Public Lecture by the Director of the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna Ambassador Dr. Emil Brix on the Power Shift in Europe Was Held at Our University

The Director of the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna Ambassador Dr. Emil Brix delivered a public lecture on the Power Shift in Europe at the UNWE.

The lecture was attended by students and lecturers from the UNWE as well as representatives of the Embassy of Austria in Bulgaria.

At the opening of the event greetings were addressed by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yanko Hristozov, Vice Rector for International Affairs and by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Svetla Boneva, Dean of the International Economics and Politics Faculty.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yanko Hristozov, Ambassador Dr. Emil Brix, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Svetla Boneva /from the right to the left/

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yanko Hristozov opened the event and greeted the attendees on behalf of the Rector of UNWE Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov. Assoc. Prof. Hristozov introduced Ambassador Dr. Emil Brix pointing out that he is a historian and longstanding diplomat, Director of the Diplomatic Academy in Vienna - Vienna School of International Studies since 2017. He holds a PhD from the University of Vienna and was awarded the titile of Doctor Honoris Causa by the University of Drohobytsch, Ukraine and by the University of Cluj-Napoca, Romania.

He is an alumnus of the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna and has published numerous books and articles on Austrian and European history of the 19th and 20th century.

Ambassador Dr. Emil Brix began his diplomatic service in 1982 and over the years has been Head of Cabinet at the Ministry of Science and Research, Austrian Consul General in Cracow, Poland, Director of the Austrian Cultural Institute in London, Director-General of Foreign Cultural Policy at the Ministry for European and International Affairs and Austrian Ambassador to the United Kingdom and the Russian Federation.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Svetla Boneva expressed thankfulness to Ambassador Dr. Emil Brix for accepting the invitation to deliver a lecture at the UNWE, outlining that the topic is very relevant and that she is convinced that it will lead to a useful discussion among the participants in the event. She also expressed hope for the future fruitful cooperation with the Diplomatic Academy in Vienna which is one of the most respected places in the world where diplomacy is taught.

In his lecture, Ambassador Dr. Emil Brix examined Europe at political and economic point of view in a rapidly changing geopolitical environment. He pointed out that the European Union must continue to develop in the direction of not only consolidating the EU's single market but also creating a single capital market as well as strengthening the integration process in order to maintain its role on the geopolitical stage. The guest lecturer expressed confidence that the European Union will be able to keep its political and economic integrity in order to consolidate its geostrategic position and find its place in the new redistribution of power globally.

The event ended with a fruitful discussion.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yanko Hristozov awarded to Ambassador Dr. Emil Brix souvenirs with the logo of UNWE.