site.btaBTA's Europe on Balkans Cohesion Skills Conference Held in Blagoevgrad

Representatives of state, local and educational institutions participated in a conference at the National Press Club of the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) in Blagoevgrad on Wednesday. The event was part of the Europe on Balkans: Cohesion Skills project.

Blagoevgrad is an example in Europe for the protection of freedom, BTA Director General Kiril Valchev said at the opening of the local conference. He pointed out that after decades of resistance in the Balkans against the Turks in the 14th-15th centuries, saving the rest of Europe from being conquered, the Bulgarians are the people who, under foreign yoke, managed to preserve their language, faith, traditions, knowledge of their family and homeland for the longest time. Valchev noted that the striving for freedom finds a vivid example in the two liberations of Gorna Dzhumaya (old name of Blagoevgrad). Valchev recalled that on today's date, February 12, 1878, a Russian combat unit, led by Major Ivan Orlinsky, liberated the town during the Russo-Turkish War. "This Liberation turned out to be short, because by virtue of the Treaty of Berlin, signed on July 13, 1878, the Bulgarian lands were torn apart and Gorna Dzhumaya again remained within the borders of the Ottoman Empire," Valchev stressed. He stated that the second liberation was on October 5, 1912, during the First Balkan War. He underscored that the two liberations of this part of Bulgaria are a symbol of the fact that preserving freedom is more difficult than obtaining it.

Bulgarian's accession to the Schengen area has brought great benefits to the Bulgarian people, which they are still unaware of, said Blagoevgrad Mayor Metodi Baykushev. "We are talking about a process that took more than a century, but led to what our ancestors dreamed of. The European Union is the brightest page in Bulgaria's recent history. We have always known that we can inspire on our own, but in partnership with other European countries we are even stronger," he underscored and stated that the first liberation of Blagoevgrad (during the Russo-Turkish War in 1878) was the beginning of a process that led to its final liberation on January 1, 2025, when Bulgaria achieved its national ideal in a peaceful way, through diplomacy and friendship. "Within the European Union today, the territories that our ancestors once left as refugees are just as much ours as they are of all other European nations," he pointed out.

Blagoevgrad is ancient but also very young, said Yordanka Chobanova, head of the European Commission Representation in Bulgaria. "Here we have a combination of a thousand-year history, a glorious past and a very young student town of dynamism and innovation," she noted. "On the Day of Blagoevgrad, we show respect and gratitude to all the heroes and prominent Bulgarians who gave their lives for the Liberation of this beautiful region," she stated. "Memory is part of our gene. (...) What makes us strong is actually our national identity, combined with our European affiliation," Chobanova also said, adding that Europe is making its contribution to the development of the town and that about BGN 216 million have been invested in Blagoevgrad Municipality with nearly 800 implemented projects.

Bulgaria must talk about education at a much higher level, said Blagoevgrad Regional Governor Georgi Dinev. “When we want to attract foreign investors, when we want Bulgaria to be at the big table of the European Union, we must have some prepared personnel, and in order to have them, we must first educate them,” Dinev pointed out, adding that the employees must stay and apply what they have learned in Bulgaria. According to him, Blagoevgrad is located in an exceptional geographical position, which to a large extent helps it develop as a town of education and science. He said that more thought should be given to its marketing as a university town.

The role of the Regional Information Centre is to tell people what is happening with funds from the European Union in terms of cohesion policy, said Blagoevgrad Regional Information Centre Manager Biser Mladenov. According to him, people must have some common goals to strive for, but in order to achieve these goals, a lot of funds must be invested, a large part of which is related to infrastructure.

Through the Europe on Balkans: Cohesion Skills project, BTA aims to raise public awareness and foster open dialogue about cohesion policy, local achievements, and the implementation of the EU's policy priorities. The project kicked off with a conference in Veliki Preslav in November 2024. Until 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.