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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1000 days of resistance: Ukraine fights for freedom and Europe's future
Since the beginning of the Russian full-scale invasion on 24 February 2022, Ukraine has been fighting for its existence and sovereignty – with an unprecedented level of cohesion in the society. But the price is high: millions of displaced persons, destroyed cities, systematic human rights violations and cruel terror by Russia. Now is the time for the Western partners to make clear decisions – for a victory for Ukraine and a secure future for Europe.
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Understanding Populism vs. Authoritarianism: Why the Distinction Matters
Is Donald Trump a dictator? What differentiates autocrats and dictators from populists? Let’s map them all on a populism spectrum. Discover more in the new Populist Playbook Explainer Series.
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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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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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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 .
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25 Years Promoting Freedom in Bulgaria
2015 marked the 25th anniversary of FNF in Bulgaria. A quarter century, the Foundation has been supporting the establishment of liberal democracy in close collaboration with a large number of partner institutions and liberal friends.
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Re-Designing Public Services for the 21st Century – e-Governance
Long queues, limited working hours, crippling bureaucracy, lost or damaged papers and ultimately remaining unheard when reaching out to the public administration. A story, most can relate to.
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eDemocracy and eParticipation: The precious first steps and the way forward
Citizens question top-down approaches of governance and demand more inclusion in the processes of modern democracies. New tools open the door for unprecedented interaction with and unprecedented scrutiny of institutions and governments.
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Liberal Ideas
Liberalism, as the name implies, is the fundamental belief in a political ideal where individuals are free to pursue their own goals in their own ways provided they do not infringe on the equal liberty of others. But what are the basic principles of liberalism and liberal democracy exactly?
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Reshape Bulgaria, Reshape Europe!
Students’ responses to questions regarding Bulgaria's future were presented at the international conference “Reshape Bulgaria, Reshape Europe“ on 12 October 2017.
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Different People, Same Rights. The rights of same-sex couples in Bulgaria
Over the past years, LGBTI equality laws and policies have slowly but steadily advanced all across Europe. When it comes to the LGBTI domain in Bulgaria, however, the picture is more than alarming.
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Premiere of the Black Book of Government Waste 2020
The Black Book 2020 has been now officially launched through a top-notch, immersive virtual show, with great reach on social media. Watch it now! Visit the new website chernakniga.bg to download 2020 edition, discover the continuation of stories published earlier, find out more about the team of investigative journalists and even submit a signal for misuse of taxpayers' money. The 2020 edition of the Black Book of Government Waste in Bulgaria features 15 cases of inefficient spending of taxpayers’ money.
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Behind Closed Curtains: Disinformation on messenger services
Disinformation is not a phenomenon of the digital era. It has always been used to damage political opponents and destabilise societies. However, the popular use of social media and messenger services nowadays have turned the creation and the massive peer-to-peer spread of content in an easy game.
