Over BGN 400 million have been invested under the Regions in Growth programme for educational infrastructure in the South Central Region, said Petya Agusheva, head of the South Central Region Department in the General Directorate Strategic Planning and Programmes for Regional Development in the Regional Development and Public Works Ministry, at the Europe on Balkans: Cohesion Skills conference in Plovdiv on Tuesday.
11 projects related to educational infrastructure have been implemented in the South Central Region, including for the repair and modernization of buildings and the supply of equipment and furnishing, Agusheva noted. The beneficiaries are the municipalities of Plovdiv, Haskovo, Pazardzhik, Smolyan, Kardzhali, Asenovgrad, Karlovo, Dimitrovgrad, Velingrad and Panagyurishte. The value of the utilized funds is over BGN 93 million. As a result of these projects, a total of 28 kindergartens and 34 schools underwent repairs and modernization.
According to the priority, which covers the energy efficiency of buildings in the more peripheral areas, a total of seven projects were implemented by the municipalities of Peshtera, Devin, Krumovgrad, Svilengrad and Ivaylovgrad. Their value is over BGN 4.5 million. There are a total of 11 renovated buildings and a decrease in the annual primary energy consumption of public buildings is reported, with an annual reduction of carbon emissions by over a thousand tons, Agusheva said.
Vocational schools are also supported, with a total of 11 projects having been implemented. Beneficiaries are the municipalities of Plovdiv, Haskovo, Kardzhali, Pazardzhik, Velingrad and Parvomai, as well as the Plovdiv Agricultural University and the University of Food Technology. The value of the projects is over BGN 305 million, Agusheva pointed out.
The Europe on Balkans: Cohesion Skills project is a continuation of the Europe in the Balkans: A Common Future and Europe in Bulgaria: A Common Future projects, implemented by BTA in 2023 and 2024, respectively. The main objective of the project will be to provide objective and comprehensive information and an accurate overall picture of the European Union's cohesion policy in all Bulgarian regions. Special emphasis will be placed on skills and knowledge as an engine for regional development.
As part of the project, in the period from November 2024 to September 2025, BTA will organize discussions in its regional press clubs in the following cities: Blagoevgrad, Burgas, Varna, Veliko Tarnovo, Vidin, Vratsa, Gabrovo, Dobrich, Kazanlak, Kardjali, Kyustendil, Lovech, Montana, Pazardzhik , Pernik, Petrich, Pleven, Plovdiv, Razgrad, Ruse, Samokov, Svishtov, Silistra, Sliven, Smolyan, Sofia, Stara Zagora, Troyan, Targovishte, Haskovo, Shumen and Yambol. BTA will also hold cross-border conferences in Belgrade, Bosilegrad, Bucharest, Edirne, Skopje and Thessaloniki.
