site.btaBulgarian, Turkish Universities Implement Joint Scientific Projects in Clean Energy, Climate, Says Bulgarian Consul General in Edirne

Bulgarian and Turkish universities are implementing joint scientific projects in areas such as clean energy, climate, environment and innovation, said Consul General of Bulgaria in Edirne Radoslava Kafedzhiyska during the cross-border conference as part of BTA's Europe on Balkans: Cohesion Skills project. The conference took place at the BTA National Press Club here on Friday.

Currently, just over 20 PhD students from Turkiye are studying in Bulgaria, who traditionally specialize in the fields of medicine and engineering, she noted, adding that the two countries also have an active exchange under the Erasmus+ programme, as over the past 10 years, more than 6,000 young Turkish students and 3,000 professors have visited Bulgaria under this programme.

In 2024, almost 9,000 out of a total 15,700 foreign students were from countries outside the EU, and almost 7,000 were students from EU countries. "The largest number of foreign students come to our country from Greece, Great Britain and Ukraine", Kafedzhiyska pointed out, adding that only 3% of foreign students in 2024 were from Turkiye.

She said that in recent years the two countries have implemented nearly 80 exchange projects in school education, in which over 800 people from the Turkish side have participated. Especially in the field of vocational education, 15 projects with 400 participants have been implemented. Kafedzhiyska emphasised that Bulgaria and Turkiye have significant joint activities in the field of science, noting that there are over 1,700 joint publications by Bulgarian and Turkish scientific organizations.

Regarding BTA's Europe on Balkans: Cohesion Skills project, Kafedzhiyska pointed out that it aims to get a better understanding of the EU's cohesion policy, as for over 50 years, cohesion policy has become one of the leading policies of the EU as a cornerstone of European solidarity and has contributed to a fairer and more equal EU. "It is imperative for the EU to take advantage of the historical circumstances and accelerate our common efforts to promote EU integration in the Western Balkans, but also in the countries to the East, such as Turkiye. The instruments of this cohesion policy can help to enhance the EU's initiatives to expand the EU itself in the Western Balkans and Eastern Europe," Kafedzhiyska said, adding that EU enlargement has been defined as one of the most powerful instruments of EU foreign policy.

She pointed out that through the waves of enlargement, which included Bulgaria in 2007 and Greece in 1981, the EU has become stronger, more peaceful and fairer. "Enlargement is a driver for improving economic and social conditions for European citizens, for reducing differences between individual countries and should promote the values ​​on which the EU is founded," Kafedzhiyska emphasised. She noted that reading the EU's basic act, the Treaty of Lisbon, verbatim, it is about the values ​​of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law, as well as respect for human rights, including the rights of children belonging to minorities. These values ​​are common to the member states of the EU in a society characterized by pluralism, non-discrimination, tolerance, justice, solidarity and gender equality, Kafedzhiyska stressed.

She noted that Turkiye is an important partner of Bulgaria and the EU in areas such as migration, border security, counter-terrorism, energy, transport, trade and economy. The stable and sustainable development of bilateral relations with Turkiye, based on the principles of good neighbourliness, mutual interest and pragmatism, is a priority of Bulgarian foreign policy, she stated. "Turkiye is one of the leading foreign economic and trade partners of Bulgaria, as well as a strategic investor in our country," Kafedzhiyska commented, adding that Turkish investments in 2024 exceeded EUR 2 billion and provided jobs for over 15,000 people. The bilateral trade exchange has increased by 15% in 2024 alone and there is significant potential for further development of trade and economic relations between the two countries, Kafedzhiyska concluded.

BTA's Europe on Balkans: Cohesion Skills project aims to raise public awareness and foster open dialogue about cohesion policy, local achievements, and the implementation of the EU's policy priorities. The project kicked off with a conference in Veliki Preslav in November 2024. Until September 2025, BTA will host discussions at its press clubs in the following cities: Blagoevgrad, Burgas, Varna, Veliko Tarnovo, Vidin, Vratsa, Gabrovo, Dobrich, Kazanlak, Kardzhali, Kyustendil, Lovech, Montana, Pazardzhik, Pernik, Pleven, Razgrad, Ruse, Samokov, Svishtov, Sliven, Smolyan, Sofia, Stara Zagora, Troyan, Targovishte, Haskovo, Shumen, and Yambol. Cross-border conferences will be held in Belgrade, Bosilegrad, Bucharest, Edirne, Skopje, and Thessaloniki. The project builds on the Europe in the Balkans: A Common Future and Europe in Bulgaria: A Common Future projects, implemented by BTA in 2023 and 2024, respectively.