Accurate and timely information is the foundation of every good decision. It shapes how businesses manage risks, how institutions build trust, and how society responds in times of uncertainty.

In our daily lives, truth is increasingly under pressure — from the speed of the news cycle, from opaque algorithms, and from the vast amount of unverified content. This makes the ethics of information and truth one of the most important issues of our time — for the economy, for the social environment, and for the sustainability of civil society.

These topics were at the heart of European Ethics Bowl 2025 — the prestigious European student competition in business ethics, hosted last weekend by the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration of Sofia University.

The competition brought together students from 10 leading European universities. They took part in a series of well-reasoned, dynamic, and highly contested debates, based on real cases from business practice and public communication.

The winner of this year’s edition was the team from the Summer School of the European Investment Bank Institute, Luxembourg. The award was presented by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Atanas Georgiev, Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, who thanked all participants, partners, mentors, jury members, teams, and institutions for their longstanding trust and cooperation.

“I am proud that the finals of European Ethics Bowl 2025 brought together future leaders, experienced mentors, and strong partners from academia and the business sector. This turned the competition into a true platform for business ethics and collaboration. I am glad that this initiative generates real ideas and partnerships and forms part of our long-standing cooperation with the European Investment Bank Institute”, said Assoc. Prof. Dr. Atanas Georgiev.

The semifinals were highly competitive and became a true arena of ideas and strong argumentation. The Bulgarian team was once again among the best — a tradition that reflects solid preparation and a strong academic foundation. Our young participants represented the faculty with arguments, confidence, and maturity that impressed the jury. Former participants from previous editions also supported them — a community whose engagement helped bring the finals to Bulgaria this year. Among the strongest semifinalists were the teams from Serbia, Slovenia, and Hungary.

“The success of the competition comes from the continuous commitment of the people who build it. This year, we saw excellent work from students, mentors, jury members, and partners. Your dedication turns the competition into an environment for learning, sharing, and real development — an environment that will advance not only the academic community but Europe as a whole”,
said Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ivan Angelov, Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, while presenting certificates to all participants.

The event is supported by the TWIN4ECO project, the academic community, socially responsible businesses, journalists, and public figures united by the goal of promoting ethical culture and leadership among young people.

Sofia’s hosting of the event was made possible through a broad network of institutional and business partners who share the mission of developing young leaders and responsible communication: TechnoLogica, Coca-Cola HBC Bulgaria, Fantastico Group, Prestige 96, Sofia Municipality, and the tourism brand of the Bulgarian capital — Visit Sofia.

A distinguished international jury brought together representatives of leading European universities and international institutions. Experts from Bulgarian media, the communication sector, and civil society organizations also participated in the evaluation — including the Bulgarian National Radio, Sega newspaper, the Bulgarian Association of Communication Agencies, EdTech Bulgaria, and the Human Resource Development Centre. The Bulgarian academic community was represented by lecturers and researchers from Sofia University, contributing to the high assessment standards and the professional framework of the competition.

EUROPEAN ETHICS BOWL is a prestigious international student competition created by leading European universities. The initiative develops critical thinking, open dialogue, and ethical decision-making skills. Participants are among the best students in Europe — future leaders in economics, law, technology, and public policy.
The theme of the 2025 edition is “The Ethics of Truth and Information”, focusing on truth, trust, and transparency in the digital age.