19th Winter School of Diplomacy under the Sofia Chairmanship-in-Office of SEECP
01 April 2026 Events and Discussions
From 23 to 27 March 2026, the 19th edition of the international seminar “Winter School of Diplomacy” was held in Sandanski. The theme of this year’s edition was “Southeast Europe and the Black Sea Region: Bridging Regional Priorities with Global Realities”.
The initiative, organized annually by the Diplomatic Institute to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria, took place under the auspices of Sofia Chairmanship-in-Office of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP). The event was co-organized by the Regional Cooperation Council in Sarajevo.
The program included discussions and panel sessions focused on regional cooperation and security, as well as the challenges facing the European Union and its enlargement.
The seminar was officially opened by Mr. Ivan Naydenov, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ms. Tanya Mihaylova, Director of the Diplomatic Institute. Among the guest speakers were Mr. Christo Polendakov, Director of thе „ Foreign Policy Planning, Information and coordination” Directorate and Ms. Rositsa Stoeva, Ambassador-at-Large in the “Regional Cooperation” Department within the “Southeast Europe” Directorate, who provided further insight into regional initiatives in Southeast Europe and wider Black Sea area as points of reference for dialog and understanding.
The event reaffirmed its importance as an effective platform for exchange of experience and best practices, as well as for strengthening regional stability and connectivity.
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