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

Representatives of various sectors who have worked on projects related to the EU's Cohesion Policy participated in a local conference at the National Press Club of the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) in Razgrad on Friday. The event was part of BTA's Europe on Balkans: Cohesion Skills project.

Razgrad provides unique knowledge for the European Union that is not found anywhere else in Europe, some of which is not even found in the world, said BTA Director General Kiril Valchev. He cited as an example the unique yogurt from the Razgrad village of Getsovo, which is made thanks to the mysterious herb that cows graze on only two hills that only the Getsovo people know where. But in fact, behind its production lies unique knowledge of how to make real yogurt, and that is why the European Commission recognizes it as a Bulgarian yogurt protected designation of origin. He pointed out that Razgrad has been providing the EU with similar specific knowledge in many other areas for years. Valchev said that date for the local conference was chosen because of the awards for the 13th edition of the Grigor Popov National Student Journalism Competition.

The European Union contributes a lot to the development of Razgrad, said Mayor Dobrin Dobrev. “In the field of education, Razgrad Municipality has applied for many projects since 2007. Thanks to this, all schools and kindergartens on the town's territory and in the settlements received serious funding, with which they were able to renew their building stock", he pointed out, adding that both energy efficiency and the physical environment are improving. Dobrev also underscored that STEM classrooms and STEM centres are being introduced and built in order to improve the learning process in every school in the municipality. "In the 2007-2013 period, significant financial resources were allocated and the Art Gallery in Razgrad was thoroughly renovated, upgraded and, accordingly, acquired a new look through EU funding. I dare to say that the Art Gallery in Razgrad is one of the most beautiful in all of Bulgaria," Dobrev stressed.

Secretary General of Razgrad Regional Administration Mihail Todorov said that Razgrad Region can be an example for how cohesion policy in the European Union helps regions develop and improve the quality of life of their residents. He noted that a number of projects in infrastructure, education, business and ecology were implemented in the region through European funding. He pointed out that the goal of cohesion policy is for all people in the EU, regardless of whether they live in a big city or a small village, to have access to jobs, quality education, modern infrastructure and a good standard of living."This is a policy that directly affects each of us, through new roads, investments in local businesses, support for innovation and many other initiatives," Todorov underscored, adding that it is good to evaluate such investments and to know what works well or where there are difficulties. "This is how different points of view are heard, this is how experience is exchanged, this is how ideas are exchanged," he said.

Investments in knowledge and skills are the best investments, said Emil Chankov, Communications Expert at the Regional Information Centre (RIC) in Razgrad. He noted that during the programming periods 2007-2013 and 2014-2020, the necessary investments in the educational infrastructure were made in Razgrad Region, with schools and kindergartens in Razgrad Municipality and in other municipalities renovated so that the material and technical base can now meet the modern conditions for quality education and training. Chankov also pointed out that STEM classrooms have been equipped in almost all schools and projects under the Operational Programme Science and Education for Smart Growth have been implemented successfully. He stated that mobility projects under the Erasmus and Erasmus+ programmes were implemented in many vocational high schools and secondary schools in the region during the program periods. Chankov also stressed that Bulgaria is not active enough in the implementation of projects under the Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe programmes, which stimulate high scientific and technological achievements in the EU, increase competitiveness and create quality jobs. 

Tsveta Petrova from the Regional Education Directorate in Razgrad said that Razgrad Region maintains a high share of training in STEM profiles and professions, with nearly 70% of the annual state admission plan carried out in such specialties. She pointed out that the region has built STEM centres with European funding and that new ones will be constructed under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, adding that a total of 48 educational institutions are implementing projects under the programme for modernizing the educational environment. Educational institutions in Razgrad Region actively participate in the national programmes for the development of education and in the launched projects under the Education Program 2021 - 2027, which is co-financed by the European Union, Petrova noted.

The role of the Ruse University branch in Razgrad is significant and social, its Director Prof Stanka Damyanova told the conference. "Ruse University and its Razgrad branch work for the development of the region, proof of which is the fruitful cooperation with business and local administration. We work so that there are young people who want to stay here, start families and realize themselves professionally," Damyanova pointed out. She noted that the Razgrad branch trains bachelor and master students in three professional fields - Chemical Technologies, Biotechnology, and Food Technologies - with graduates acquiring the professional qualification Engineer. She highlighted the programme of the Education and Science Ministry for digital qualification, as the educational process at Ruse University and its branch in Razgrad is being renewed and modernized thanks to it.

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.