Sofia Mayor: National Association of Municipalities in Bulgaria Has Always Been a Guarantor of Dialogue

Sofia Gospodinova, Filip Pavlov

Sofia Mayor Vasil Terziev at the opening of the 38th General Assembly of the National Association of Municipalities in the Republic of Bulgaria in Sofia (BTA Photo/Hristo Kasabov)

Sofia,

05.03.2025 14:04

(BTA)

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LOCAL FOCUS

The National Association of Municipalities in the Republic of Bulgaria (NAMRB) has always been a guarantor of dialogue based on equality and in line with the interests of all Bulgarian municipalities, Sofia Mayor Vasil Terziev said at the opening of the 38th General Assembly of the Association on Wednesday in Sofia.

"The new government is still in its 100-day honeymoon which we rarely get in local governments. However, we will be demanding, because reforms cannot wait," he emphasized. He pointed out that one of the biggest concerns for Bulgarian municipalities is the Recovery and Resilience Plan as Bulgaria risks losing billions of euros due to the delay of key reforms.

Terziev stressed that Sofia, as the largest Bulgarian municipality, has a commitment and responsibility to make sure that the voice of Bulgarian cities is heard both in Bulgaria and in Europe. "That is why we accepted the chairmanship of B40, the Balkan Network of Capitals and Large Cities. Our goal is to strengthen cooperation between cities in the region, to share good practices and to build more effective policies," Terziev stated.

He pointed out that municipalities are often faced with outdated legal frameworks, complex bureaucratic procedures and insufficient coordination between institutions, stressing that NAMRB must not only put important issues on the agenda, but also be an active participant in finding solutions. "The National Municipal Administration of the Republic of Bulgaria has always been an example of constructive dialogue and efficiency," Terziev said, adding that in a complex political environment, NAMRB has proven that institutions can work together when the focus is on the real needs of the people.

Terziev emphasized that Sofia is actively working for direct access of cities to European funding, as they know the needs of their citizens best and know how to invest these funds most effectively. "Bulgarian municipalities have projects, they have ideas, they have a vision for the future. But in order to implement them, we need institutional stability, predictable policies and adequate support mechanisms," he said, adding that Bulgaria cannot afford to be last in the EU in absorbing modernization funds.

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