site.btaTourism Minister Angelkova Meets with EU Regional Policy Commissioner

Tourism Minister Angelkova Meets with EU Regional Policy Commissioner

Brussels/Sofia, April 4 (BTA) - In Brussels, Bulgaria's Tourism Minister Nikolina Angelkova and the EU Commissioner for Regional Policy, Corina Cretu, discussed ways to promote more projects in tourism and real investments in the sector, the Tourism Ministry said.

Angelkova said her Ministry had already been allocated financing for a project under COSME (the EU programme for the Competitiveness of Enterprises and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises) for promotion of Bulgarian destinations as part of the European Destinations of Excellence (EDEN) initiative. It has also been shortlisted with two project proposals under the Danube Programme.

Since the Tourism Ministry can use very limited funding as a beneficiary under the operational programme, its team is motivated to attract the largest possible financing on competitive terms at EU level, said Angelkova, adding that the first results show this model works.

Angelkova and Cretu discussed a roundtable on tourism and security which will be held in the Danubian city of Rousse in June. The Bulgarian official said that invitations had already been sent to the line ministers of the countries of the Danube Region. The event is supported by the UN World Tourism Organization, which will be represented at the forum. Its aim is to discuss some of the key global challenges to tourism, with a focus on the Danube Region and possible ways for better cooperation between the European Commission, the countries and international organizations.