site.btaUPDATED Pernik Hosts BTA's "Europe in the Balkans" Conference

A conference "Europe in the Balkans: A Common Future" took place at the National Press Club of the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) in Pernik on Tuesday. Representatives of central and local government, the team of the District Information Center, public figures and the media discussed the impact of EU-funded projects in the Pernik region in 2014-2020 and new developments for the 2021-2027 period.

Regional Governor Lyudmil Veselinov said the conference is proof of the need for a press club in Pernik, in order for BTA to carry out its activities and be a translator of EU policies, both in Bulgaria and the region. "Thanks to EU funds, we have the chance to develop not only our area, but also Bulgaria - with a higher standard and more serious policies," Veselinov also noted.

Deputy Mayor Stefan Krastev pointed out that thanks to European solidarity, the residents of the municipality can breathe cleaner air. "One of the recently implemented projects is the reclamation of the largest landfill, for which Bulgaria was threatened with large sanctions from the European Commission. The landfill has now been brought into full compliance with environmental standards," Krastev said. There are numerous energy efficiency initiatives for residential buildings, as well as an initiative to replace the heating appliances of households that use solid fuel. He noted that the Palace of Culture in Pernik was completely renovated, and 13 new methane buses and five electric buses were purchased.

Irena Georgieva, Manager of the Regional Information Center, presented the total number of contracts under EU structural investment contracts in the Southwest Region for the 2014-2020 programming period: they are 19,273, worth over BGN 11 billion. In Pernik Region alone, there were 669 contracts, worth over BGN 297.5 million. The projects under Operational Programme (OP) Environment account for the largest share of utilized funds, followed by the Rural Development Programme and OP Regions in Growth. During the 2021-2027 programming period, eight contracts with a total financial assistance of over BGN 5 million have been concluded under OP Human Resources Development. Five contracts for financial assistance of over BGN 1.1 million have been concluded under OP Food and/or Basic Material Assistance.

Zemen Mayor Mihail Zlatanov said that Pernik Municipality has a rich cultural and historical heritage, noting that there are six monasteries, 10 churches and two chapels. "What has been done so far is not enough in terms of infrastructure. We rely on EU funding to achieve the things set out in our programme," said Zlatanov.

Breznik Deputy Mayor Maria Dobrevska said that thanks to the funds from the EU, a number of projects have been implemented in the municipality, including the reclamation of the landfill, the replacement of water pipes, and the rehabilitation of residential and public buildings. She added that monasteries and churches have been restored, and in the new programming period an application for financing of the Empty Throat megalithic temple-well will be made together with an Italian municipality which has a similar well. Dobrevska also cited the House of Masks in the village of Kosharevo, which presents the Surova custom and was renovated under the Cross-Border Cooperation Programme.

Izabela Borisova from the Regional Administration in Pernik pointed out that the regional administration was a lead partner in this project, together with the Crveni Krst Municipality of Nis, Serbia. The project was developed with the aim of achieving balanced and sustainable development of the border region between Bulgaria and Serbia.

Michael Kolarov, Representative of the European Polytechnic University in Pernik, said that the university's students are mostly foreigners, and that the university is the only private polytechnic university in Bulgaria accredited to teach students in Informatics, Construction and Energy.

The project "Europe in the Balkans: A Common Future" is implemented by BTA with support from the European Commission. It builds on a past project, "Europe in Bulgaria: A Common Future", and aims to foster a better understanding of the role of the cohesion policy in the Balkans; to raise awareness of projects funded by the EU through the Cohesion Funds; promote dialogue on the results of the projects at local level and boost civic participation in issues related to cohesion policy.

So far conferences have been held in Ruse, Razgrad, Veliko Tarnovo, Silistra, Gabrovo, Burgas, Sliven, Yambol, Haskovo, Stara Zagora, Kazanlak and Kyustendil, and cross-border conferences in Bucharest, Edirne and Skopje. Until August, discussions will be held in the BTA press clubs across Bulgaria as well as in Belgrade, Bosilegrad and Thessaloniki.

The "Europe in the Balkans: A Common Future" project is funded with EUR 348,871. To achieve the project's aims, BTA is using a media mix and expects to reach out to between 700,000 and 1 million people in Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia, North Macedonia, Greece and Turkiye.