site.btaEurope's Contribution Fits Into Vision of Yambol as Green Town, Says Head of European Commission Representation in Bulgaria

Europe's contribution fits well into the vision for the development of Yambol by 2027, namely as a green and prosperous town, Yordanka Chobanova, head of the European Commission Representation in Bulgaria, said during a local conference as part of BTA's Europe on Balkans: Cohesion Skills project. The conference took place at the BTA National Press Club here on Thursday.

Yambol is both an ancient and a modern town, she pointed out, adding that life in the town is different now compared to the 1990s, with the different appearance coming largely from EU funding. Chobanova said that BGN 211 million of EU funds have been invested in Yambol, with nearly 500 implemented projects, such as the modernization of the Youth Cultural Centre, the Museum of Battle Glory, the Art Gallery, and the Regional History Museum. Investments in Yambol Region amount to BGN 407 million, with over 1,100 projects having been implemented, she pointed out.

Chobanova expressed gratitude to BTA Director General Kiril Valchev for BTA's Europe on Balkans: Cohesion Skills project, which provides an opportunity to show what Europe is doing for Bulgaria, but also to emphasise what Bulgaria is contributing to the EU. She stressed that this is a mutual process of enrichment, development and building a common strategy for the economic prosperity and security, which all citizens in Europe need.

"The theme of the project is knowledge, and there is symbolism in the fact that we are talking about knowledge precisely in the hometown of the first Bulgarian professor of pedagogy, Prof. Petar Noykov," Chabanova said, adding that the father of the computer, John Atanasoff, also has Yambol roots.

The Kukerlandia International Masquerade Festival is an emblem of Yambol and the European business card of the town, Chobanova said and wished the festival success. "My message is to be proud as Bulgarians and to be proud of our European affiliation," she emphasised, recalling the famous Yambol native Ivan Paraskevov, donor of schools and the Bulgarian Literary Society, which later became the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.

The Competitiveness compass was recently published by the European Commission, Chobanova noted. "The logic is that Europe must return to its market peak and be sufficiently competitive on the world map in the field of business and innovation. We must support our startups and medium-sized enterprises, so that we create European Champions, similar to what the USA are doing with technology giants," she pointed out.

BTA's Europe on Balkans: Cohesion Skills project 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.