In a speech delivered to the European Parliament in Strasbourg regarding the State of the European Union, European Commission (EC) President Ursula von der Leyen made mention of Bulgaria. She announced that a Regional Connectivity Summit will be organized in 2027, to be held in conjunction with Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev.
In Burgas, a group of citizens, representatives of the Burgas Municipality, and staff from the Regional Information Center followed the live broadcast of von der Leyen's speech. The event was organized by the local center "Europa Direct - Burgas," which operates as part of the national network of European Union information centers.
The central themes of the EC President's message included social policies and the economy, interaction with partners, defense and global threats, countering propaganda and disinformation, as well as the euro-integration process for EU candidate countries. The Burgas Chamber of Commerce and Industry noted that key priorities include:
- security;
- competitiveness;
- technological development;
- energy independence;
- citizen protection.
The event in Burgas allowed attendees to familiarize themselves with the core ideas of the speech and engage in discussions regarding the European agenda and the future of the Union. According to representatives of "Europa Direct - Burgas," such initiatives allow European topics to be discussed at a local level, aiming to stimulate informed dialogue on issues related to EU policies and the future of Europe.