodor Stoychev.
Krasimira Hadzhikoseva, head of the Europe Direct Blagoevgrad Centre, explained that security was chosen as a topic because it would shape all European policies in the years ahead. She described how understanding security issues is essential for the next generation’s involvement in policymaking and for navigating an uncertain world of growing risks.
"Security was chosen as a topic because it would shape all European policies in the years ahead," said Krasimira Hadzhikoseva.
The meeting’s moderators, including Stoychev, guided conversations that highlighted the complexity of security issues and the importance of consensus. Youth participants voiced concerns about protecting the nation while investing in the economy and urged that national security remain a priority. Discussions also examined how EU programmes could support member states in addressing emerging risks and ensuring collective safety.
In sum, the Blagoevgrad discussion combined visual evidence of Bulgarian youth’s interest, MEPs’ calls for renewed consensus, and EU officials’ emphasis on institutional support. The event illustrated how the new generation is being invited into debates that will ultimately shape the future of European security policy.
