The Delegates Assembly in Sofia 2025
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Fire service leaders from around the world gathered today in Sofia for the CTIF Delegates Assembly 2025. Convened at 8:30 a.m. local time, the DA opened with a welcome address from Deputy Interior Minister Toni Todorov of Bulgaria, followed by a traditional,Fsolemn Moment of Silence honouring fallen Colleagues.
70 delegates from 23 countries were present.
The packed agenda reflected both operational rigour and forward-thinking ambition. After confirming the quorum and formally approving minutes from the 2024 assembly in Oslo, CTIF President Milan Dubravac (Slovenia) delivered an activity report outlining major accomplishments of the past year.
General Secretary Roman Sykora (Austria) followed with updates on the role and principles guiding CTIF representatives and proposed statute modifications.
Treasurer reports from Tom van Esbroeck (Belgium) were reviewed in tandem with auditor assessments, ultimately leading to the approval of the 2026 budget and selection of a new auditor.
Several presentations punctuated the proceedings, including insights from Associated Member Gimaex/Desautel and various CTIF commissions—spanning wildfire, hazardous materials, historical archives, Nordic and Baltic cooperation, and youth engagement. Activity reports from the Vice Presidents added further strategic depth.
Organizational matters also took center stage with discussions on new memberships and exclusions, as well as the re-election of Vice President Yvonne Näsman (Sweden).
Delegates then turned their focus outward with compelling presentations on EU inter-parliamentary cooperation, METRO urban resilience led by Chief John Butler, USA, and regional reports from the Organización de Bomberos Americanos and Associated Member Detka Ltd. Operational decision-making accountability was addressed in a dedicated session before attendees paused for lunch.
The afternoon resumed with a strong international lens. Singapore’s Civil Defence Force presented its latest initiatives, and updates followed on the European Summit of Firefighters (ESF112). Organizers gave a preview of Berlin 2026, which will host both the next Delegates Assembly and the International Fire Brigade Competitions for youth and adults.
As the session neared its close, the assembly fielded ideas for potential 2027 hosts and heard an impactful account from Tehran’s Fire Department, reflecting on a recent tragic fire and the lessons drawn from the Bandar Abbas port explosion.
Rounding off the day was a miscellaneous session and formal closing remarks, marking the end of a gathering that balanced governance with global solidarity.
Photos by Aleksander Damyanov and various CTIF members.
