In brief
Young people and two Members of the European Parliament gathered at the Youth Centre in Blagoevgrad to talk about European security. The discussion, lasting roughly two hours, highlighted the need for national consensus and the role of young voices in shaping policy. EU officials noted that new programs are being launched to strengthen member state security and encourage youth participation.
On Wednesday, 28 October 2026, the European Commission’s Representative Office in Bulgaria and the Europe Direct Blagoevgrad Centre hosted a two‑hour discussion in Blagoevgrad’s Youth Centre, gathering local youth and two Members of the European Parliament – Andrey Novakov of the GERB party and Radan Kanev of Democrats for Strong Bulgaria – to talk about European security.
MEP Radan Kanev said the event had been planned well in advance but proved “particularly timely.” He stressed that “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.”
"Security is the most important topic to discuss with young people," said MEP Radan Kanev.
Novakov noted that the full hall on a weekday proved a strong interest: “the full hall on a weekday is evidence of young people’s interest in the subject.” He added that participants also asked how Bulgaria could protect itself while continuing to invest in its own economy, underlining the need for more meetings to explain complex processes.
Moderator Teodor Stoychev, head of the European Commission's Representative Office in Bulgaria, explained that the EU is developing programmes and mechanisms to strengthen the security of its Member States. He said the meeting aimed to listen to young people who are already becoming involved in decision‑making and will soon shape Bulgaria’s future as politicians, administrators, entrepreneurs or security professionals.
Krasimira Hadzhikoseva, head of the Europe Direct Blagoevgrad Centre, told reporters that security was chosen because it would shape all European policies in the coming years. The discussion covered various dimensions of security, with participants urging for a national consensus rather than divisive debate.
In short, the Blagoevgrad meeting highlighted the importance of involving youth in security discussions and confirmed that EU programmes are in place to support member states while keeping young voices central to the conversation.
