Addressing the "Europe in the Balkans: A Common Future" conference in Lovech on Thursday, Petar Dekov, head of the Projects, Programmes and Investments Directorate of the local administration, said that Lovech Municipality implemented 29 projects worth over BGN 28 million from the European Structural and Investment Funds in the 2014-2020 programming period. The projects were implemented under Operational Programme Regions in Growth, OP Human Resources Development and the Norwegian Financial Mechanism, among others.
Dekov noted that the investments included energy efficiency measures, urban environment improvements, energy-saving street lighting and socio-economic integration of vulnerable groups. Among the completed projects he singled out the renovated Youth Centre building, new street lighting in the village of Doyrentsi and the renovation of 17 multi-family residential buildings with energy efficiency measures applied to 187 homes. As to education infrastructure, the buildings and playgrounds of two kindergartens and one health care facility were renovated and the sports fields of three schools were redone.
In the 2021-2027 programming period, Lovech Municipality will invest EU funding in the energy efficiency of residential buildings, education and social infrastructure, environment-friendly urban mobility and air quality improvement, said Dekov.
BTA's Europe in the Balkans project is supported by the European Commission. It aims to foster a better understanding of the role of cohesion policy in the Balkans, promote dialogue on the results of the projects at the local level, and boost civic participation in issues related to cohesion policy.
The series of conferences under the project was launched on December 20, 2023, in Sofia. The programme for 2024 includes discussions in the cities of Blagoevgrad, Burgas, Varna, Vidin, Vratsa, Gabrovo, Dobrich, Kazanlak, Kardzhali, Kyustendil, Lovech, Montana, Pazardzhik, Pernik, Pleven, Plovdiv, Razgrad, Samokov, Silistra, Sliven, Smolyan, Sofia, Stara Zagora, Targovishte, Haskovo, Shumen, Yambol, Kardzhali, Vratsa, and Montana, as well as cross-border conferences in Belgrade, Bosilegrad, Bucharest, Edirne, Skopje and Thessaloniki. Discussion on the development of the North-West planning region started with a local conference in Vidin on June 4. Lovech is hosting the final local conference and the closing forum will be held in the Black Sea resort of Albena on August 24.
