Benjamin Coester: Any positive change in the EU starts with personal contact and joint work

Vladimir Mitev

Summary

In this detailed interview, Benjamin Coester, Head of Communication and Culture at the German Embassy in Sofia, outlines the strategic role of cultural policy, educational exchange, and historical reconciliation in fostering a resilient European identity. Speaking in Ruse in April 2026, Coester emphasizes that the strength of the European Union is built upon personal contact and the civic engagement of its youth and these lead to positive change.

Cultural Engagement and Civic Responsibility in Ruse

Coester highlights the week of German cinema and German theatre in Ruse as a vital platform for connecting German-speaking students from across Bulgaria.

• Civic Engagement: The theater festival focuses on how young people can contribute to society. Coester argues that this engagement is essential for European resilience, as it encourages cross-border collaboration and strengthens the social fabric.
• The Canetti Legacy: Through the Canetti Society, cultural bridges are built between Bulgaria, Romania, Germany, and Austria, honoring the international heritage of Elias Canetti.

Sovereignty through European Unity

Addressing the rise of “sovereignism,” Coester argues that national sovereignty and European connectivity are not mutually exclusive. Instead, he posits that:

• Diversity is Strength: Europe’s wealth lies in its combination of different cultures.
• Collective Power: In an era of “great power politics,” individual European countries can only maintain true sovereignty by standing together as a unified political and economic bloc.

Educational and Research Opportunities

Germany remains a primary destination for Bulgarian students and researchers, offering several pathways for academic growth:

DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service)

The DAAD is the primary contact for scholarships. They provide:

• Language Courses: Short-term opportunities to improve German proficiency.
• Full Master’s Scholarships: Highly prestigious grants that carry significant weight on a CV, particularly when applying to German firms.
• Consultation: Interested parties can contact sofia.tu-sofia@daad-lektorat.de or join the “DAAD Lektorate Bulgarien” Facebook group.

Erasmus+ and University Alliances

Coester notes a new Erasmus+ initiative that allows for very short-term exchanges (starting at one week), serving as a “trial” for students. Furthermore, the University of Ruse participates in European University Alliances (including the Technical University of Chemnitz), which facilitates high-level networking and collaborative research.

International Parliamentary Scholarship (IPS)

For those specifically interested in politics, the IPS provides a multi-month internship in the German Bundestag. This program requires high German proficiency and offers participants the chance to work directly with parliamentarians in Berlin.

The Path to Reconciliation

Drawing on his upbringing near the French border in Bonn, Coester discusses how Germany’s history of reconciliation with France can serve as a model for the “periphery” of Europe.

• The Grassroots Approach: Reconciliation begins with personal contact and friendships.
• Bilateral Projects: The Embassy is currently facilitating a project with the Franco-German Youth Office (OFAJ) involving students from Germany, France, North Macedonia, and Bulgaria. The goal is to apply the lessons of the Élysée Treaty to contemporary tensions between Bulgaria and North Macedonia.
• Economic Integration: Much like the early stages of the EU, shared economic projects—such as those focused on the Danube river—can bridge gaps where political elites may struggle.

Cross-Border Journalism and ARTE

Coester champions cross-border journalism as a tool for mutual understanding. He points to the television channel ARTE as a “brilliant example” of cultural integration.

• Expansion: There are ongoing discussions to expand ARTE into a truly pan-European medium.
• The Role of Media: By explaining cultural quirks and fostering shared narratives, cross-border media helps overcome divisions. Coester stresses the need for new funding models to support journalists in this increasingly difficult professional landscape.

Intro

Benjamin Coester is head of Communication and Culture at the German Embassy in Sofia. He has previously worked on Humanitarian Assistance in the Federal Foreign Office in Berlin, in international academic cooperation at universities in Budapest and Lima and in development co-operation in Southeast Asia. Before his professional career, he studied German philology, Social Sciences and Spanish philology in Siegen, Germany, as well as Intercultural Communication Studies in Cologne, Germany, and Salamanca, Spain. 

At the end of April 2026, Coester took part in a week of cultural events linked to Germany in Ruse.

Interview

The German cultural week in Ruse

Vladimir Mitev: Mr. Coester, we are currently in the midst of the Week of German Cinema and German Theatre in Ruse. How do these events fit into the broader German cultural program for Bulgaria?

Benjamin Coester: Well, in many ways. It is truly exciting to see young people from all over Bulgaria who are German-speaking gathered here in Ruse. First of all, we have the theater festival for German-speaking students from Bulgaria. The theme this year focuses on reflecting on their place in society and how they can contribute to it — essentially, the civic engagement of young people.

I believe this is closely connected to German-Bulgarian relations, but also to our collective future in Europe, as civic engagement plays a huge role in German society. During my time here in Bulgaria, I have seen many active NGOs contributing significantly to building the future of Bulgarian society. I believe civic engagement across borders is what makes us strong as Europeans. If young people start thinking about how they can collaborate with peers in Germany, or within a wider European context, that makes us very resilient. That is vital today.

Beyond the theater festival, we also have the cinema festival organized by the Canetti Society here in Ruse. They have been active for many years, connecting international actors in culture and cinema, focusing particularly on the heritage of Elias Canetti—linking Romania, Bulgaria, Germany, and Austria. I even heard today that their reach extends around the world. As you mentioned, this builds bridges between countries.

