The Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration (FEBA) at Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” Assoc. Prof. Dr. Atanas Georgiev participated on June 11 in the 14th edition of the annual International Seminar “Energy and Climate Diplomacy”, organized by the Diplomatic Institute under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria. Assoc. Prof. Georgiev delivered a lecture in his capacity as Director of the master’s program “Nuclear Technologies, Management, and Innovations”, jointly developed by the Faculty of Physics and FEBA at Sofia University and accredited by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

During the seminar, Assoc. Prof. Georgiev took part in the panel discussion “Nuclear Energy – A Solution or an Obstacle towards a Sustainable Energy Future”, where he gave a lecture entitled “Energy Demand and Electrification – Global and European Perspectives”. Other panel participants included Daniel Piekarski from Poland's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sabin Sabinov from BULATOM, and Anton Ivanov from the Bulgarian Energy and Mining Forum. The session was moderated by Dr. Eng. Ivaylo Naydenov – a nuclear energy expert with long-standing experience and a lecturer in the nuclear master’s program at Sofia University.

The event, organized by the Diplomatic Institute, is held within the framework of Bulgaria’s Official Development Assistance, administered by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The seminar aims to support the development of administrative capacity in the fields of energy and climate in the countries of the Black Sea–Caspian region and the Western Balkans, as well as to strengthen Bulgaria’s bilateral ties with neighboring countries.

This year’s seminar brings together 40 experts from 16 countries across the Black Sea region, Southeastern Europe, the EU, and third countries. Bulgarian participants include representatives from public institutions, the business sector, and academia.

The seminar was opened by Ms. Tanya Mihaylova, Director of the Diplomatic Institute; Ms. Veneta Tsvetkova, Director of the Directorate for Energy Projects and International Cooperation at the Ministry of Energy; and Ms. Ivanka Tasheva, Director of the Directorate for Foreign Economic Relations and Development Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

A welcome address was delivered by Mr. Georgi Samandov, Deputy Minister of Energy of the Republic of Bulgaria. The opening session was also attended by H.E. Miguel Alonso Berrio, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Spain.

Speakers at the forum included representatives of public institutions, research organizations, the business community, and the NGO sector. The discussions focused on regional energy security challenges, competition for supply chain security, regional interconnectivity, and other related issues. The agenda also featured thematic panels dedicated to renewable energy, nuclear power, and the future of the coal industry.

The program concludes with the traditional study visit to the Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant, highlighting the significance of nuclear energy in the context of the energy transition and sustainable development.