Main Task of Vidin Regional Information Center is to Make Process of Attracting Investments in Northwestern Bulgaria More Transparent

Sofia Gospodinova, Filip Pavlov

Mariela Savkova, Manager of RIC Vidin, at the Europe in the Balkans: Common Future cross-border conference in Vidin, June 14, 2024 (BTA Photo)

Vidin/Belgrade, on the Danube,

14.06.2024 16:48

(BTA)

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The main task of the Regional Information Center (RIC) in Vidin is to make the process of attracting investments to Bulgaria's Northwest more transparent, so as to increase awareness of opportunities provided by the EU Cross Border Programmes, Mariela Savkova, Manager of RIC Vidin, said on Friday at the cross-border conference "Europe in the Balkans: Common Future", held in Vidin and Belgrade.

Savkova thanked BTA for organizing the conference, which puts the topic of EU Cohesion Policy on the agenda. She also commended the Serbian partners for their active participation in the cross-border projects and for the regional cooperation in connection with their future EU membership.

RIC Vidin is part of a network created in 2012, which includes a total of 27 regional information centre across the country, noted Savkova. The network of information centres was created as a result of the good cooperation between the central government and the 27 regional centres. "Our aim is to raise awareness of EU Cohesion Policies, which seek to overcome disparities in the EU regions, as well as to raise the awareness of local stakeholders and ensure transparency and accessibility to financial instruments provided by the EU," said Savkova.

She noted that RIC Vidin has information campaigns about European policies and funds because it is important for the general public to be aware of the way EU cross-border funds function. Citing data, she concluded that the EU funds have had a positive effect on the region's economic development, especially on tourism.

The BTA project "Europe in the Balkans: A Common Future" is supported by the European Commission. It aims to foster a better understanding of the role of 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.

The 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.

The series of conferences under the project was launched on December 20, 2023 in Sofia. The programme until August 2024 envisages BTA-hosted discussions in the cities of Blagoevgrad, Burgas, Varna, Vidin, Vratsa, Gabrovo, Dobrich, Kazanlak, Kardzhali, Kyustendil, Lovech, Montana, Pazardzhik, Pernik, Pleven, Plovdiv, Razgrad, Samokov, Silistra, Sliven, Smolyan, Sofia, Stara Zagora, Targovishte, Haskovo, Shumen, Yambol, Kardzhali and Haskovo, as well as cross-border conferences in Belgrade, Bosilegrad, Bucharest, Edirne, Skopje and Thessaloniki.

/DD/