The seventh annual specialised Pre-Posting Preparation course for diplomatic officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), who are scheduled for long-term postings at Bulgarian diplomatic missions abroad in 2026, has successfully concluded with the awarding of certificates.

The training is part of the mandatory preparation for MFA officials selected for long-term postings at Bulgarian diplomatic missions abroad during the 2026 calendar year. The course aims to provide participants with additional practical knowledge and skills, enhancing their expertise and supporting them in carrying out their professional duties abroad.

The course was delivered by diplomats and civil servants from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Bulgarian Diplomatic Institute, as well as representatives of other government and academic institutions. The training was opened by Ms. Tanya Mihaylova, Director of the Bulgarian Diplomatic Institute, and Ambassador Radi Naydenov, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The main topics covered in the programme included foreign policy priorities on the EU agenda; Bulgaria’s OECD accession; management of projects under Official Development Aid (ODA); the European Consensus on the Republic of North Macedonia; the role of AI in the diplomatic service; digital information security and social media; economic diplomacy; responses to crisis and emergency situations; diplomatic protocol and etiquette; the financial and administrative aspects of the work of Bulgarian diplomatic missions abroad; and negotiation skills.