Green Transition Forum 6.0

Registration and Networking Coffee

Opening Remarks by the Organisers

Welcome Address by Monika Stanisheva, Founder of GTF and President of BD, Dir.bg and Savvas Karafyllidis, President, BHCCI

Welcome Address: H.E. Iliana Iotova, President of the Republic of Bulgaria

High-Level Panel: Europe’s Strategic Autonomy and Competitiveness in a Turbulent World

Participants: Dan Nica, MEP, Vice-Chair, ITRE; Notis Mitarachi, Member of Parliament, Hellenic Republic; Prof. Manyu Moravenov, CEO, Bulgarian Stock Exchange; Industry Stakeholders Closing Keynote: Kimberly Guilfoyle, Ambassador of the United States to the Hellenic Republic (tbc)

Coffee Break

Prime Ministers’ Visionary Dialogue (tbc)

Rumen Radev, Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic

Spotlighted Fireside Chat: Three Seas Initiative: A Bridge to the Future — From the Adriatic, the Baltic and the Black Sea to Asia

Participants: Beata Daszynska-Muzyczka, President of the Three Seas Business Council; Pawel Nierada, Co-founder of the Three Seas Business Council

Keynote: Panagiotis Theodorikakos, Minister of Development, Hellenic Republic

High-Level Panel: Building Southeast Europe’s Connectivity at Speed

Participants: Georgi Peev, Minister of Transport and Communications, Bulgaria (tbc); Christos Dimas, Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Hellenic Republic; Mario Mauro, European Coordinator, Baltic Sea – Black Sea – Aegean Sea European Transport Corridor, DG MOVE, European Commission; Jason Pellmar, Country Manager Bulgaria, World Bank Group; Jesus Caballero, CEO, SOF Connect; Todor Ivandjikov, President, Bulgarian Aviation Industry Association; Jiří Liberda, Managing Director, Škoda Group (tbc); Lazăr Comănescu, Secretary General, Organisation of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation

Lunch Break

Ministerial Panel: Energy Autonomy, Carbon Pricing and Competitiveness

Participants: Iva Petrova, Minister of Energy, Bulgaria; Stavros Papastavrou, Minister of Energy, Hellenic Republic; Miłosz Motyka, Minister of Energy, Poland (tbc); Klaus-Dieter Borchardt, European Coordinator, CESEC and Deputy Director-General, DG ENER, European Commission (2019 - 2020); Joshua Volz, Special Envoy for Energy Integration U.S. Department of Energy (tbc); Sebastian Burduja, Member of Parliament, Romania (tbc); Assen Christov, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Eurohold Bulgaria AD; Munir Hassan, CMS Global Head of Energy

Panel Discussion: Energy Connectivity and the EU Grids Package – Aligning Regulation, Investment and Implementation

Participants: Tahir Kapetanovic, Vice Chair of the Board, ENTSO-E; Tsvetelina Penkova, MEP, Vice-Chair, ITRE; Dominik Jarmer, Chairman of the BD, EVN Bulgaria; Dimitar Zarchev, Director, Directorate National Dispatching Centre, Electricity System Operator; Frank Hajdinjak, VP, Romanian Energy Center; Kaloyan Staykov, Chair of the Management Board of EMI; Frank Neel, member of the OMV Petrom Executive Board, responsible with Gas & Power

Panel Discussion: Renewables – Build Faster or Fall Behind

Participants: Stéphane Aver, President, Transitions Foundation; Alastair Hammond, CEO at Rezolv; ZCS Azzurro, Horia Grigorescu, Managing Partner, Grigorescupartners (tbc)

Interlinked Conversations

Participants: Veselin Todorov, VVT Engineering; Eurohold; Telelink Infra (tbc) Wind Power – Europe’s Strength, Still Too Slow Participants: Dimitar Enchev, Co-founder and Member of the Board of Directors, CWP Batteries – The Backbone of Speed and Flexibility

Strategic Exchange with Prof. Klaus-Dieter Borchardt: Addressing the Structural Challenges of Europe’s Energy Sector

Participants: Leading industry stakeholders, energy operators, utilities, grid and transmission system operators, energy companies across the value chain

Panel Discussion: Nuclear Energy and Innovation – Europe’s Low-Carbon Power Test

Participants: Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General, IAEA (tbc); Joanna Drake, Deputy Director-General, Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, European Commission; Petyo Ivanov, Executive Director of “Kozloduy NPP - New Build”; Hyundai Engineering & Construction (tbc); Westinghouse; Thomas Forner, CEO and Co-Founder, Focused Energy; Olga Bakardzhieva, EU Director, Fusion Industry Association; Bogomil Manchev, Chairman of the Bulgarian Atomic Forum, Hyundai Engineering (tbc)

