From 2014 to March 19, 2025, EU funds worth over BGN 330 million have been absorbed in Kyustendil Region, with the total number of contracts concluded in this period reaching 1,217, said Regional Information Centre Manager Lyubomira Velinova during a local conference as part of BTA's "Europe on Balkans: Cohesion Skills" project. The conference took place at the local BTA press club on Thursday.
Velinova pointed out the largest number of contracts (561) were signed in Kyustendil Municipality, followed by Dupnitsa Municipality (319), Sapareva Banya Municipality (79) and Rila Municipality (59). She noted that these contracts include all cohesion and sustainability policy programmes, as well as projects under the national Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP) and the Rural Development Programme.
Velinova noted that, in terms of funding instruments, the largest number of contracts (543) during the last programming period were signed under the Operational Programme Innovation and Competitiveness. Forty-four contracts worth BGN 27 million were signed under the RRP. She recalled that two schools in the municipalities of Kyustendil and Bobov Dol are being renovated and that there are two registered contracts for the construction of youth centres in Kyustendil and Dupnitsa.
Velinova pointed out that in the field of education, BGN 8 million has been utilized for the construction of STEM centres in schools.
BTA's Europe on Balkans: Cohesion Skills project aims to raise public awareness and foster open dialogue about cohesion policy, local achievements, and the implementation of the EU's policy priorities. The project kicked off with a conference in Veliki Preslav in November 2024. The schedule of conferences until the end of September 2025 includes events in the following cities: Blagoevgrad, Burgas, Varna, Veliko Tarnovo, Vidin, Vratsa, Gabrovo, Dobrich, Kazanlak, Kardzhali, Kyustendil, Lovech, Montana, Pazardzhik, Pernik, Pleven, Razgrad, Ruse, Samokov, Svishtov, Sliven, Smolyan, Sofia, Stara Zagora, Troyan, Targovishte, Haskovo, Shumen, and Yambol. Cross-border conferences will be held in Belgrade, Bosilegrad, Bucharest, Edirne, Skopje, and Thessaloniki. The project builds on the Europe in the Balkans: A Common Future and Europe in Bulgaria: A Common Future projects, implemented by BTA in 2023 and 2024, respectively.
/MR, VE/
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