BlueLink Foundation

BlueLink – Connecting Science, Civil Society and Democratic Policymaking

BlueLink is an independent Bulgarian civil society think-and-action network established in 1998. It connects researchers, journalists, civil society organisations and institutions to advance democracy, human rights, environmental protection and evidence-informed policymaking.

BlueLink combines interdisciplinary research, independent journalism, policy analysis, citizen engagement, training and digital communications, operating nationally and internationally.

Research and Expertise

Climate, Environment and Environmental Rights

• Climate governance, environmental democracy and the Aarhus Convention.

• Environmental human rights, access to justice and public participation.

• Comparative legal research, policy analysis and climate justice.

Selected:

• Guide to Strategic Rights and Litigation (2026, STELLAR).

• Our Climate Rights (2024, DACE).

• Marine and Coastal Ecosystem Services on the Science–Policy–Practice Nexus (2018), peer-reviewed research.

Journalism, Science Communication and Information Integrity

• Investigative and environmental journalism, media ethics and science communication.

• Climate reporting, disinformation and corporate influence on public discourse.

• Research-based journalism training and information integrity.

Selected:

• Climate Communication: As Observed in Bulgaria (2025), analytical presentation.

• Demythologising the ‘Russification’ of Bulgarian Media's Treatment of Civil Society (2021), research report.

Public Health and Tobacco Control

• Empirical research on smoking behaviour and cessation.

• Evaluation of public health regulation and evidence-informed policies.

• Tobacco industry interference and corporate influence.

Selected:

• Factors Contributing to Smoking Cessation among Young Adults (2024), peer-reviewed article.

• EU Tobacco Products Directive – Support Study (2021), European Commission-commissioned research.

• Heated Tobacco Delusions (2024), investigation of industry misinformation.

• Global Tobacco Industry Interference Index – Bulgaria (2025).

Digital Rights and Democratic Governance

• Digital autonomy, platform accountability and civic space.

• Disinformation, foreign information manipulation (FIMI) and information integrity.

• Digital security and advocacy for human rights defenders.

Selected:

• Free Online: Civic Voices and Facebook Moderation (2023).

• After the Storm: Gender-Based Violence Online (2021), collaborative APC research.

• DIVE/FIMI Bulgarian Country Analysis and Policy Brief (forthcoming).

• DiEHaRD – Digital Advocacy for Environmental Human Rights Defenders (ongoing, 2026).

Citizen Engagement and Youth Participation

• Participatory research, citizen science and democratic governance.

• Youth involvement in climate and environmental decisions.

• Stakeholder engagement and research-based policy recommendations.

Selected:

• Children Participate in Decisions on the Environment and Climate (2026, ENRICH), combining legal analysis, expert consultations and a survey of 217 respondents.

Scientific and Methodological Capacity

BlueLink researchers contribute to peer-reviewed scientific publications, European Commission studies, international comparative research and empirical policy analysis.

Methods: qualitative and quantitative research, surveys, interviews, comparative legal analysis, policy evaluation, stakeholder mapping, participatory methodologies and societal impact assessment.

Selected scientific and analytical publications.

Recent Training and Capacity Building

• DACE, Vienna (2024): Climate rights and litigation training for 20 journalists from 13 countries.

• STELLAR, Budapest (2025): Fundamental rights and climate journalism, international training with legal experts.

• BeLIFE, Sofia (2025): Legal, media and digital defence training for over 30 environmental activists and experts.

• Our Eye on the EU, Athens and Sofia (2026): Youth media literacy and European participation, international capacity building.

• 3CTV (2025–2026): Climate journalism and science communication with Bulgarian National Television.

International Cooperation

BlueLink works at national, European and global levels and is a member of:

• Association for Progressive Communications (APC).

• Justice and Environment (J&E).

• European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF).

Horizon Europe Partnership Interests

Research priorities: science-society dialogue, scientific literacy, citizen science, democratic governance, evidence-informed policymaking, climate and public health, digital rights and information integrity.

Potential consortium roles: interdisciplinary research, comparative policy analysis, citizen engagement, participatory methodologies, journalism and science communication, training, dissemination and societal impact evaluation.

BlueLink offers established international networks, research expertise and proven capacity to connect scientific evidence with civil society and democratic decision-making.