Participants Talk Cross-Border Cooperation at Closing Conference of BTA's Europe in the Balkans Project

Sofia Gospodinova, Filip Pavlov, Hristina Georgieva

BTA Director General Kiril Valchev addresses the closing conference of BTA's Europe in the Balkans: A Common Future Project, Albena Resort, August 24, 2024 (BTA Photo/Vladimir Shokov)

Albena Resort, on the Black Sea,

24.08.2024 16:37

(BTA)

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The closing conference of the Europe in the Balkans: A Common Future Project implemented by the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) with support from the European Commission was held in the Bulgarian seaside resort of Albena on Saturday. The participants discussed the importance of Cohesion Policy in the Balkan Region, the role of news agencies and municipalities in cross-border cooperation, and projects implemented during the past programming periods.

BTA Director General Kiril Valchev opened the conference by reviewing the accomplishments of the 36 conferences, including six cross-border, six regional and 22 local ones, at which over 300 projects involving Bulgaria as an EU Member and all its neighbours were presented. "The most important takeaway from our talks is that all these projects are aimed not just at absorbing money, but at what should be most valuable for our European civilization - the human being," Valchev stressed. The BTA Director General said the news agency has so far implemented three European projects and is involved in four others which are under implementation.

Serdar Karagöz, President of the Association of Balkan News Agencies - Southeast Europe (ABNA-SE) and Anadolu Agency Director General, emphasized that news agencies are a powerful tool not only in building a bridge among people, but also in promoting understanding and unity through the dissemination of accurate and truthful information. "As media and information agencies, we have a certain responsibility," he noted, adding that strengthening the cooperation of the media in the Balkans plays an extremely important role for regional peace. According to Karagöz, the possibilities of digital transformation should be used to create dynamic and interactive content through innovative projects. He also mentioned the need to discuss Artificial Intelligence and its impact on the media sector.

Stefan Vangelski, State Advisor for the IPA Cross Border Cooperation Programme at the Ministry of Local Self-Government of the Republic of North Macedonia, pointed out that cross-border cooperation contributes to improving relations between neighbouring countries. The population of the Balkan countries is decreasing, there is an outflow of labour to Western Europe, Vangelski said, adding that it is a challenge to the economy to keep these people in the state institutions. He cited as a success a Bulgaria-North Macedonia cross-border project for an integrated system for forest fire prevention and control. He noted that such cross-border projects contribute significantly to nature conservation, and that the Bulgarian partners also appreciate this project.

Silvia Georgieva, Executive Director of the National Association of Municipalities in the Republic of Bulgaria, said that the European Commission is already debating the EU cohesion policy after the end of the current programming period, which will last until 2027. She added that despite the large number of projects implemented with EU funds in Bulgaria in recent years, regional imbalances in this country have deepened. "The three northern regions of Bulgaria are lagging behind the southern ones. During the 2014-2020 programming period, only 30% of the EU funds were invested in those three northern regions. This issue must be resolved in the current programming period, when this country is obliged to invest at least 50% of the funds for the period in the northern regions," Georgieva said.

Bulgaria and Serbia are implementing a joint project for better disaster response, said Slavjan Kostadinov, head of the Joint Secretariat INTERREG Bulgaria – Serbia Programme 2021-2027. The Bulgarian-Serbian project is aimed at preparing the general population for disaster response and at capacity building of professionals in emergency situations in the cross-border region. The project is expected to reach about 25,000 people in the cross-border region. It is strategic for both countries, Kostadinov said, adding that the project is expected to be completed in March 2026. There are also plans to develop mobile applications, educational materials and information leaflets for the Bulgarian and Serbian population, the expert said. There will be various emergency response information materials for old people as well.

Ioannis Anastasiadis, General Director of HELICAS, said that over 130 projects with more than 400 partners were implemented under the cross-border cooperation programme between Greece and Bulgaria during the last programming period. Anastasiadis said the Bulgaria-Greece cross-border cooperation programme dates back to 1990 and noted that it is necessary to deepen the public debate about ways to achieve better results and more effective cross-border cooperation. He cited the ecosystem of Lake Prespa as an example of successful cross-border cooperation, as it is located on the territory of Greece, Albania and North Macedonia, which makes it necessary for the countries to work together.

Simona Vatafu, Interreg Programme Communications Officer at the Romanian Ministry of Regional Development and Public Administration, noted that the Interreg programmes are part of the EU's Cohesion Policy and represent an important financing tool of the EU, which aims to boost cooperation between regions and Member States. Vatafu emphasized that through the Europe in the Balkans: A Common Future project, BTA has managed to bring European values closer to the citizens, so that they become better acquainted with the impact of EU-funded projects in their regions. She noted the successful cooperation between Romania and Bulgaria under the Interreg VI-A Romania-Bulgaria Programme, which started during the 2007-2013 programming period and continues in the 2021-2027 programming period. "Over the past 17 years, we have financed investments worth some EUR 700 million, including contracts for over 300 projects in sectors such as transport, accessibility, environment, emergencies, health, education, employment, tourism and culture," she said.

The project Europe in the Balkans: A Common Future builds on the previous project titled Europe in Bulgaria: A Common Future. With the new project BTA has put a special focus on the implementation of successful European programmes. Among the objectives were a better understanding of the role of cohesion policies, including in the Balkans; raising awareness of projects funded by the European Union through its Cohesion Policy; promoting an open dialogue on the results of its implementation at local level, as well as citizens' participation on issues related to cohesion policy.

/DD/