In Lovech Region, 1,057 projects were implemented under the Operational Programmes of the European Structural and Investment Funds during the 2014-2020 programming period, Mariana Bandrova, expert at the Regional Information Centre, said at the "Europe in the Balkans: A Common Future" conference in Lovech on Thursday.
Under those programmes, contracts for grant financial assistance worth BGN 310 million were concluded in the region and more than BGN 235 million were received in grants, said Bandrova. The municipalities in the region concluded 151 contracts worth over BGN 82 million and received BGN 80 million in grants. Under the Recovery and Resilience Plan, 109 contracts worth over BGN 92 million were concluded in Lovech Region, and grant funding topped BGN 66 million.
Bandrova also drew attention to the novelties in the 2021-2027 programming period. Lovech Region has already signed contracts for 28 projects worth over BGN 40 million under programmes co-financed by the European Shared Management Funds.
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 hosted the final local conference and the closing forum will be held in the Black Sea resort of Albena on August 24.
