In 2026, Bulgaria will assume the presidency of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region for the second time. The symbolic handover of the presidency took place during the 14^th Annual Forum of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR) held in Sarajevo. Elmedin Konaković, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which holds the presidency until the end of 2025, wished success to Bulgaria’s Minister of Regional Development and Public Works Ivan Ivanov.

• Bulgaria begins preparations for the presidency of the Danube Strategy

Speaking to Radio Sofia, Ivan Ivanov outlined the priorities of Bulgaria's upcoming presidency. “A key focus will be overcoming regional disparities, as well as integrating the remaining Western Balkan countries into the EU, cohesion policy in the Danube region, and cross-border cooperation. The annual meeting of the EUSDR ministers will take place in Sofia, but we will also organize a series of events together with the Danube municipalities and other ministries — the Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Education. We already have the experience of one previous EUSDR Presidency, and we will build on it while also taking the best practices from the current presidency”, Minister Ivanov said.

Published and translated by Kostadin Atanasov

Photo: mrrb.bg