Over 50 scientists, doctoral candidates and students from Bulgaria, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Poland, Romania and Ukraine are participating in the Summer Scientific Session – 2026 of the Faculty of Law of Varna Free University “Chernorizets Hrabar”, which was held on 19 June at the University’s Educational and Sports Complex as part of the programme to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the higher education institution. The Scientific Conference with international participation “Law: Theory and Practice” and the Scientific Conference “Security without Borders 2026: From Local Risks to Global Crises” took place within the framework of the scientific forum.

The conferences were attended by representatives of Varna Free University "Chernorizets Hrabar", the Institute of State and Law at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia University "St Kliment Ohridski", the University of Library Science and Information Technologies, Ruse University "Angel Kanchev", the National Institute of Justice, as well as universities and scientific organizations from Krakow, Bucharest, Pristina, Kharkiv, Kiev and Taraz.

The scientific session was opened by the Dean of the Faculty of Law, Assoc. Prof. Elisaveta Kalinova, PhD who thanked the organizers, academic partners and participants for their contribution and wished successful work and beneficial discussions.

In his inspiring speech, the Vice-Rector Prof. Dimitar Kanev, D.Sc. defined Varna Free University as an academic community with significant traditions and a clear vision for development. He emphasised the social responsibility of teaching and research and the role of law and security as key areas for the development of modern society. According to Prof. Kanev, the world is facing an accumulation of crises that test values, responsibility and trust in institutions. In this context, science has a crucial role because it creates knowledge, analyses the causes of problems and offers sustainable solutions. “Real change occurs when science offers solutions. The mission of science is to prepare the future,” Prof. Kanev said and called on the participants to continue seeking answers to societal challenges through the power of reason, the scientific method and academic dialogue (see the full text below)

In her welcome address, the Vice-Rector of Varna Free University, Prof. Eleonora Tankova, PhD emphasised the importance of international academic cooperation for the development of science and higher education. She noted that the 25th edition of the conference is proof of the established authority of the forum and the sustainable partnerships built over the years between the university and academic institutions from different countries. Prof. Tankova welcomed the participants from Bulgaria and abroad and emphasised the opportunities for exchange of knowledge, scientific ideas and good practices that such international forums create.

​Plenary reports were presented by Assoc. Prof. Paunita Petrova, PhD from the Institute of State and Law at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and lecturer at Sofia University "St  Kliment Ohridski" on the topic "International Legal Protection of Social Rights - Development, Specialization and Contemporary Challenges" and Assoc. Prof. Eng. Stefko Burdzhiev, PhD, lecturer at Varna Free University, on the topic "Nuclear Energy - a Tool for Reducing Environmental Risks and Climate Change".

​Among the official guests of the forum were Mentor Letsai , PhD – Dean of the Faculty of Law at the AAV College in the Republic of Kosovo, Assoc. Prof. Aura Preda, PhD - President of the Romanian Society of Victimology, representatives of academic institutions from Romania, Ukraine and Kosovo, as well as magistrates from the judicial system in Varna.

The scientific panels discussed current issues related to international law, the protection of human rights, criminology, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, European security and challenges to the rule of law.

Law students will also have the opportunity to join the Student Legal Academy under the patronage of the University's Vice President Yani Yanev. The initiative will take place at the beginning of the 2026/2027 academic year and will include a training seminar on scientific research methodology and a competitive part aimed at developing the research skills of future lawyers.


​Address from Prof. Dimitar Kanev, D.Sc. (Econ.) to the participants and guests of the Summer Scientific Session:
 

Dear colleagues,
Dear guests,
 
​I am honoured to welcome you to Varna Free University "Chernorizets Hrabar" - a university with traditions, with a vision and with a community that knows: education and science are not just knowledge. They are a responsibility.

Today we open the conferences on law and security - two areas of exceptional importance for the future of the state, society and people. Because without them there is no order, justice and freedom.

Let us be honest about the times we live in. They are times of accumulated crises - of a sense of a deficit in order, justice, and freedom; of a sense that we are mired in a swamp full of predatory and greedy alligators.

Politicians responsible for our public affairs often promise to "drain the swamp." But the presence of alligators makes the idea of ​​draining difficult, risky, and inconvenient. To solve it, the logical, tempting, and unscientific solution is to replace the alligators with goldfish, fulfilling not just three but all of society's desires. But then the swamp remains, and the goldfish in it quickly begin to behave like alligators.

Real change, real draining of the swamp - comes from a change in the environment - from rules, institutions and culture that do not rely on the "right man", but on the right law. Because human supremacy, no matter how strong, well-intentioned or convincing it may seem, is a temporary construct. Only the rule of law is sustainable.

The rule of law means creating rules where even wrong people are forced to act right, even alligators behave like goldfish. It does not happen with magic, it does not happen with religious rituals. To create such rules, it takes science.

Why?

Because the challenges are big and dynamic, and the solutions are complex. Because the world is complex. And because we, the people, are complex. But complexity is overcome with the scientific method.

We, the scientists, say: let's study the problem, let's analyse it, let's understand it and let's propose a solution. And we can succeed - because we are enlightened people - we have the knowledge and courage that allow us to rely on our reason, and not on past decisions, traditional norms or the instructions of someone else - the church, the party, the state, the government.

Knowledge helps us understand the swamp. Courage helps us say that the swamp is not a normal environment. Knowledge helps us see why the system is not working. Courage helps us not to confuse changing people with changing the system. Knowledge gives us solutions.
ourage allows us to defend them
.
Reason and the courage to use it can give us good solutions. But good solutions often seem politically impossible - especially when they require real change.

The question then arises: is the effort of reason worth it? Is it worth the courage? Is it worth developing ideas that today seem difficult, inconvenient or impossible?

Yes, it is worth it.

Real change does not happen automatically the moment science suggests a solution. Milton Friedman said that change comes in a moment of crisis, real or perceived. But when a crisis occurs, action depends on the ideas that are available at that moment. That is precisely the role of people of ideas: to develop alternatives to existing policies and keep them alive until the crisis turns the politically impossible into the politically inevitable.

This is the great mission of science - not just to describe the present, but to prepare the future. Not just to diagnose, but to offer treatment. Not just to say that we are in a swamp, but to design how it can be drained.

You are here precisely for this - scientists, doctoral candidates and students. Enlightened people who do not stop at the diagnosis. People who do not just describe the problems, but seek solutions - reasonable, courageous and working.

I wish you successful work, strong reports and in-depth discussions. And I call on you with the words of Kant, borrowed from Horace: Sapere aude: "Have the courage to use your own reason".

Only in this way will ideas be born that will not remain only in the hall, but will continue to live - in science, in institutions, in public conversation and in future decisions.

Let us say in time: this was an important conference - a conference that provided not only analyses, but directions; not only questions, but solutions; not just words, but courage for change.

On behalf of the VFU management and on my own behalf, I thank you for being here. Thank you for your work, for the knowledge you shared, and for your commitment.
 
Good luck!