On June 18, 2026, at 10:00 AM, the Final International Conference “Contemporary Security Challenges: Resilience and Policies” will be held at the Marinela Hotel in Sofia. The event is organized by the European Institute to mark the successful completion of the project “Strengthening Capacity, Exchange of Experience, and Research Activities in the Security Sector.”

The project was implemented with the financial support of the Republic of Bulgaria’s Internal Security Fund Program 2021–2027. During its implementation, a series of training sessions, seminars, and initiatives for the exchange of best practices were conducted, aimed at building the capacity of competent authorities and other stakeholders in the fields of countering human trafficking, radicalization, and extremist propaganda. More than 530 employees from various structures of the Ministry of Interior and specialized organizations and institutions participated in capacity-building activities, while 30 employees took part in study visits to exchange experience in Munich, Germany.

The conference will present the main results and achievements of the project, as well as current trends and challenges facing national and European security. The thematic panels will feature internationally recognized experts and researchers with extensive practical and academic experience in the security sector, including representatives from the Munich Police, the Sepolis Research Institute, the Bavarian Police Academy, the University of Applied Sciences for Criminal Investigation and Public Security – Zagreb, GRETA at the Council of Europe, and the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Milan.

Official guests at the opening will include Ms. Lyubov Panayotova, Director of the European Institute; Mr. Emil Ganchev, Deputy Minister of Interior of the Republic of Bulgaria; and Ms. Maya Petkova, Director of the International Projects Directorate of the Ministry of Interior.

The first thematic panel of the conference will be dedicated to the dynamics of radicalization and extremist influence, while the second will focus on emerging trends in human trafficking and migrant smuggling, related vulnerabilities, and institutional mechanisms for counteraction.

The conference will be attended by representatives of national investigative and law enforcement agencies, diplomats, experts, researchers, members of the academic community, cadets, and other stakeholders.

The event will provide an opportunity for knowledge exchange, professional dialogue, and the discussion of best practices in response to contemporary security challenges at both national and European levels.

More information about the project is available on the European Institute’s website.