Bulgarian Commissioner Maria Gabriel organized a two-day visit from October 11 to 13 for Bulgarian rectors, teachers, and students in Brussels. The visiting group included a total of 24 school directors, university rectors, teachers, journalists, and students from the following cities: Sofia, Plovdiv, Stara Zagora, Gabrovo, Burgas, Haskovo, Blagoevgrad, Kazanlak, Silistra, Hadzhidimovo, Vratsa, and Ruse.
The focus of the discussion was on the challenges and their solutions in areas under the Commissioner's portfolio, synergies between education and innovation, and future joint initiatives at national and European levels.
Key initiatives discussed included:
- the new European Innovation Programme;
- European University Alliances and the establishment of the European Education Area by 2025;
- European Teacher Academies and the European Network of Innovative Universities;
- the 'Plastic Pirates' and 'Incubators in Universities' initiatives;
- the Horizon Europe Framework Programme and support for young researchers;
- 35th anniversary of the Erasmus+ programme;
- The European Innovation Council, the European Institute of Innovation and Technology, and the Girls Go Circular and WomenTech EU initiatives;
- The European Year of Youth 2022 and the European Year of Skills 2023;
- the need for more investments in culture and innovation under the Creative Europe programme;
- "The New European Bauhaus" – the soul of the Green Deal.
The programme also included visits to the European Parliament and the European Commission, as well as discussions with representatives of European institutions in the fields of education and innovation.
