Bulgaria's government has backed Ivelin Zanev to become secretary general of the Danube Commission.

Zanev is currently Bulgaria's deputy representative to the Danube Commission. He has headed the shipping route maintenance department at the executive agency for exploration and maintenance of the Danube river since 2015, and has run the agency itself since November 2022.

He has worked on Danube shipping and inland waterway issues and on keeping the shipping route in order, and has experience in public administration too.

Bulgaria's regional development ministry will host the 15th annual forum of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region on November 3 and 4. The two-day meeting is the main event of Bulgaria's 2026 presidency of the Danube Strategy.