From 21 to 23 September 2025, a three-day march for climate and social justice took place from Maastricht to Brussels, bringing together hundreds of citizens, trade unions, and environmental organizations from across Europe. The event was organized by Friends of the Earth Europe, the European Coalition for Corporate Justice (ECCJ), and the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC). The Bulgarian delegation was formed at the invitation of the Bulgarian Business and Human Rights Foundation (BBHRF).

Among the participants was Assoc. Prof. Dr. Marina Stefanova, Vice-Dean for “Sustainability, Empowerment and Engagement” at the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration. She joined as Bulgaria’s representative. Assoc. Prof. Stefanova emphasized that the march is an example of values and conviction – that to overcome the multiple crises we face, we need a strong political, economic, and social agenda based on sustainability.

The march aimed to send a clear message to European institutions: stricter rules on corporate responsibility, more ambitious measures against climate change, and policies that put people and nature first are urgently needed.

“Doing the right things, for the right reasons, at the right time is the most powerful generator of change”, said Assoc. Prof. Stefanova. She noted that the role of academia and education is to inspire future generations to stand up for sustainable solutions.

Alongside her, other Bulgarian representatives also took part in the march, including Maya Doneva from the European Women’s Lobby, who gave voice to social and environmental causes.

The symbolic procession concluded in Brussels with an appeal to the European Commission and EU leaders to defend democracy, human rights, and the environment, rather than weakening regulations in favor of corporations.