Organised Crime in State-Sponsored Hybrid Warfare 11 December 2025, 9:30 AM Michelangelo Hall, Grand Hotel Millennium Sofia 89B Vitosha Blvd., Sofia, Bulgaria

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💣 Russia’s war has intensified a hybrid offensive that weaponises organised crime, illicit trade, and sanctions evasion.

CSD, @globsec.bsky.social & ICCT will meet in Sofia to discuss how Europe can counter this state criminal convergence.

📅 11 Dec | 🕘 9:30
#CSDimpact #Security#Sofia

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🛡️ As systemic rivalry deepens, democracies face aggression, corruption, and digital coercion.

At the Defense & Democracy Dialogue, Claire Craanen, Deputy Spokesperson of NATO, stressed why resilience, transatlantic unity, and collective defense matter more than ever.

#CSD#FortifyingFreedom#NATO

CSD joins global experts in London 🇬🇧 for "The Price of War" symposium by @cerge-ei.bsky.social

CSD’s Martin Vladimirov will contribute to the discussion.

Discussions focus on boosting Europe’s economic security framework.

#CSDimpact#EuropeanSecurity#Resilience

Shadow Economies This working paper examines illicit financial flows (IFFs) in the Western Balkans and Black Sea regions, shedding light on their scale, drivers, and consequences. Covering ten countries – Albania, Mon...

💸 Illicit financial flows remain a major threat. CSD’s latest study shows how they shape vulnerabilities across 10 countries.

#ShadowEconomies reveals links to:

• Sanctions evasion
• Strategic corruption
• Conflict financing
• Economic instability

Read the full report 👇

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Navigating the Information Landscape

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🔎 At #SIIF2025 in Sofia, CSD hosted a panel on strengthening Bulgaria’s information integrity amid rising disinformation risks.

Experts examined AI-driven manipulation,gendered narratives, platform accountability, and the path to real resilience.
#CSDimpact#InformationIntegrity#DemocraticResilience

Forging the European Democracy Shield Europe is navigating increasingly intense geopolitical pressures, exemplified by Russia's aggression against Ukraine and escalating hybrid threats targeting democratic institutions and economic vulner...

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🇪🇺 The European Democracy Shield strengthens the EU’s ability to counter foreign information manipulation and protect democratic institutions. But stronger tools are needed.

CSD’s brief "Forging the European Democracy Shield"outlines the next steps.

#CSDimpact #DemocracyShield #EUPolicy #Governance

🇪🇺 The #DefenseDemocracyDialogue brought diverse voices together around a shared agenda for a stronger, more secure, and more democratic Europe.

CSD looks forward to continuing this work and strengthening partnerships across the transatlantic community.

#CSDimpact#Democracy#Resilience#Transatlantic

Fortifying Freedom Today’s geopolitical environment is at its most turbulent point since the end of the Cold War. Conventional warfare has returned to the European continent, and the Russian State continues to conduct i...

csd.eu/publications...

🇪🇺 Fortifying Freedom: "Defending Democracy in an Age of Disruption." Defending democracy is key to Europe’s future.

CSD gathered leaders and experts to confront how Europe can safeguard democracy amid war, disinformation, and coercion.

#CSDimpact#EU#Resilience#Democracy#RuleOfLaw #Transatlantic

11.11.25 Fortifying Freedom - Defense and Democracy Dialogue 11 November 2025 09:00 AM Royal Ballroom, Sofia Balkan Palace Hotel 5 Sv. Nedelya sq., Sofia, Bulgaria

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🛡️ Fortifying Freedom through Integrity: SELDI.net and the Rule of Law in Enlargement.

Southeast Europe Leadership for Development and Integrity (SELDI), pioneered by CSD, highlights good governance and anti-corruption in Europe's new growth and security plan.

👉Join us
#CSDimpact#Democracy#Security

Shadow Economies: The Rise of Illicit Networks and Alternative Markets in Sanctions Circumvention - Governance & Integrity Anti-Corruption Evidence This paper examines how illicit financial flows (IFFs) in the Western Balkans and Black Sea regions have surged in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Using trade and econometric analysis, it es...

New #GIACE research by @csdbuildbridges.bsky.social (Tihomira Kostova & Martin Vladimirov) exposes how illicit financial flows (IFFs) and sanctions-evasion networks have surged across the Western Balkans and Black Sea region, reshaping global integrity and governance.

🔗 Read: bit.ly/CSDPublicati...