Lunch Break

Panel Discussion: Electrifying Mobility – Where We Are and Where We’re Going

Participants: Tomasz Lipiński, EV Supply Equipment Division Manager at Photomate; Blagoi Burdin, Institute of Electrochemistry and Energy Systems (IEES-BAS); Denyu Bostandzhiev, CEO Porsche BG; Mario De Martino, CEO Porsche Inter Auto BG; Lucien Mathieu, Cars director, Transport & Environment (T&E); Raphael Héliot, Senior Policy Manager, E-Mobility Europe; Aleksander Rajch, LIFE Programme, European Commission

Spotlight Session: Rethinking Gas – Strengthening Energy Autonomy, Connectivity and Trading Networks

Participants: Leszek Wiwała, PhD, President and Director General, The Polish Petroleum Industry and Trade Organisation; Vladimir Malinov, CEO Bulgartransgaz; OMV Petrom

Interactive Discussion: The Energy Focus on South Eastern Europe

Participants: Plamen Mladenovski, Chairperson, Energy and Water Regulatory Commission, Bulgaria; Alexei Taran, General Director, National Agency for Energy Regulation, Moldova; Slavtcho Neykov, Energy Policy Expert, SEE Region; Damir Miljević, Member of MB, Center for Sustainable Energy Transition – RESET; Corneliu Coteț, Affiliate Expert at Europuls, Policy Advisor at EBRD & UNDP; Industry Stakeholders, Institutions, Experts

Official Opening of the International Scientific Conference “ The New Social Contract” Co-organised in partnership with OZON Agency

Interlinked Discussions

Participants: Rumen Radev, Chairman of the Government Board, BICA; Ivan Delibasic, Director, Advocacy Hydrogen Europe; Dr. Aivars Starikovs, Member of BD, Hydrogen Europe, Chairman of the Board, Latvian Hydrogen Association; Prof. Daria Vladikova, Sci.Coordinator of H2start CoE – Trakia University; Bozidar Dedus, Co-Founder, Croatian Association for the Development and Application of Hydrogen Fuel Cells; Nicolas Guignard, Associate, HACE; Industry Representatives; Hydrogen Europe Research; European Hydrogen Association (EHA); Bulgarian Hydrogen Association (BGH2A)

Lunch Break

Panel Discussion: Ports as Strategic Gateways for Connectivity and Sustainable Development

Participants: Manuela Nessl, Head of EBRD Bulgaria; Peter Kirov, Head of Department, EU Maritime Safety Agency; Stanislav Yordanov, DG, State Enterprise “Port Infrastructure”, Bulgaria (tbc); Ivaylo Gavrailov, CEO, Port of Varna EAD; Dr. Ioannis Tsaras, CEO, Thessaloniki Port Authority (THPA S.A.) (tbc); Dr. Angelos Vlachos, CEO, Kavala Port Authority S.A.; Konstantinos Chatzikonstantinou, CEO, Alexandroupolis Port Authority S.A.

Panel Discussion: Accelerating Pan-European Transport Corridors: Rail, Multimodal Integration and Freight Flows

Participants: Roumen Markov, GM, Large Infrastructure Projects; Chamber of the Bulgarian road haulers (tbc), Volodia Kirov, PhD, General Director of AEBTRI; Radu Dinescu, President, IRU (tbc); Raluca Marian, Director EU Advocacy and General Delegate of the Permanent Delegation to the EU, IRU (tbc); Corneliu Coteț, Affiliate Expert at Europuls, Policy Advisor at EBRD & UNDP; Skoda (tbc)

Coffee Break

Featured Thematic Segment: Building Europe’s Low-Altitude Economy

Interlinked Sessions:

The Low-Altitude Economy – Europe’s Next Growth Frontier?

Participants: Song (tbc); Raymond Lei, VP of Solutions & Strategy, Hollyway Group Pte.Ltd

Coffee Break

Governing the Skies Below: Trust, Regulation and Infrastructure

Participants: Gergana Aneva, Managing Director, Rud Pedersen Public Affairs

Urban Air Mobility: Are Air Taxis Ready for European Cities?

Participants: Nikolay Nikolov, CEO, Niki Rotor Aviation; Yordan Yordanov, Operations Manager, Hades Defense Systems (tbc)

Small Airports, Big Impact: Balancing Sustainable Connectivity, Economic Resilience, and Regional Growth

Participants: Pencho Milkov, Mayor of Ruse Municipality; Nikolay Rashkov, Mayor of Gorna Oryahovitsa Municipality; arch. Veselin Berov, CEO, VEBER Ltd.

