“We have to choose – an ever-increasing confrontation at all levels or a search for the intersections in order for Bulgaria to be a factor on the European and world stage. Internal stabilization is necessary in order to impose our ideas abroad and win allies.” This was stated by Vice President Iliana Iotova at the closing of the last, fourth, course of the National Program “Governing Skills” – 2025, dedicated to foreign policies. In her words, Bulgaria lacks national ambition for development. Asked about the three main directions in which the country can progress, Iotova pointed to the project for a gigafactory for artificial intelligence and high technologies as a key priority that can turn the country into a hub for high-tech solutions. The other two directions she highlighted are ecologically clean agriculture and tourism with a focus on cultural and historical routes. The Vice President’s discussion with the participants lasted nearly three hours. The meeting with MEPs Andrey Novakov and Kristian Vigenin also lasted for over two hours. They spoke about Bulgaria’s role in the defense of NATO’s eastern flank and its contribution to the security of the Black Sea region, as well as the protection of personal data and technological progress in the era of artificial intelligence. Their presentation opened the fourth course of the program.
The training also included a topic about the possible emergence of artificial intelligence with consciousness. The futurist and member of the UN’s independent expert group on general artificial intelligence (AGI), Prof. Mariana Todorova, expressed the opinion that by the end of the decade, an intelligence resembling human intelligence could appear – with autonomous will, goals and even forms of artificial consciousness.
Yonko Grozev, judge at the European Court of Human Rights (2015–2024), spoke about the European human rights system and the state of human rights in Bulgaria in front of Class 2025.
The possibilities for culture to become a tool of diplomacy were presented by Prof. Irena Todorova, Executive Director of the UNESCO Regional Center.
An analysis of the processes in European economies was made by Yasen Georgiev, Executive Director of the Institute for Economic Policy.
A special guest in the last module of this year’s program was Minister Daniel Mitov.
Traditionally, a lot of emotions were also aroused by the simulation of a television debate, hosted by the journalist from the national television, Boyko Vassilev, this year on the topic: “Is there a place for religion in secular schools?”.