A total of 597 projects are being implemented in Varna Region under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, Varna Regional Information Centre Manager Dr Victoria Nikolova said on Monday. She was speaking at a local conference held at the BTA National Press Club, part of BTA’s Europe on the Balkans: Cohesion Skills project.
Nikolova said the projects are worth nearly BGN 280 million and focus on modernising the educational environment, including the construction of STEM classrooms and the technological upgrading of training in line with the use of new machines and technological solutions.
She added that six projects worth over BGN 3 million are currently underway in the region under the Education Programme 2021–2027. These funds support the development of doctoral programmes tailored to labour market needs, intercultural education initiatives, and the training of teaching and non-teaching staff in competencies for democratic culture.
Nikolova recalled that under the Operational Programme Science and Education for Smart Growth (2014–2020), 16 projects worth BGN 11.2 million were implemented in the region. Under the Human Resources Development Programme (2014–2020), 291 projects were completed, with a total value of BGN 56 million.
For the current programming period, there are 137 projects in Varna Region under the Human Resources Development Programme, with a combined value slightly above BGN 37 million. These are aimed at training initiatives that promote green work processes to increase resource efficiency and reduce environmental impact.
Under the Operational Programme Regions in Growth (2014–2020), 26 projects worth almost BGN 122 million were implemented in Varna Region. These funds were used to modernise cultural, educational, and social infrastructure, improve facilities in vocational high schools, and enhance energy efficiency in municipal buildings and institutions.
Nikolova reported that 10 projects were implemented in the region under the Environment Operational Programme 2014–2020, with a total value of BGN 143.5 million. These supported the development of educational platforms and awareness campaigns on waste separation. Two additional projects have been submitted under the current programming period, worth BGN 67.5 million, targeting training activities related to the Natura 2000 network.
In total, 2,435 projects worth nearly BGN 510 million were implemented in Varna Region during the 2014–2020 programming period, with 2,082 beneficiaries. For the current 2021–2027 period, 2,104 projects have already been approved, with a combined value of BGN 659 million and 1,558 beneficiaries, Nikolova said.
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. The schedule of conferences until the end of September 2025 includes events 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.
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