Exclusive VIP Welcome Dinner (Invitation only)

To request attendance, please contact the organizer Venue: Hilton Hotel, MUSALA Hall, 1 Bulgaria Blvd, Sofia Keynote Speakers:HE Rumen Radev, Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria HE Apostolos Tzitzikostas, European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism Honorary Guests:HE Minister of Energy, Bulgaria HE Stavros Papastavrou, Minister of Energy, Hellenic RepublicHE Minister of Transport and Communications, Bulgaria HE Christos Dimas, Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Hellenic Republic Hosts: Monika Stanisheva, Founder of the Green Transition Forum and President of BD, Dir.bg Savvas Karafyllidis, President of the Hellenic-Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Registration and Networking Coffee

Opening Remarks by the Organisers

High-Level Panel Discussion: Global Risks and Barriers to Europe’s Competitiveness

Participants: Iliana Tsanova, Chief Risk Officer, European Commission; George Gerapetritis, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Hellenic Republic (tbc); Andriana Sukova, Deputy DG, DG EMPL, European Commission; Anna Akhalkatsi, Division Director for the European Union, World Bank (tbc); Ivan Mihaylov, CEO, AmCham Bulgaria; Lukas Bertram, Programme Lead: Economics, Green and Just Transition, ZOE Institute for Future-fit Economies

High-Level Panel Discussion: Sustainable Production and Industrial Acceleration

Participants: Anna Mani-Papadimitriou, Deputy Minister of Development, Hellenic Republic (2023–2025) (tbc); Prof. Christiaan Vermorken, Managing Director, Carrières du Hainaut; Anelia Stefanova, Energy Transformation Strategic Area Leader, CEE Bankwatch Network; Mihnea Cătuți, Executive Director, EPG; Suzana Carp, Co-Founder, Cleantech for CEE & Cleantech for SEE

Unlocking Economic Potential through Smart Simplification and Market Integration

Participants: Radan Kanev, MEP, ENVI; Andrea Bogoni, Research Fellow, Blue Europe; Prof. Antonios Nestoras, Founding Director, European Policy Innovation Council; Nadejda Myashkova, CEO, PPS; Maria Marinova, Director and Board Member, BVCA

Lunch Break

High-Level Panel Discussion: Building a European Defence and Security Union

Participants: Dimitar Stoyanov, Minister of Defence, Bulgaria (tbc); Tonino Picula, MEP, AFET (tbc); Dr Josef Aschbacher, Director General, European Space Agency (ESA) (tbc); Dimitris Avramopoulos, European Commissioner for Migration (2014 - 2019), and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece (2012–2013); Piotr Wójcik, Blue Europe Fellow; Tarja Jaakkola, Assistant Secretary-General, Defence Industry, Innovation and Armaments, NATO (tbc)

Panel Discussion: Dual-Use Industry – Bridging Civilian and Defense Technologies to Boost Resilience and Competitiveness

Participants: Borislav Bankov, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Innovation and Growth, Bulgaria; Dobroslav Dimitrov, Co-Founder, Raisen Technology; Advisory Board Member, BASCOM; Advisory Board Member, BRAIT; Nicolas Guignard, Associate, HACE; Svilen Rangelov, Co-Founder & CEO at Dronamics; Gregory Lipich, Chief Commercial Officer, FIXAR; Major General Stayko Prokopiev, Commandant, Rakovski National Defence College (tbc)

Coffee Break

Panel Discussion: Competitiveness in a Changing Economy – How to Help SMEs Grow, Innovate, and Stay Resilient

Participants: Dobri Mitrev, President, Bulgarian Industrial Association (BIA) (tbc); Florin Jianu, President, National Council of Small and Medium Private Enterprises in Romania (CNIPMMR) (tbc); Lou Kaiser, Head of ESG, EUPD; Chamber of Commerce Representative; Innovation Hub or Accelerator Director; Bogdan Ivanov, Director Corporate Clients at UniCredit Bulbank; Kamen Iliev, Director, Center for the Study of Industrial Policy at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (CIPI-BAS)

Responsible Business Conduct - Beyond Compliancе. 50th Anniversary of the OECD MNE Guidelines

Participants: Yordanka Chobanova, Head of the Representation of the EC in Bulgaria (tbc); Nicolas Hachez, Head of Public Policy and Regional Programmes, and Head of Access to Remedy at the OECD Centre for Responsible Business Conduct (tbc); Amaryllis Verhoeven, Head of Unit for Responsible Business Conduct, DG GROW, European Commission; Zornitsa Rusinova, Chair, Economic and Social Council of the Republic of Bulgaria; Velislava Deltcheva, Ombudsman of the Republic of Bulgaria (tbc); Stanislav Popdonchev Vice President of BIA, CFO; Rumen Radev, Chair of the Board, AICB (tbc); Plamen Dimitrov, President of the CITUB; Eng. Dimitar Manolov, President of the Podkrepa Confederation of Labour

Spotlight Discussion: Cybersecurity and Digital Infrastructure in an Era of Constant Turbulence – Insights from Institutions and Industry leaders

