Mayor Pencho Milkov and the Head of the Representation of the European Commission in Bulgaria opened the new “Europe Direct” information center in the city of Ruse.

On April 27, 2026, in Ruse, we officially opened the new “Europe Direct – Ruse” information center, which will operate during the 2026–2030 period as part of the European Commission’s “Europe Direct” network. The center is located at 15 Knyazheska Street and will provide up-to-date, accessible, and useful information about European Union policies, funding opportunities, and ways for citizens to actively participate in European processes.

Official guests at the event included the Mayor of Ruse, Mr. Pencho Milkov, and the Head of the Representation of the European Commission in Bulgaria, Ms. Yordanka Chobanova. The event was also attended by Deputy Mayor Ms. Zlatomira Stefanova and the Director of the “Economy, Investments, International Cooperation and Projects” Directorate, Mr. Ivaylo Kadishev.

"Ruse has its rightful place in the European family and today we declare it even more clearly with this center. Ideas, energy and opportunities will meet here, which provide a new horizon for the development of our city," said the mayor during the ceremony.

For her part, Ms. Chobanova emphasized the importance of the center in raising citizens’ awareness, especially among young people, who will have access to current opportunities for education, mobility, and participation in European initiatives.

As the team of “Europe Direct – Ruse,” we aim to be an active intermediary between European institutions and citizens, businesses, and local communities. We believe that the new center will establish itself as a place for dialogue, partnerships, and exchange of ideas, as well as a platform for promoting civic engagement and European values at the local level.

During the event, we also presented our main activities for 2026, which include information campaigns, youth initiatives, public discussions, competitions, and collaborations with local and international partners. A special focus will be placed on working with young people, educational institutions, and active communities.

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the students of the National School of Arts “Prof. Veselin Stoyanov” for their inspiring musical performance, which created a festive atmosphere and vividly highlighted the European spirit of the event through “Ode to Joy” by Ludwig van Beethoven—the anthem of the European Union.