UNESCO Approves Underwater Archaeology Institute in Sozopol

The Foreign Policy Committee in the National Assembly unanimously approved on first reading the Bill for the ratification of the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Bulgaria and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) regarding the designation of the Underwater Archaeology Center in Sozopol as a category 2 institute under the auspices of UNESCO as the "Institute for Underwater Heritage". Eleven MPs from the committee voted "in favor", there were no "against" votes and abstentions. 

The bill was presented by the Deputy Minister of Culture, Todor Chobanov. On January 19, 2026, UNESCO Director-General Khaled El-Enany and the Minister of Culture Marian Bachev signed an agreement at the organization's headquarters in Paris regarding the designation of the Underwater Archaeology Center as an institute under the auspices of UNESCO with the name "Institute for Underwater Archaeology", Chobanov said. He pointed out that the agreement is valid for an eight-year period from the date of its entry into force. Chobanov recalled that this is the second such center in our country after the Center for Intangible Cultural Heritage. We are a country with two centers, which is a great rarity in world practice, he commented.

The Chair of the Foreign Policy Committee, Yordanka Fandakova (GERB-SDS), congratulated the Ministry of Culture and personally Deputy Minister Todor Chobanov for the many years of efforts for partnership with UNESCO and for affirming Bulgaria's authority in this organization and the international authority of our country in the preservation of cultural heritage and science.  

Iskra Mihailova ("DPS-New Beginning") noted that this is a very serious recognition of the work of the ministry and of the overall policy for the preservation and presentation of the cultural heritage of Bulgaria. The possibilities of this institute are very large, they will be developed and have the potential to make the Black Sea and the Lower Danube one of the most attractive new areas for cultural tourism and for the development of research in the field of underwater archaeology, Mihailova said.  

The Deputy Chairman of the Foreign Policy Committee, Toma Bikov (GERB-SDS), pointed out that the Underwater Archaeology Center near Sozopol is not ready at all and expressed hope that the next government will allocate sufficient funds. This is a serious commitment, and not just some center that we can put on our lapel. This means a strong expert and financial commitment from the state, from the Ministry of Culture and from the Municipality of Sozopol, he said. At least ten years of work are needed to reach a level that is worthy of this honor that is being bestowed on us, Bikov added.

Deputy Minister Chobanov noted that the issue is indeed above party lines and of significant national interest. Unfortunately, the Center lives in a barrack from the second half of the 20th century. The procedure for its transfer to a freshly renovated building of the Ministry of Culture in Sozopol is at the final stage, he pointed out. For the first time in 15 years, there is a real investment on the island in the amount of about 2 million leva, which is the most important and first step for strengthening the main museum building, in which the old naval school was located, Chobanov noted.

The Deputy Minister of Culture announced that the government has already sent an invitation to the Director-General of UNESCO, Khaled El-Enany, who has expressed a desire to visit Bulgaria. This year we have the 70th anniversary of Bulgaria in UNESCO and we will do everything possible for the conference in the summer to have a great international echo, Chobanov said. Leading experts have already been invited, as there is another anniversary - 25 years since the adoption of the Convention on Underwater Heritage, he added.