Participants: Hristian Daskalov, Cybersecurity & Digital Infrastructure Expert; Contributor to EC initiatives on NIS2, CRA, EUDI Wallet and internet standards; Margarita Kirilova, Business Development Manager, Cyber One; Simeon Kartselyanski, CISO (Chief Information Security Officer) at Information Services JSC

Sustainable and Economic Diplomacy: Straightening Cooperation in Times of Division

Participants: Meglena Kuneva, European Commissioner for Consumer Protection (2007 - 2010); Rosen Plevneliev, President of the Republic of Bulgaria (2012 - 2017) (tbc); H.E. Pierre Hagmann, Ambassador of Switzerland to Bulgaria; H.E. Irene Maria Plank, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Bulgaria; H.E. Elmar Eldar Oglu Mammadov, Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Bulgaria; H.E. Mehmet Sait Uyanik, Ambassador of Turkey to Bulgaria, Ambassadors and leading stakeholders

Lunch Break

Interlinked Panel Discussions: EU Enlargement and the Western Balkans

Co-organised in partnership with Balkan Economic Forum (BEF) Opening Keynote: Mathieu Bousquet, Director, Enlargement Coordination, Strategy & Investments, EC

Sub-panel 1: From Accession Perspective to Economic Convergence: Unlocking Growth through Enlargement

Participants: Antonios Nestoras, Founding Director, European Policy Innovation Council; Sasho Kjosev, PhD, President of BEF (presenting the Balkan Socio-Economic Integration); Borislav Kostadinov, Fund Director at Finance in Motion GmbH

Sub-panel 2: Connecting Before Acceding: Infrastructure as the Backbone of Enlargement

Participants: Prof. Klaus-Dieter Borchardt, European Coordinator, CESEC and Deputy Director-General, DG ENER, European Commission (2019 - 2020); Nikolas Sofianos, Secretary General, Institute of Energy for SEE; Elvin Guri, Founder of Empower Capital, Entrepreneur and Investor; Andrej Lepavcov, President of the Engineering Institution of Macedonia; Dinko Eror, Vice President EMEA Central Europe, Red Hat, Member of Advisory Board, BEF

Sub-panel 3: Green by Accession: Aligning Enlargement with Europe’s Climate Agenda

Participants: Andrea Bogoni, Research Fellow, Blue Europe; Andrijana Nelkova - Chuchuk, Energy Regulators Regional Association (ERRA) Chair; Head of Economic Department; Ivana Vojinović, Director of the Centre for Climate Change, Natural Resources and Energy at UDG; World Bank representative (tbc)

Roundtable Discussion: Forging Competitiveness, Simplifying Regulation, Unlocking Innovation and Investment for SME

Co-organised in partnership with: Bulgarian-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BHCCI), Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI), Bulgarian-Romanian Chamber of Commerce Opening: Savvas Karafyllidis, President of the Bulgarian-Hellenic Chamber (BHCCI); Victor Gugushev, Chairman of the Bulgarian-Romanian Commercial Chamber; Dr. Rosen Tkachenko, President of the EU Chambers of Commerce in Bulgaria (tbc); Emmanouil Vlachoyiannis, Honorary President, Thessaloniki Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TCCI); Tsvetan Simeonov, President of BCCI (tbc); Ivaylo Marinov, PhD, Counselor and Head of Economic and Commercial Department, Bulgarian Embassy in Romania; Branco Azeski, President, Economic Chamber of North Macedonia; Angel Ivanov, Acting Executive Director, InvestBulgaria Agency; Bogdan Ivan, Minister of Energy, Romania (2025 - 2026) (tbc); Christos Athanasiadis, General Manager, Robovision.gr; Plamen Penev, Managing Director, Kuehne+Nagel Romania; Efstathios Sideris, Country Manager Greece Econergy Group; Vasilis Satslis, Managing Director, Alumil, Greece (tbc) Keynote: Konstantinos Gioulekas, Deputy Minister of Interior, Hellenic Republic

High-Level Discussion: Labour Market, Social Transition and Europe’s Talent Agenda – Skills, Mobility and Competitiveness

Participants: Nataliya Efremova, Minister of Labour and Social Policy; Andriana Sukova, Deputy DG, DG EMPL, European Commission; Ivailo Kalfin, Executive Director, Eurofound; Prof. Andrés Rodríguez-Pose, Princesa de Asturias Professor & Professor of Economic Geography, Director of the Cañada Blanch Centre; Martina Grigorova, Executive Director, SIS Credit; Nadezhda Vasileva, Country Operations Head of Adecco Bulgaria; Francesca Cristea, Head of Policy and Programs at Europuls

Closing Ceremony of the International Scientific Conference “ The New Social Contract”

Co-organised in partnership with OZON Agency Smilen Valov, Executive Director, Employment Agency of Bulgaria;

Innovation Norway: Unlocking New Funding for Innovation and Green Growth – The Next Programme Period

