site.btaUPDATED Cohesion within EU Is Achieved through Dialogue that Ensures No One Is Left Behind - BTA Director General

Cohesion within the European Union is achieved through dialogue that ensures no one is left behind, BTA Director General Kiril Valchev said here on Thursday. He was speaking at the opening of a local conference held in the BTA National Press Club in Petrich as part of the Europe on Balkans: Cohesion Skills project.

It was exactly one year ago on this day that the BTA National Press Club in Petrich was inaugurated, marking a step towards integrating the town into the pan-European conversation, Valchev said. “Towns like Petrich contribute to the EU even though they are not administrative centres,” he added. 

Valchev pointed out that nearly 100,000 people live in the settlements south of the Kresna Gorge. He cited the latest census figures, which show that the municipality of Petrich is home to some 47,000 people, with more than 26,700 residing in the town itself. The municipality of Samokov has over 35,000 residents, 24,500 of whom live in the town. Kresna and Strumyani each have populations of nearly 4,500 people.

“All these people deserve a steady presence in Bulgaria's news and debates. The people of the region deserve not only to hear about local events but also to be provided with reasons to stay and work here,” Valchev said. He highlighted the economic importance of Petrich, a town located between Bulgaria’s borders with Greece and the Republic of North Macedonia, pointing to its highly developed business sector.

The region is also famous for its mineral water, particularly in Sandanski. It is part of a network of 550 known thermal and mineral water deposits and 1,600 springs with a total capacity of 4,900 litres per second. This ranks Bulgaria first in continental Europe and second in Europe, after Iceland, for its natural mineral and spring water with unique composition and health benefits, Valchev said. In his words, “Sandanski is also a proven climatotherapy destination”.

The region is also famous for its wine, Valchev said, noting that the Melnik 55 hybrid grape variety, a cross between Bulgarian and French grape species, is yet another symbol of successful cohesion within the European Union. Winemakers say that the wine made from this hybrid variety has a deep ruby color, rich aroma, and aging potential, the BTA Director General added.

The south-westernmost region of Bulgaria plays a key role in Europe not only due to its demographic and economic contributions but also for its historical significance, Valchev said. He noted that long before Bulgaria was founded, people had already settled in this area. One of the most important ancient cities, Heraclea Sintica, continues to reveal new information thanks to efforts by the municipality and scientists from the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. Valchev added that from the liberation of the town in 1912 until 1920, Petrich was the district center of southwestern Bulgaria.

"One of the big goals of this kind of meeting is to assure you that Bulgaria is Europe and that you don't have to think about a future outside of our country somewhere in Western Europe," Valchev addressed students from the Vocational High School of Economics and Tourism in Petrich.

He pointed out that Bulgaria is making a lot of investments to make their city look like any other city in Europe, together with the help of allies in the European Union. He told the students to first think about continuing their education in Bulgaria, as this will not stop them from using European exchange programmes with other universities in Europe.

He noted that the purpose of the Bulgarian News Agency through such conferences is to tell in an accessible way about Bulgaria's rapprochement with its neighbours. "That is why the agency has a profile on Instagram, as well as on other modern social networks, to tell what Europe is and what Bulgaria's place is in Europe, in a language accessible to young people," Valchev emphasised.

"We accept any advice from you to improve communications, so that you can be curious and follow what is happening in Bulgaria and in Europe, but also see the sense of staying here," he concluded.

The Europe on Balkans: Cohesion Skills project is implemented by BTA with support from the European Commission. It builds on BTA’s previous projects, Europe in the Balkans: A Common Future and Europe in Bulgaria: A Common Future, with a primary focus on young people, skills, and the role of the European Commission’s cohesion policy in developing the new skills needed for success in the labor market.