11.11.25 Fortifying Freedom - Defense and Democracy Dialogue 11 November 2025 09:00 AM Royal Ballroom, Sofia Balkan Palace Hotel 5 Sv. Nedelya sq., Sofia, Bulgaria

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Europe faces a long war and a new race for resilience and technology.

CSD hosts Defense & Democracy Dialogue: Fortifying Freedom to debate security, connectivity and rights on the Eastern flank.

📅 11 Nov | 📍 Sofia Balkan Palace

Registration/details👇
#DefenseDemocracyDialogue#Security#Geopolitics

Managing Assets Under OFAC Sanctions On 22 October 2025, the United States Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) imposed sanctions on the Russian company...

🇺🇸 New OFAC sanctions on Lukoil could disrupt Bulgaria’s fuel supply and shake a key Southeast European energy hub.

CSD’s latest analysis outlines how Bulgaria can safeguard its energy security through state oversight and a temporary OFAC exemption.

Read more 👇
#CSDimpact#EnergySecurity#Sanctions

In October, CSD addressed sanctions, clean energy, corruption & democratic stability across Europe.

🇨🇿 Prague; Forum 2000.
🇧🇪 Brussels; Energy & Security Dialogue.
🇧🇬 Sofia; Korea–Bulgaria Energy Forum & Urban Waste Wars.
🇧🇦 Sarajevo; Good Governance Forum.

#CSDimpact #Resilience #Democracy

11.11.25 Fortifying Freedom - Defence and Democracy Dialogue 11 November 2025 09:00 AM Royal Ballroom, Sofia Balkan Palace Hotel 5 Sv. Nedelya sq., Sofia, Bulgaria

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🛡️ Defense and Democracy Dialogue: Fortifying Freedom will bring together leaders & experts in Sofia to discuss how democracies can protect their values amid war, hybrid threats & global disruption.

📅 11 Nov📍 Sofia Balkan Palace

#CSDimpact#DefenseAndDemocracyDialogue#FortifyingFreedom

Register👇

Balancing Bulgaria’s Energy Future Bulgaria’s energy transition policy is at a crossroads. Despite its ambitious renewable energy targets, the country remains locked in a state-dominated, fossil-fuel-dependent model, where the delayed ...

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Europe’s energy future relies on innovation and partnerships.

At the Korea–Bulgaria Energy Forum; CSD, the Embassy of Korea and KOTRA highlighted how nuclear, renewables and storage can power a clean, secure transition.

CSD’s study maps Bulgaria’s energy path.👇
#EnergySecurity #CleanEnergy

sofia-info-integrity.eu

🌐 Building digital integrity is one of Europe’s key challenges in the age of disinformation.

🔎 As co-organizer of #SIIF2025, CSD will bring together experts in Sofia to strengthen resilience against disinformation and malign influence.

#CSDimpact #InformationIntegrity #DigitalGovernance
Join us 👇

Clean, Secure, Competitive: The Energy Mix for Strategic Autonomy 30 October 2025 09:00 AM Da Vinci Hall, Grand Hotel Millennium Sofia 89B Vitosha Blvd., Sofia, Bulgaria

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💡 Clean, secure, and competitive energy is key to Europe’s autonomy and climate goals.

Join CSD, KOTRA, and the Embassy of Korea for the Korea–Bulgaria Energy Forum on 30-10-2025 in Sofia, focused on nuclear, renewables, and hydrogen cooperation.

#CSDimpact #EnergySecurity #CleanEnergy

Register 👇

Shadow Economies: IFFs & Sanctions Evasion in the Balkans & Black Sea

How are illicit networks reshaping Europe’s economic and security landscape?

Join CSD and @giace.bsky.social ; experts Liz David-Barrett & Tihomira Kostova to discuss the findings and policy responses.

✒️ Register here: bit.ly/CSDWPLaunch
🔗 Read more: giace.org/projects/ill...
#CSDimpact#Sanctions

Energy and Climate Security Risk Index The Energy and Climate Security Risk Index is a strategic policy assessment tool for evaluating the interconnected energy system vulnerabilities of geopolitics, affordability, reliability and sustaina...

Learn more about the ECSRI 👉 ces.csd.eu

Europe’s energy transition is now strategic.

At CSD & @irsem.bsky.social ’s Brussels event, experts warned that energy weaponisation links decarbonisation, competitiveness & security.

CSD’s ECSRI shows EU energy risk tripled since 2022.

#CSDimpact#EnergySecurity#Decarbonisation