"If we want Europe to be strong, sustainable and competitive, we need a strong cohesion policy," said Tanya Hristova, Gabrovo Mayor and Head of the Bulgarian delegation at the European Committee of the Regions, during the closing conference of the project "Europe in the Balkans: A Common Future" in the Bulgarian seaside resort of Albena on Saturday.
"If it is missing, peace and democracy, which are fundamental values of Europe, will be greatly threatened", she noted, adding that municipalities must continue to work for the quality of life and the values of Europe to be accessible to everyone.
According to Hristova, cohesion policy makes it clear that one-size-fits-all solutions are no longer desired and that there must be sufficient flexibility and opportunity for the participation of different representatives. She commented that it is extremely important that the European Committee of the Regions and the National Association of Municipalities of Bulgaria insist that local authorities be represented in the development of all stages of the cohesion policy cycle.
According to official information, thanks to the investments from the European funds, Bulgaria's GDP as of 2015 had grown by more than 10%. Hristova noted that during the first programming period 2007-2013, 110 projects were implemented in Gabrovo Municipality with investments in the amount of over BGN 85 million. In the second programming period, the grants amounted to almost BGN 100 million, and about 600 projects were implemented. In the current programming period, the cohesion policy proved to be a life-saving tool for dealing with many crises, and 78 projects have been implemented so far, with grants in the amount of almost BGN 40 million.
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 policy, including in the Balkans; raising awareness of projects funded by the European Union through the 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.
Within the Project's framework, BTA has organised six cross-border conferences, six regional conferences and over twenty local conferences.
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