On 12 December 2024, in the framework of the preparation for the UNESCO World Conference on Cultural Policies and Sustainable Development – ​​MONDIACULT 2025, regional consultations for Eastern Europe were held. Among the key participants was Mila Georgieva, Vice-President of the Bulgarian Music Association, representative of the European Music Council (EMC) and the International Music Council (IMC).

The event, organized with the aim of developing strategic priorities for the region, brought together leading figures in the field of cultural policies. The opening was led by the Minister of Culture of Latvia, Ms. Agnese Lėtse, and the Deputy Minister of Culture of Spain, Mr. Jordi Marti Grau, who emphasized the importance of MONDIACULT 2025 as a global platform for culture and sustainable development.

Mila Georgieva actively participated in the discussions, bringing important perspectives from the experience of Bulgaria and the work of the European Music Council. She emphasized the role of cultural and music education, outside of vocational schools, as a basis for the sustainable development of the cultural sector. During her speech, she shared that in Bulgaria, the lack of a national policy for cultural education in general education schools leads to a public underestimation of the role of musicians and cultural workers, based on the results of the BMA music sector mapping.

During the session dedicated to the economy of culture, cultural heritage and climate action, Celia Fischer from the International Music Council (IMC) made a keynote statement. She emphasized that for music to contribute effectively and sustainably to economic development, it is necessary to build policies that support the economic autonomy of the music sector. Fischer highlighted the problems caused by the dominance of free-entry events in some countries, which creates a public perception that music is free. This hinders the sustainable development of the sector and imposes a dependence on public funding, which is not economically sustainable in the long term.

Fischer also addressed climate action in culture, presenting the SHIFT eco-certificate initiative, which aims to sustainably manage resources by cultural organizations. She highlighted the importance of cultural networks as an example of environmental awareness, emphasizing the need for every organization and individual to consider their carbon footprint when planning activities.

In one of the most memorable parts of the meeting, Mila Georgieva raised the issue of discrimination against Eastern European artists in Europe. Georgieva spoke about the challenges that artists from the region face in their attempts to establish themselves on the international stage, and called for equal treatment and recognition of their talent.

In conclusion, she drew attention to the need to include culture as a stand-alone goal in the future global agenda for sustainable development after 2030. She concluded her speech with the words: “There is no future without culture”, emphasizing the importance of culture as a driver of change and sustainable development.

The regional meeting was an important step in the preparation for MONDIACULT 2025, reaffirming Eastern Europe’s commitment to working to integrate culture into the global dialogue for a sustainable future. The participation of Mila Georgieva and keynote speeches by representatives such as Celia Fischer demonstrate the active contribution of the music community to these global goals.