site.btaDiscussion on Day of European Authors Held at Sofia Library

A discussion dedicated to Day of European Authors was held at Sofia Library on Monday, featuring nearly 20 contemporary Bulgarian authors, reported the Human Resource Development Centre. The event was organized in partnership with the Sofia Library and the Bulgarian PEN Centre and was part of the pan-European initiative "European Literature - Bridge Between Cultures." The discussion was opened by Mariya Gabriel, the initiative's founder and former European Commissioner for Digital Economy and Society (2017-2023).

"I am happy that Bulgarian literature has its worthy representatives in the European cultural heritage. All authors carry the spirit of their time, and you allow us to preserve our roots and maintain our identity. This is more important than ever, and we must support you and listen to your voices," Gabriel said to Bulgarian authors during the event.

Gabriel emphasized the role of literature in society, describing it as not just an art form, but a space for freedom, dreams, and dialogue between cultures and ideas. "Literature is a force that connects us— with ourselves, with others, with history, and with the future. I believe that literature is one of the most powerful tools to help us continue to fight for a more united, inspired, and aware society," she said.

The initiative’s founder also noted that literature teaches people to ask the right questions and develop critical thinking. "Reading has four dimensions: understanding, interpreting, reacting, and evaluating. You, the authors, and the books you give us, are the most powerful stimulus for us to engage in these four dimensions, which I believe are also dimensions of human life," she added.

Gabriel said that it was an honour for her to celebrate the third year of Day of European Authors. "I will not hide the fact that this initiative is very close to my heart. As its creator in 2023, we were driven by the clear belief that we wanted to bring literature and the new generation closer. We also wanted to show that literature has the power to connect, inspire, and change our lives. With this initiative, we aimed to give more visibility to the works of Bulgarian and European authors and inspire many readers," she explained. 

Participating in the discussion were Georgi Gospodinov, Georgi Bardarov, Zachary Karabashliev, Vladimir Zarev, Theodora Dimova, Viktoria Beshliiska, Ameliya Licheva, Mirela Ivanova, Prof. Kiril Topalov, Prof. Plamen Dojnov, Todor Todorov, Yordan Eftimov, Mitko Novkov, Kristin Dimitrova, Aksinia Mihaylova, and Tsanko Lalev.