Co-organised in partnership with (Partner to be announced)

Lunch Break

Interactive Discussion: Navigating the MFF 2028 - 2034: Regional Competitiveness and Strategic Cohesion

Co-organised in partnership with Europuls – Centre of European Expertise

Exclusive VIP Dinner (Invitation only)

To request attendance, please contact the organizer Venue: East Plaza Hotel, 28 Tsarigradsko Shose Blvd., Sofia Honorary Guests:HE Iliana Iotova, President of the Republic of BulgariaProf. Philippe Aghion, Nobel Prize Laureate for 2025 in Economic ScienceHE Panagiotis Theodorikakos, Minister of Development, Hellenic Republic HE Marie Dumoulin, Ambassador of the French Republic to the Republic of Bulgaria Host:HE Sergei Stanishev, Member of the Strategic Foresight Committee of the Green Transition Forum, Prime Minister of Bulgaria (2005– 2009)

Business Breakfast with Prof. Philippe Aghion: The Competitiveness Playbook

Registration and Networking Coffee

Welcome Address by the Organisers

FLAGSHIP SESSION: From Stagnation to Dynamism – Rethinking Growth in an Era of Global Challenges

Participants: Martin Danovsky, Executive Director, Sofia Tech Park; Iliya Garkov, COO and EVP, DPM Metals; Rumen Radev, Chairperson of the Bulgarian Industrial Capital Association; Sasha Bezuhanova, Founder of MOVE.BG & Co-founder of SCION

Coffee Break

High-Level Panel Discussion: Europe’s €2 Trillion Question: What Is the EU Budget Actually For?

Participants: Atanas Pekanov, Deputy Prime Minister for European Funds, Republic of Bulgaria; Valere Moutarlier, Deputy DG, DG GROW, European Commission; Metodi Metodiev, Deputy Minister of Finance, Bulgaria; Marek Mora, VP, EIB; Tsanko Arabadzhiev, Board Member and Executive Director, BDBank; Adelina Dabu, Director of EU and International Affairs, Concordia Employers Confederation

Panel Discussion: Banks at the Frontline: Climate Risks, Industrial Resilience, and Sustainable Finance

Participants: Theodoros Pelagidis, Deputy Governor of the Bank of Greece; Borislav Kostadinov, Fund Director, Finance in Motion GmbH; Claudia Marcuson, Managing Partner, Zero Emissions Fund; Ivan Paspaldzhiev, Senior Manager at EY denkstatt

Lunch Break

Panel Discussion: Rethinking Financial System for Greater Access, Less Bureaucracy, and More Innovation

Participants: Vasil Golemanski, Chair of the Financial Supervisory Commission; Alexandru Petrescu, President, Romanian Financial Supervisory Authority (tbc); Antonio García Del Riego, Member of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC); Martin Gikov, Country Officer Bulgaria, International Finance Corporation (IFC); George Marinos, Innovation & Digital Partnerships, National Bank of Greece; Brian Fabregue, President, Blue Europe

Panel Discussion: From Savings to Scale – Mobilizing Pension and Institutional Capital for Venture and Competitiveness

Participants: Diana Yordanova, Deputy chair, Financial Supervisory Commission; Miroslav Marinov, Executive Director, PAC Doverie; Evgeni Angelov, Chairman, Bulgarian Private Equity and Venture Capital Association; Edward Randolph, Investment Director, Amber Infrastructure; Mariya Mincheva, Deputy Chair, Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce (tbc); Bozhidar Vidinov, Head of Strategic Development, The Revenues Factory

Coffee Break

Panel Discussion: Circular Economy at Scale – From Waste Streams to Strategic Resources

Participants: Paolo Campanella, Secretary General, European Waste Management Association (FEAD) (tbc); Dr. Xiao Lin, Chairman and CEO Botree; Prof. Maria Petrova, PhD, Associate Professor, American University in Bulgaria; Vihren Mitev, Founder and Director of ManEco Foundation

Europe's catalytic transformation moment: how the CEE and SEE regions are powering our common clean European futures

Participants: Malgorzata Bugajska, Managing Partner, Luma Ventures, Switzerland/Poland; Angelina Bintoudi, CEO & Co-founder, Optimems, Hellenic Republic; Krassen Dimitrov, President, Voltera Bulgaria; Max Gurvits, Managing Partner, Vitosha Ventures, Bulgaria

FLAGSHIP SESSION: 5 Skills You Need to Survive the AI Revolution

Public Lecture by Mo Gawdat, Futurist and Former Google X Executive (Followed by Q&A Session – additional registration required!)

