On May 13 and 14, 2026, the European Information Center hosted the final meeting of the “From the Past to the Future” project. The event began on May 13, 2026, with the opening of a poster exhibition at Campus 5 of the University of Veliko Tarnovo under the slogan “Values Unite Europeans.” It featured 19 posters from all European countries, created as part of the CERV project led by NYEuropa, Denmark. The exhibition was located on Campus 5, in the library lobby. It attracted the interest of students, academics, teachers, and high school students visiting the university library.
Following the opening of the exhibition, a plenary session was held, with the keynote speaker addressing the topic “Democratic Values and the Impact of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights – Alternative Education.” The audience included academics, high school teachers of civics, researchers, and methodologists. The keynote address provided a basis for debate and the exchange of views, as well as for the methodologies used; It examined the fundamental principles of democracy—including the rule of law, popular sovereignty, political pluralism, and the protection of human dignity—and explored how these values are codified and protected in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU. The development of the Charter was traced, key rights and their democratic significance were highlighted, and specific cases and their implications for civil society were examined. Participants reflected on their own educational contexts. The lecture highlighted each of these pillars (dignity, freedoms, equality, solidarity, citizens’ rights, and justice) and discussed and established that they are not merely a legal obligation but a structural prerequisite for genuine democratic self-governance in European societies. The discussion encouraged interaction and laid the groundwork for deeper engagement. A central focus of the ensuing discussion was the intersection of these rights with alternative models of education, including democratic schools.
The second day of the event began with a visit to the Ombudsman’s office and an expert discussion on the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and the protection of rights by institutions, specific examples, as well as activities and campaigns to raise public awareness with the aim of promoting the Charter. The Ombudsman’s office was presented as an informal, free, and accessible mechanism through which citizens, non-governmental organizations, and stakeholders can seek protection of their rights under the Charter without going to court. Many examples of actions taken were shared, as they bridge the gap between rights “on paper” and their actual exercise—particularly important in the context of human rights. A lively discussion followed, during which practices from a number of European countries regarding the implementation of the Charter were presented, as well as practices for the protection of specific civil rights. In the afternoon, the participants visited the National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria. They were introduced to the history of Bulgaria’s democratic transition; a review of democratic life in Bulgaria over the past four years, during which nine elections have been held, sparked a lively discussion regarding democratic participation and civil protests. After the visit to Parliament, the participants proceeded to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Diplomatic Institute. There, an expert discussion and deliberations took place regarding the impact of the Treaty of Lisbon and the EU Charter on Bulgaria, the implementation of the legal framework, and examples from international practice.
This event was extremely successful because it strengthened the participants’ commitment to democratic values, broadened their understanding of the impact of the European Charter in member states, and provided a wealth of information and guidance on the institutional model for resolving issues related to civil rights.
