site.btaEU Cohesion Policy Hackathon Brings Together Seven University Teams in Veliko Tarnovo

The national hackathon “Promoting EU Cohesion Policy” is taking place at Veliko Tarnovo University on Tuesday, organized by the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA). 

Seven teams from across the country will participate, representing Burgas Free University, Ruse University, Technical University of Gabrovo, University of Economics - Varna, University of Food Technologies - Plovdiv, South-West University - Blagoevgrad, and Veliko Tarnovo University Saints Cyril and Methodius.

Participants will present their concepts for promoting the European Union’s cohesion policies. The final hackathon is part of the BTA project “Europe on Balkans: Cohesion Skills.” 

The project aims to provide objective and comprehensive information to present an accurate overview of the EU’s cohesion policy, including the Just Transition Fund, support from the European Recovery Plan, and the Technical Support Instrument. The initiative focuses on education and skills as key factors in regional development.

The event in Veliko Tarnovo is held at the Library and Information Centre of the university. The jury is chaired by BTA Director General Kiril Valchev and includes representatives from the Directorate General for European Funds, International Programmes and Projects at the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, as well as experts from the Executive Agency Programme Education. The jury will also feature representatives from Veliko Tarnovo University, the host institution. Narine Nazaryan, Director General of the Armenian News Agency Armenpress, will participate as a special guest.

BTA is organizing discussions and events at its press clubs in Blagoevgrad, Burgas, Varna, Veliko Tarnovo, Vidin, Vratsa, Gabrovo, Dobrich, Kazanlak, Kardzhali, Kyustendil, Lovech, Montana, Pazardzhik, Pernik, Petrich, Pleven, Plovdiv, Razgrad, Ruse, Samokov, Svishtov, Silistra, Sliven, Smolyan, Sofia, Stara Zagora, Troyan, Targovishte, Haskovo, Shumen, and Yambol, and cross-border conferences in Belgrade, Bosilegrad, Bucharest, Edirne, Skopje, and Thessaloniki between November 2024 and September 2025.