Roundtable Discussion: CBAM in Action – Ensuring Fair Competition While Decarbonising Global Trade

Participants: Mette Quinn, Deputy DG, DG CLIMA, European Commission; Radan Kanev, MEP, ENVI; Philippe Rombaut, Co-Owner, Chairman of the Board, Agropolychim AD; Konstantin Stamenov, Director of Strategic Planning and Investments at Stomana Industry AD; Mihnea Cătuți, Executive Director, EPG; Zdravko Bikov, Chairman of the Management Board , Bulgarian Association of Recycling; Titan Zlatna Panega (tbc); Solvay Sodi (tbc); Gopettrans (tbc); BFIEC; TEC Bobovdol; Holcim; CEOs of Leading Industries

Interactive Discussion: Low-Carbon Industrial Transformation: Greening Supply Chains to Secure Europe’s Competitiveness

Participants: Traycho Traykov, Minister of Energy, Bulgaria (2026); Yvon Slingenberg, Director for Strategy, Analysis and Planning, DG CLIMA, European Commission (tbc); Eduard Tsvetanov, Public Policy and Industrial Advocacy Manager, Solvay; Marius Koeppen, Senior Analyst, Energy and Climate Program, CSD

Lunch Break

Interactive Discussion: RESourcEU – Securing Industrial Autonomy, Critical Raw Materials, Reducing Dependencies, and Strengthening Competitiveness

Participants: Jan Moström, President, Euromines; prof. Ivaylo Koprev, Rector, University of Mining and Geology, “Sv. Ivan Rilski”; Irena Tsakova, General Manager, DPM Krumovgrad EAD; Dominic Hamers, Executive Director of Geotechmin OOD; Rumen Radev, Chairperson of the Bulgarian Industrial Capital Association; Nicola Rangelov, Chair of the Board of Directors, BAMI; Christian Kühne, MD, Think Tank for Industrial Resource Strategies; Georgios Karakatsanis, Founder and Director, EVOTROPIA; Boyan Rashev, Founder, MindYourFuture.org; Vedrana Lemor, Head of Corporate Sustainability, Aurubis AG, Ivailo Georgiev, Sustainability and Public Affairs Manager, Aurubis Bulgaria; GBS

Interactive Discussion: Turning EU Budget Allocations into Real Economic Growth – Unlocking MFF Funding to Strengthen National Competitiveness in Bulgaria

Participants: Atanas Pekanov, Deputy Prime Minister for European Funds, Republic of Bulgaria; Metodi Metodiev, Deputy Minister of Finance, Bulgaria; Ivan Ivanov, Director, Central Coordination Unit Directorate, Council of Ministers (tbc); Zornitsa Rusinova, President, ESC of the Republic of Bulgaria; Mihaela Toader, Secretary of State at the Ministry of European Funds, Romania (2018 - 2019); Anelia Stefanova, Energy Transformation Strategic Area Leader, CEE Bankwatch Network; Karina Angelieva, Executive Director, International Science and Technology Center (ISTC)

A FLAGSHIP WORKSHOP: A People-Powered Climate Transition for Europe – Turning Climate Ambition into Everyday Action

Co-organised in partnership with EU Climate Pact

Interactive Discussion: Resilience as a Driver of Competitiveness – From Risk to Readiness and Economic Security

Participants: Valere Moutarlier, Deputy-DG, DG GROW, European Commission (tbc); Maryna Saprykina, Founder of Ukrainian Women-Enterpreneurs Hub; Prof. Hristo Pimpirev, Chairman, Bulgarian Antarctic Institute

Lunch Break

Mobilising Capital for Europe’s Coal Regions: From Strategy to Investment Pipeline Co-organised in partnership with Regional Economic Development Agency - Stara Zagora

Registration and Networking Coffeе

High-Level Discussion: Circular Industry, Climate Action and Water Resilience – Driving Europe’s Competitive Transition

Participants: Jessika Roswall, European Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy; Kata Tüttő, President of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR); Institutional and Industry Stakeholders; Rositsa Karamfilova, Minister of Environment and Water, Republic of Bulgaria (tbc); Konstantin Stamenov, Chairman of the Management Board, BFIEC; Rossen Papazov, CEO, Holcim Bulgaria; George Kremlis, Ambassador of EPLO for Bulgaria; Solvay

Panel Discussion: Building the Cities of Tomorrow – Best Practices in Sustainability and Resilience

Participants: Vasil Terziev, Mayor of Sofia; Tomislav Tomašević, Mayor of Zagreb; Dušan Raičević, Mayor of Bar, Montenegro; Anar Guliyev, Chairman of the State Committee on Urban Planning and Architecture, Azerbaijan (tbc); Nadya Dankinova, Executive Director of the FLAG Fund; Sofia Papadogiannaki, LIFE Programme, European Commission

High-Level Panel: Cohesion Policy as Strategic Catalyst – Bridging Growth, Innovation and Resilience

