At the "Dondukov" 2 building, Vice President Iliana Iotova held a working meeting with the Bulgarian youth delegates to the United Nations, Viara Trifonova and Viktor Tsvetanov. The President’s press office stated that the representatives, selected through a national competition, serve an 18-month mandate. During this period, they join the official Bulgarian delegation in the work of the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly, as well as the Commission for Social Development at the UN Economic and Social Council. Part of their commitments includes meetings with young people across the country to identify their positions on key topics, which are subsequently presented at the national and international levels.

A central point of the conversation was the results of a large-scale survey conducted among Bulgarian youth, which the delegates launched in January of this year under the slogan "To New York and Back." The study shows that young people are becoming increasingly pessimistic about the future and are experiencing serious anxiety and fear regarding what lies ahead. In this context, the dialogue focused on peace and security as leading priorities of the modern world, as well as the role of international organizations in maintaining them. Iotova expressed a critical position regarding the lack of a proactive role for the European Union in resolving conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, emphasizing that the EU itself is bearing the heavy consequences of these conflicts.

Attention was also drawn to the need for closer cooperation between young people and institutions in Bulgaria. The discussion addressed the challenges facing youth centers in the country, which are considered key venues for the development of youth policy. Viara Trifonova and Viktor Tsvetanov thanked the presidential institution for its support and readiness for dialogue. Iliana Iotova emphasized firmly that youth policy cannot be effective without the direct participation of young people themselves, noting:

  • "Your task is extremely responsible—to represent Bulgaria at a high level, to dare to tell the world what concerns young people and how they see its development."
  • "Young people are not consumers of policy, but its active core," the delegates added in response.

The meeting took place on the eve of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, where Bulgaria will be represented by Vice President Iliana Iotova.