For the last a year and a half, the Regional Administration of Blagoevgrad has been a beneficiary of an important national infrastructure project that it is implementing, namely the construction of a new border crossing checkpoint between Bulgaria and the Republic of North Macedonia, said Blagoevgrad Regional Governor Georgi Dinev during the local conference part of the Europe on Balkans: Cohesion Skills project here on Thursday.
Dinev reported that the project will improve the connectivity between the peoples of the region and will largely contribute to their building closer ties. He expressed hope that such projects would help politicians in both countries to realize that they can work and live together.
The project for the construction of the Strumyani - Berovo border crossing checkpoint is worth just over EUR 11 million, with EUR 7 million coming from funding from the European Commission. Dinev pointed out that the construction should be completed by 2029, as the construction is going according to schedule.
The Regional Administration also partners in cross-border projects with Greece, Dinev said. He added that news agencies are a bridge between young people, as well as between national institutions and Europe. "Thus, young people understand the importance of Bulgaria being part of a united Europe and of the work of the cohesion policy," Dinev stressed.
Through this initiative, BTA aims to raise public awareness and foster open dialogue about cohesion policy, local achievements, and the implementation of the EU's policy priorities. Between November 2024 and September 2025, BTA will host discussions at its press clubs 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.
Blagoevgrad Regional Governor Georgi Dinev during the Europe on Balkans: Cohesion Skills conference in Petrich, November 28, 2024 (BTA Photo/Krasimir Nikolov)
/NZ/
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