In brief
An event in Blagoevgrad organized by the European Commission’s Representative Office and Europe Direct welcomed local young people and EU parliamentarians to talk about security. MEPs Andrey Novakov and Radan Kanev stressed the urgency of creating a national security consensus, while participants raised the need for clearer communication on defense and economic protection. The dialogue set the scene for how a new generation could help shape mission‑critical EU policies.
The European Commission’s Representative Office in Bulgaria convened a two‑hour forum in Blagoevgrad on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, to explore European security from the perspective of the country’s emerging generation. Titled "Navigating Security: Europe's Choices and Young People's Views," the discussion joined Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) with local youth in a setting that turned abstract policy debates into tangible, dialogue‑driven exchanges.
MEP Radan Kanev of the Democrats for Strong Bulgaria remarked that this was a timely platform, as "the event had been planned well in advance but had proved particularly timely." He argued that today’s global uncertainties make security the "most important topic to discuss with young people," underscoring the necessity for Bulgaria to forge a fresh national consensus on peace and defence before it becomes divisive. His main message was that young citizens should help guide the collective approach to the greatest risks facing the region.
In a similar vein, MEP Andrey Novakov of GERB said the full hall of the Youth Centre—a weekday venue—"proved evidence of young people's interest in the subject." Novakov reflected on the two‑hour dialogue, noting that participants expressed keen curiosity about how Bulgaria could safeguard its interests while continuing to invest in its economy. He concluded that young people "clearly needed more meetings, time and discussions to better understand complex processes."
The discussion was moderated by Teodor Stoychev, head of the European Commission’s Representative Office in Bulgaria, who highlighted that "the EU is developing various programmes and activating mechanisms to help strengthen the security of its Member States." He emphasized that youth who are already partaking in decision‑making are poised to become future politicians, public officials, entrepreneurs or security experts, and therefore their input must be reflected in national and EU policy choices.
Krasimira Hadzhikoseva, head of the Europe Direct Blagoevgrad Centre, explained why security was chosen as the central theme: "the topic will shape all European policies in the years ahead." Saying the centre would continue to facilitate such exchanges, she urged participants to consider long‑term strategies at the crossroads of national autonomy and collective EU initiatives.
While the event was framed as a policy dialogue, its format—interrupted by short exchanges, Q&A segments and impromptu group reflections—mirrored the scientific method. Speakers framed issues as hypotheses (ex. the correlation between economic investment and defence readiness), evidence (statements of EU programmes and national consensus), and provisional conclusions (advice for future policy makers). The use of a research‑style approach highlighted how data, even sociopolitical data, can be systematically examined to produce actionable policy insights.
In closing, Kanev and Novakov emitted forward‑looking messages that link the generation’s voice with future policy drafting. They underscored the importance of collective agreement on security matters, a point that reverberated with the youth who argued for a more transparent and participatory governance model. The dialogue underscored that complex geopolitical realities, such as evolving cyber threats and shifting alliance dynamics, will become increasingly reliant on informed and engaged populations.
For the European Community, the conversation in Blagoevgrad offers a pilot template: gather citizen input, engage MEPs in direct conversation, and frame the discussion in a data‑driven, hypothesis‑testing structure. The expectation is that new consensuses formed today can feed into the EU’s strategic policy instruments, from Horizon EU projects to defence architecture. This local exemplification points to a future where science‑based policy, citizen engagement and institutional readiness converge to create resilient European security frameworks.
