The French Ambassador to Bulgaria Spoke to Students

H.E. Xavier Lapeyre de Cabanes, Ambassador of France to Bulgaria delivered a public lecture on What Is to Be a European to students from the specility International Relations at the university. The meeting was organized by the International Relations Research Students Association (IRRSA).

On behalf of the Rector of UNWE Prof. D.Sc.(Econ.) Statty Stattev the guest-lecturer was welcomed by Prof. Dr. Veselka Pavlova, Vice-Rector of the university. She outlined that the event had been organized by the IRRSA on the occasion of the upcoming Day of Europe and the lecture had supposed to discuss a wide range of topics related to Europe and the European Union.

From the right to the left: H.E. Xavier Lapeyre de Cabanes, Elizabeth Bozhinova, Chairwoman of the IRRSA Managing Board, Prof. Veselka Pavlova, Antoan Shotarov, Chairman of the Students Council

On behalf of Prof. D.Sc.(Econ.) Statty Stattev the Commemorative medal of Prof. Stephan Bobchev – Founder and First Rector of UNWE was awarded to H.E. Xavier Lapeyre de Cabanes by Prof. Dr. Veselka Pavlova with a wish for a further fruitful cooperation.

Prof. Pavlova is awarding the Commemorative medal to the French Ambassador.

It`s an honour and pleasure for us to meet the French Ambassador, welcomed the guest-lecture also Prof. Dr. Antoaneta Vasileva, Dean of the International Economics and Politics Faculty. She assured H.E. Xavier Lapeyre de Cabanes that at the university there had been a lot of friends to France learning the French language as well as a Joint Master`s Degree Programme between the UNWE and the Universite du littoral Cote D`Opale (ULCO)  and also French students residents on the Erasmus Programme.

H.E. Xavier Lapeyre de Cabanes, Prof. Antoaneta Vasileva (on the right) and Elizabeth Bozhinova

Is there an objective definition to specify Europe?, asked a rhetorical question the lecturer and in response he characterized the old continent geographically, on a national principle  and basing on the history and cultural influence. He pointed out that it all hadn`t been enough to regulate the borders of Europe. The Ambassador made also a brief overview on the creation, development and enlargement of the European Union. He examined also the globalization as an inevitable process, spoke about the energy independence and the EU interests in the long run. My country needs yours for the unification of the European interests as well as your country needs the other European partners, said the Ambassador.

The attendants at the Large Conference Hall

The attendants at the Large Conference Hall asked H.E. Xavier Lapeyre de Cabanes questions related to the situation in Ukraine, upcoming European elections, the European Union and preservation of the national identity, etc.