site.btaBulgaria's Pernik Competing for European Youth Capital 2028 Title

The Municipality of Pernik is competing for the European Youth Capital 2028 title in competition with eleven other European cities on the initiative of the Pernik of the Young Youth Advisory Council, youth worker Alexander Yordanov told BTA's Maya Kostadinova.

The application was submitted on behalf of the administration together with the Advisory Council, Yordanov said, adding that a total of 12 European cities have applied for 2028, including Chisinau in Moldova, Leeuwarden in the Netherlands, Paralimni in Cyprus, and Podgorica in Montenegro.

Bulgaria, with the city of Pernik as a candidate, has passed the first and the second level of evaluation, and a competent jury will soon examine the application at the third level. Yordanov described the application as a success for youth organisations in Pernik and for the municipality. "The application is the result of good work between young people, youth organisations, and the administration. The title of European Youth Capital is an example of the good work between youth organisations and the local government", added Yordanov.

Pernik should present a detailed programme of events and planned activities, as well as to declare its willingness to develop in this direction, he said, adding that among the basic events that are included in the programme are the International Festival of Masquerade Games, in particular the children's Survakariada, Peyka Fest, the celebration of International Youth Day, August 12, and other events.

At the end of 2024, a UNICEF pilot programme called UPSHIFT was launched in Pernik. This is a socially innovative programme aimed at young people, with the idea that people between the ages of 15 and 18 will get a chance to develop projects related to improving the environment around them, as well as solving various social problems. The programme will also help build the vision of the city's candidacy for European Youth Capital, Yordanov explained.

The last time a Bulgarian city won the European Youth Capital title was Varna (on the Black Sea) back in 2018, he added.