Sofia
The Sofia office of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom is responsible for the activities of the Foundation in Bulgaria and North Macedonia. Our mission is to facilitate the promotion of the principles of liberal democracy, the rule of law, political pluralism, and free markets, in a collaborative partnership with local and international partners.
Our standard instruments include political education, policy support, and political dialogue, realised through regular events and publications.
News
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Think Freedom: The Mayor
Слава Україні! The job of Mayor of a Ukrainian town in the middle of an incomprehensible war is impossible. Yet every day people wake up and go do it. Watch the Trailer of ‘Think Freedom: The Mayor’, featuring Volodymyr Petrovych Shmatko from Chortkiv. The full documentary is COMING up. For ten years, Ukrainians have been fighting for their freedom and independence. The fight is not just at the front, but in every attempt to live a normal life during the war.
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One year after the earthquake: "People need hope in such disasters"
On 6 February 2023, two earthquakes with magnitudes of 7.8 and 7.5 shook south-eastern Türkiye and northern Syria. According to official figures, 53,537 people lost their lives in Türkiye, many more are missing and more than 500,000 homes were destroyed. Many people in the region continue to live in a state of emergency. At the same time, local elections are just around the corner in the earthquake region and people are waiting for answers to many questions.
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Reshape Europe – The Future of Ukraine: SPRINTS Creative Bootcamp for Artists
15 Artists, 10 Countries, 2 Days, 1 Goal - Let‘s Reshape Europe and The Future of Ukraine Together! Learn more about the creative bootcamp for artists, SPRINTS, in cooperation with Fine Acts, a global nonprofit creative studio for social impact. Download for free hope-based communications and artwork for causes.Amplify your visual language and messaging/advocacy/campaign/educational work with these socially engaged artworks. Discover the Collection on TheGreats.co.
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Europe must unite in the face of global challenges
The Reshape Europe Conference of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom on 10 October 2023 set a milestone in the global dialogue on the question: How can Europe become more resilient and sovereign to stand up to autocratic governments? Together with international experts, the Foundation discussed the challenges of the new era in terms of economy, security, energy and the liberal values of democracy.
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Strategic Decoupling: Phasing out russian economic influence in Germany
The study by the Center for the Study of Democracy (CSD) examines the continuing entanglement between the German and Russian despite Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine. The Russian corporate presence in Germany is highly concentrated in around 40 larger firms, which specialize in oil refining, natural gas supply and distribution, metal and plastic products manufacturing, glass production, and transport. Russia’s war upended European peace and security and intensified global power competition. The study shows that the Kremlin's long arm extends far beyond Germany's misguided Ostpolitik.
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Think Freedom: Freedom is an Action
After the successful premiere in Sofia, the documentary portrait of Denitsa Lyubenova is storming the international film festivals. Starting on a national basis at the Sofia Pride Film Fest in Bulgaria, the documentary makes its way over the neighboring country North Macedonia all the way to Berlin, Germany and London, the UK. "Think Freedom: Freedom is an Action' tells the story of the human rights lawyer and activist Denitsa Lyubenova of the LGBTI organization Deystvie.
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Think Freedom: Freedom is an Action
The Premiere of the short documentary ‘Think Freedom: Freedom is an Action’ gathered more than 100 people on Friday, 17 June, in the Steps in Sofia, Bulgaria. The short documentary tells the story of Denitsa Lyubenova, a human rights lawyer and LGBTI activist. The film shows the process behind and the emotional journey of one of the most prominent legal battles. The screening of the film was followed by a discussion .