Participants: Raffaele Fitto, European Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms; Ivan Shishkov, Minister of Regional Development, Republic of Bulgaria (tbc); Andrey Novakov, MEP, Committee on REGI; Tanya Hristova, Mayor of Gabrovo; Emil Boc, Mayor of Cluj-Napoca, Romania; Andreas Von Busch, Head of Unit for DG Regio E3, European Commission

Lunch Break

Ministerial Panel: Scaling Sustainable Growth through Environmental Policy and the Blue Economy

Participants: Ministers of Environment and Water from South-Eastern Europe; Ivelina Vasileva, Member of the Mission Board “Restore our Ocean and Waters”, European Commission; Anar Guliyev, Chairman of the State Committee on Urban Planning and Architecture, Azerbaijan (tbc); Walid Oueslati, Head of the Climate, Biodiversity and Water Division, Environment Directorate, OECD; Geneviève Pons, DG and President of Europe Jacques Delors

Panel Discussion: The EU Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Chapter – Energy Efficiency, Investment and Innovation

Participants: Dragomir Tsanev, CEO, Center for Energy Efficiency EnEffect; National Trust EcoFund; Joanna Masic, Lead Urban Specialist and Global Lead for Urban, Disaster Risk Management and Land Global Practice, World Bank (tbc); Damir Staničić, LIFE Programme, European Commission

Coffee Break

Panel Discussion: Producing More with Less Resources – The Future of Sustainable Agriculture

Participants: Ministers of Agriculture; Natasha Santos, Head of Sustainability & Strategic Engagement, Vice President, Bayer; Stoyan Tchoukanov, President, Section for Agriculture, Rural Development and the Environment, EESC (tbc); Oscar Rey, LIFE Programme, European Commission; Boyan Zahariev, Co-Founder and CEO of ExSeed

Interactive Discussion: Innovation and Digitalisation in Agriculture – From Data to Impact

Participants: Blagoja Mukanov, Consultant, AgFutura Technologies; Georgios Karakatsanis, Founder and Director, EVOTROPIA; Sonsoles Jiménez Pérez, Managing Director of Alberizas, PhD in Economics and Business, University of Málaga; Veselina Stoyanova, Co-founder Mealprot; Ivan Dragoev, Founder & CEO, Ondo Solutions

Closed Ministerial Meeting of Ministers of Environment and Water within the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP): A Shared Vision for Sustainable Growth and Regional Cooperation

Co-organised in partnership with Ministry of Environment and Water of the Republic of Bulgaria

High-Level Working Group Sessions: Green Deal Going Local Initiative

Hosted by the European Committee of the Regions

Meeting of the Green Deal Going Local Working Group (Closed-door session)

Homegrown energy – from a local transition to European impact Participants: Members of the European Committee of the Regions: Yonnec Polet, Member of the Berchem-Sainte-Agathe Municipal Council, Belgium; Hanna Zdanowska, Mayor of Łódź, Poland; Mirja Vehkaperä, Member of the Oulu City Council, Finland; Attila Kiss, Member of the Hajdú-Bihar County Council, Hungary; Henna Partanen, Member of the Espoo City Council, Finland Tanya Hristova, Mayor of Gabrovo, Bulgaria; Kalin Kamenov, Mayor of Vratsa, Bulgaria; Apostol Dyankov, Head of Climate and Energy Department, Sofia Municipality, Bulgaria Moderator: Markku Markkula, Member of the Espoo City Council, Finland, Vice-President of the European Committee of the Regions

Roundtable Discussion: Next-Gen Buildings – Energy Efficiency Standards and Smart Readiness

Participants: Assa Abloy (tbc)

Meeting of EU Local Councillors Participants: Csaba Borboly, Vice-President of the Harghita County Council, Romania and Member of the European Committee of the Regions; Andres Jaadla, Member of the Rakvere City Council, Estonia and Member of the European Committee of the Regions

Action Lab: Social Innovation for a Just and Resilient Green Transition Co-organised in partnership with WISE - Women in Solidarity for Energy Moderator: Milena Stateva, Founder and Scientific Director, Orion Grid

Panel Discussion: Water – When Scarcity Becomes Systemic

Participants: Toni Popovski, Consultant, Energy Regulators Regional Association

Fireside Chat: Innovative Water Technologies – Securing Urban Supply and Modernizing Infrastructure

Ruska Nikolaev, VP of Engineering and Operations, MEI AVIVIM (tbc)

EU Funding Opportunities - Info Session by LIFE Programme, European Commission

Registration and Networking Coffee

Welcome Address by the Organisers

High-Level Discussion: Beyond Fragmentation – Unlocking Europe’s Competitiveness through the 28th Regime and the Fifth Freedom

Participants: Enrico Letta, President of Jacques Delors Institute, Author of The EU Single Market and Competitiveness Report; Ekaterina Zaharieva, European Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation; Svetoslav Tsenov, Senior Executive and Global Transformation Lead, Astellas Pharma; Philippe Rombaut, Co-Owner and Chairman of the Board, Agropolychim AD; Dan Stratan, CEO, RCI Holding

