site.btaSuccessful EU-funded Projects Discussed at BTA-hosted Conference in Silistra

Successful EU-funded projects in Silistra Region were discussed during the third regional conference under BTA’s "Europe in the Balkans: A Common Future" project at the national news agency's press club here on Friday.

The project is implemented by BTA with the support of the European Commission and builds on a past project, "Europe in Bulgaria: A Common Future". Its objectives include a better understanding of the role of cohesion policy in the Balkans; raising awareness of projects funded by the EU through cohesion funds; promoting dialogue on the results the projects have produced at the local level, and encouraging civic participation on issues related to cohesion policy.

"Silistra Region occupies a worthy place within the North Central Planning Region," Silistra regional governor Mincho Yordanov said. He noted that an increasing number of municipalities in the Silistra region are able to specify problems of social importance that can be solved through EU-funded projects. He said that the Silistra Regional Information Centre’s interaction with the three local initiative groups in Silistra Region and other entities has yielded results, as there are already two projects approved.

Silistra deputy mayor for territorial planning Evgeny Georgiev noted that the projects to be financed with EU funds are aimed at the sustainable development and prosperity of the city of Silistra and the municipality’s settlements, the city’s infrastructure development and modernization, as well as achieving European standards in urban development and a clean and green urban environment.

"The common future of the Balkans as part of the big European family is a priority in the governance programme for [Silistra] Mayor Alexander Sabanov’s 2023-2027 term of office," Georgiev noted.

Speaking at the conference, Ana Karadzhova of the Silistra Regional Information Centre said: "Silistra Region has received more than BGN 550 million in European investments for 900 contracts on programmes and projects since 2007". She added that the investments were made under programmes, projects and measures intended for infrastructure, social activities, etc.

Karadzhova gave an overview of the investments made in previous periods. She said that 128 contracts worth over BGN 165 million were selected for funding in the 2007-2013 programming period, and 702 contracts worth over BGN 325 million were concluded in the period 2014-2020.

She noted that some of the projects were in the social sphere, covering the elderly and people with an inability to self-service, the provision of complex social services, hot lunch service, patronage care, etc. Investment has also been made in social infrastructure. A number of facilities for people in need have been renovated.

"Cross-border cooperation is also important for the region, for which BGN 42.7 million has been received and 16 contracts have been signed. River stations have been built, vessels have been purchased, and coastal protection has been carried out," Karadzhova said.

She added that 19 contracts worth over BGN 10 million were concluded in the period 2021-2027.

Maya Bocheva of the Kainardzha - Alfatar – Silistra Local Initiative Group (LIG) said that the LIG is negotiating to secure financial resources from each programme in the new programming period. The Group was registered on September 13, 2023, and includes 40 settlements: 15 in Kainardzha, 7 in Alfatar and 18 in Silistra.

During the conference, Svilen Cheshmedzhiev of the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds commented on the Conservation of the Dalmatian Pelican along the Black-Sea Mediterranean Flyway project, which was launched in 2019 and due to be completed in 2025. He described it as the largest conservation project for the species worldwide, adding that it aims to reduce the threats to the birds and improve their habitat at 27 sites in Bulgaria, Greece, Romania, and Ukraine. The project will also focus on research and monitoring and capacity building in Turkiye, Albania, Montenegro and the Republic of North Macedonia.

Cross-border cooperation projects with Romania under INTERREG V-5 are also being pursued.

The next regional conference under the "Europe in the Balkans: А Common Future" project will take place in Gabrovo on January 30. Until August 2024, BTA will organize discussions in the cities of Blagoevgrad, Burgas, Varna, Vidin, Vratsa, Dobrich, Kazanlak, Kardzhali, Kyustendil, Lovech, Montana, Pazardzhik, Pernik, Pleven, Plovdiv, Samokov, Sliven, Smolyan, Sofia, Stara Zagora, Targovishte, Haskovo, Shumen and Yambol, as well as cross-border conferences in Belgrade, Bosilegrad, Bucharest, Edirne, Skopje and Thessaloniki.