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

Another edition of BTA's conferences on "Europe in the Balkans: A Common Future" took place at the BTA National Press Club in Stara Zagora on Tuesday. The participants discussed the successful implementation of EU projects in the municipality of Stara Zagora and new projects to be implemented in the future.

Regional Governor Iva Radeva said that Bulgaria has been receiving EU funding since the beginning of its admission to the European Union and is a net recipient of financial resources. According to her, one of the largest funds is precisely the cohesion fund, which aims to bring the regions closer together, with Bulgaria being one of the biggest beneficiaries.

Funds to the amount of BGN 1.6 billion have been allocated to Stara Zagora Region. Radeva said that the deadlines for implementation of the territorial development plans, which concern the regions of Stara Zagora, Pernik and Kyustendil, are currently running. She also said that a Subcommittee on European Development is about to be formed, which will consist of more than 20 experts.

Radka Tileva, manager of the Regional Information Center (RIC), commented that the RIC and the Bulgarian News Agency are natural partners in the promotion of EU politics. During the past programme period, more than 1,600 procedures were announced in the country under the European Structural and Investment Funds. A total of 2,048 contracts have been concluded in the region, including municipal projects and projects of manufacturers, companies, non-governmental organizations, educational institutions, social organizations and others, she said.

Since the beginning of the 2021-2027 programme period, a total of 80 procedures have been available for application, and 35 of them are currently open. Tileva called on all interested parties to consult with experts from the RIC regarding funding opportunities.

Stara Zagora Deputy Mayor Radostin Tanev said that a large part of the projects implemented in Stara Zagora Municipality were co-financed by the EU. He pointed out that the Municipality applied for funds of the Integrated Territorial Investments and of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan with projects both aimed at the development of the city and the Southeast region.

Stara Zagora is the only municipality that got approval for the preparation of investment development strategies in various fields, Tanev commented. A large part of the projects will be aimed at smoothly overcoming the challenges related to the work of the Maritsa East complex, Tanev said and noted that the Municipality of Stara Zagora is just a participant in this process, and is not responsible for it.

Prof. Emil Slavov, Trakia University vice-rector for project affairs, said that the university is trying to use funding opportunities both in terms of improving infrastructure and investing in people. During the 2014-2020 programme period, BGN 43 million were used for various projects of the university, he said. Trakia University is betting exclusively on the modernization of education. A new faculty of digital and green technologies is about to be unveiled, he noted. Prof. Slavov recalled that the university is the coordinator of the ZAHIR project, which aims to create the first hydrogen valley in Bulgaria.

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 Razgrad, Veliko Tarnovo, Silistra, Gabrovo, Burgas, Sliven, Yambol, Haskovo and Edirne. Until August, BTA will hold discussions in its press clubs across Bulgaria and will organize cross-border conferences in Belgrade, Bosilegrad, Skopje 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.