High-Level Discussion: Funding the Future – How CEE Can Win Big with EU Innovation Programs (Followed by Ask-Me-Anything session for invited participants)

Participants: Ekaterina Zaharieva, European Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation; Ivan Vasilev, Minister of Innovation and Digital Transformation, Republic of Bulgaria (tbc); Marjut Falkstedt, CEO, EIF; Cristian Bușoi, Secretary of State, Ministry of Energy, Romania, MEP (2007 - 2013, 2014 - 2024); Chair of ITRE (2019 - 2024); Тhe Alliance of Science and Technology Parks and Innovative Ecosystems in South East Europe; Regional Innovation Stakeholders

Coffee Break

Panel Discussion: Education of the Future – Teaching for a World That Doesn’t Yet Exist

Participants: Victor Negrescu, Vice President, European Parliament; Prof. Georgi Valchev, Minister of Education and Science, Republic of Bulgaria (tbc); Barbara Nowacka, Minister of Education, Republic of Poland (tbc); Antoaneta Angelova-Krasteva, Director, Innovation, Digital Education and International Cooperation, DG EAC, European Commission; Andreas Schleicher, Director, Education and Skills, OECD (Founder of PISA); Emily Sargent Beasley, President, The American College of Sofia; Miglena Temelkova, PhD, Chairwoman, Council of Rectors, Republic of Bulgaria; Prof. Stamatis Aggelopoulos, Rector, International Hellenic University; Prof. Miroslav Karabaliev, Rector, Trakia University

Fireside Chat: Digitalization of Industries and Technology Driven Innovation – Best Examples from the CEE Region

Participants: Emil Wagenstein, Chief Experience Officer, Ozone.bg

Lunch Break

Panel Discussion: Health Innovations for Social Impact

Participants: Kristian Vigenin, Member of the European Parliament; Dr. Claus Runge, Senior Vice President, Global Head of Public Affairs, Sustainability & Internal Engagement and Chief Health Equity Officer, Bayer; Milla Filipova, Product Manager at Information Services; Pavel Naydenov, CEO, Omega Group; Kristina Polianyi, Assoc Director, Public Affairs, Novo Nordisk; Luka Chichov, CEO, Haelan – Integrated Healthcare

Fireside Chat: Digital Sovereignty vs. Global Platforms – Who Controls the Future?

Participants: Brando Benifei, MEP, Committee on International Trade (INTA); Tsvetan Alexiev, CEO, Sirma Group Holding JSC; Desislava Wallner, Head of IoT Connectivity, A1 Digital Austria

Coffee Break

Fireside Chat: From Kazanlak to the Space: Building a Global Deep-Tech Company from Eastern Europe

Participants: Petko Dinev, Founder and CEO, Imperx.Inc

Interlinked Conversations

Participants: Luis Bravo Martins, VP, XR Safety Intelligence – Europe, Emerging Tech Advisor, Author and Speaker; Joanna Pilch, Director of Business Development AI, AI Strategic Partnerships, AI Strategy, Ethics, and Compliance UK & EMEA; Manijeh Motaghy, Founder and Researcher, UCLA MARC and Perfectly Here; Stephanie Camarena, PhD, Australia, Founder, Source Transitions

One Europe. One Market: Strategic Exchange between Enrico Letta, Leading Industry CEOs & Chambers of Commerce on Europe’s Economic Future (Invitation only)

Followed by Signing Ceremony:THE SOFIA INITIATIVE: From Fragmentation to Scale – Accelerating EU Competitiveness; A Call to Action by 100 Leading CEE Industry Stakeholders (Invitation only)

Lunch Break

Interactive Discussion: Innovation Bridges – Building a Connected Tech and Startup Ecosystem in South East Europe

Participants: Alliance of Science and Technology Parks and Innovative Ecosystems in South-East Europe; Regional Innovation Leaders; Sofia Tech Park (co-organiser)

Spotlighted Fireside Chats

Can Europe Innovate Fast Enough?

Participants: Robin Teurlings, Managing Partner, Zero Emission Fund; VC Representatives, Leading Innovators; Anne-Charlotte Joubert, Founder, SCALE’HER Accelerator; Martin Stoilkov, Regional Development Director, BESCO

Access vs Assurance: How Ecosystems Shape Entrepreneurial Behavior – Understanding the Mindset Differences Between US and European Founders

Participants: Corinne Trang, Strategic Advisor, Systems Thinker and Author, Co-Lead SCALE’HER PROJECT

Coffee Break

Spotlighted Interview: AI Index CEE 2026 Co-organised in partnership with The Recursive

Panel Discussion: The Reality of Developing and Implementing AI

Participants: Tomasz Snazyk, CEO AI Chamber; Europe Cloud