The promotion of German culture and sovereignism

Vladimir Mitev: Germany is known for its cosmopolitan culture and society, yet we are currently seeing a wave of rising “sovereignism.” In what ways can German culture, and the promotion of bridges to it, be helpful in the wider EU context where Bulgaria is situated?

Benjamin Coester: I believe these concepts are not mutually exclusive — sovereignty and being connected within Europe. Europe is strong because of its constituent parts; our diversity is our strength. We are a great combination of different cultures and the wealth they bring.

Politically, we are sovereign because we are the sum of all our countries and our collective strength. European countries are successful, but in this new era of “great power politics,” we will only be able to maintain our sovereignty if we stand together.

German scholarship opportunities

Vladimir Mitev: Germany is an education destination for tens of thousands of Bulgarian students. Could you tell us more about the opportunities Germany provides in terms of scholarships and how they can be accessed by young Bulgarians?

Benjamin Coester: The first point of contact in Bulgaria should be the DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) lecturers. They offer free consultations. They offer various scholarships: for example, short-term language courses lasting a few weeks, or full scholarships for an entire Master’s degree in Germany. (Note: Interested individuals can contact: sofia.tu-sofia@daad-lektorat.de And there is the Facebook-Group: DAAD Lektorate Bulgarien)

I highly recommend applying for these programs because they are very prestigious. Having a DAAD scholarship on your CV is a significant achievement when applying to German companies. Furthermore, the chances of success are quite good for qualified candidates.

There is also the Erasmus+ program. Today, I spoke with the Rector of the University of Ruse, and they mentioned a new Erasmus+ initiative that allows for exchanges starting from as little as one week—ideal for those who want a “trial” experience before committing to a full semester or academic research period.

Vladimir Mitev: You mentioned research programs. What specific opportunities does Germany provide for researchers?

Benjamin Coester: There are a number of different scholarships for research stays at German universities. I cannot expand on all the details because they are tailored to specific areas of expertise, but the DAAD lecturers can provide detailed advice based on an individual’s specific profile.

I would also like to highlight the European University Alliances. For instance, the University of Ruse is a member of an alliance alongside the Technical University of Chemnitz, a Romanian university, and several others across Europe. This is a great potential resource for networking and collaboration.

Vladimir Mitev: There is also a third type of scholarship related to the German Bundestag. Who would be interested in this, and what does it offer?

Benjamin Coester: The International Parliamentary Scholarship (IPS) is excellent. Many successful young Bulgarians have participated. It is designed specifically for those interested in politics who already hold a degree and have a very high proficiency in German.

The scholarship allows you to spend several months in the German Parliament (Bundestag), working directly with parliamentarians and gaining deep insights into German politics. It allows participants to create great networks, and it is always a fantastic experience in Berlin. For those not interested in politics, they should check the DAAD offers, but for those who are, they are welcome to contact us at the Embassy. One of my own teammates completed this scholarship and can offer firsthand advice.

Reconciliation in Europe

Vladimir Mitev: Germany is known for its long-standing policy of reconciliation with France, and arguably with Poland and countries to the East. We are speaking in Ruse, which is part of a border area. How could the German experience of reconciliation be useful for this region, considering Germany is often seen as the “center” of the EU while this region is still viewed as the “periphery”?

Benjamin Coester: I have many thoughts on this. I am personally from Bonn, which is quite close to France, so I saw firsthand how easy it is to travel there now. I did many bike trips to Northern France as a youth and was overwhelmed by the friendliness of the people, despite that region being where two World Wars claimed so many lives. It is a difficult task, but people eventually stretch out their hands.

This experience can be applied by the people in Ruse through friendships across the Danube with Romanians. Personal contact is always the beginning. Regarding the transfer of experience, the Embassy currently has a project involving the Franco-German Youth Office (OFAJ), which was a core part of the Élysée Treaty’s concept for reconciliation. We are bringing together students from German, French, North Macedonian, and Bulgarian universities to think about ways to overcome political divisions—specifically addressing the contested questions between Bulgaria and North Macedonia—to develop ideas for the future.

Vladimir Mitev: You mentioned that people should be the agents of change. This is a great idea, but people in this part of the EU often have fewer resources. How does this change the narrative if the elites are well-informed, but the grassroots people and organisations have less access to the traditional “levers of power”?

Benjamin Coester: There are several approaches. The first, as I said, is personal contact. Once you bring people together, they realize they are not that different. Another approach is common economic projects. You share a river here with Romania and are in a similar economic situation, so why not find common projects that connect you? This was, after all, the starting point of the European Union—economic integration.

Cross-border journalism

Vladimir Mitev: Germany and France are also known for Grenzüberschreitender Journalismus (cross-border journalism), such as in the Strasbourg and Saarland regions, and the channel ARTE. To what extent does cross-border media continue to flourish in Germany today?

Benjamin Coester: ARTE is a brilliant example. It even connects me to my French colleagues here in Bulgaria; we work closely with the French Embassy on projects, such as screening ARTE productions. There are ongoing discussions about expanding ARTE into a truly pan-European medium, which I would love to see.

These projects aid understanding immensely. ARTE even has programs that gently poke fun at or explain the different cultural quirks of Germany and France. We need this kind of cross-border journalism because the profession is becoming more difficult; we need new funding models and mutual support. That is a perspective that could really help.

Photo: Benjamin Coester (source: German embassy at Sofia)

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