site.btaEU Cohesion Policy to Be Discussed at Conference in Skopje within BTA's Europe on Balkans Project

A conference within BTA's Europe on Balkans: Cohesion Skills project will be held here on Thursday. Representatives of various sectors who have worked on projects related to the rapprochement between EU Member States and North Macedonia, will discuss education and skills as a driver of regional development.

Among the participants are Bulgarian Ambassador to North Macedonia Zhelyazkov Radukov, EU delegation to North Macedonia head Michalis Rokas, the Rector of Sofia's University of National and World Economy, Prof. Dimitar Dimitrov, the Deputy Rector of the St Kliment Ohridski University in Bitola, Jasmina Bunevska, as well as Vesna Garvanlieva of the Center for Economic Analysis and Maria Demishkovska of Edu Center in Skopje. BTA Director General Kiril Valchev will unveil the conference.

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. Special attention is paid to education and skills as a driver of regional development. 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.