site.btaSofia Declines to Host 47th Session of UNESCO World Heritage Committee Due to Lack of Technical Readiness, Deputy PM Donchev Explains

Sofia’s decision to decline hosting the 47th Session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee was due to the lack of technical readiness for an event of such scale, Deputy Prime Minister and Innovation and Growth Minister Tomislav Donchev said during Parliament’s Question Time on Friday. Donchev was responding to questions from the parliamentary groups of Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria and Vazrazhdane.

"This is not a matter of political will, nor of willingness or unwillingness, but of the level of technical readiness," Donchev said.

To illustrate the challenges, Donchev drew a historical parallel with Bulgaria’s preparations for its Presidency of the EU Council in the first half of 2018. "Let me remind you that back then, preparations began a year in advance, and we had a dedicated minister with an administrative team. For an event scheduled to take place in just three months, without an announced or initiated public procurement process for accommodation, transportation, logistics, and other necessary arrangements, there is a serious risk it will not be organized properly," the Deputy Prime Minister added. "Better a Bulgarian event in Paris than an embarrassment in Sofia," he remarked.

Donchev noted that the decision was made by the Council of Ministers after consultations with the UNESCO Secretariat.

On Wednesday, the Culture Ministry announced that the Bureau of the World Heritage Committee had agreed the Committee session to be held at UNESCO headquarters in Paris from July 6 to 16, 2025, with Bulgaria providing financial support as the designated host.