site.btaBulgaria Will Negotiate with Eurostat for New Division of Level 2 Regions, Sofia Will Be Standalone Region

The government mandated the National Statistical Institute to conduct negotiations with the European Commission's statistical office Eurostat to change the scope of the Level 2 planning regions in Bulgaria and to present a new regional division for statistical purposes. The aim is to bring them in line with the European requirements for establishing a common classification of territorial units for statistical purposes (NUTS).

The change is necessary because the Northwestern and the North Central regions do not comply with Eurostat's requirements for a minimum number of inhabitants in regions for statistical purposes – 800,000 people. The scope of the Level 2 regions is defined in the Regional Development Act and must comply with the requirements of the general classification of territorial units for statistical purposes. The amendment will have no impact on the administrative-territorial structure of the country.

The new division will improve the implementation of regional development policy by creating the conditions for a more equal distribution of resources, boosting economic and social development in the regions and reducing inter-regional disparities through more targeted efforts to have an impact at regional level.

The new scope of Level 2 planning regions to be presented by the NSI has been prioritized from a total of three proposals by an interministerial working group, following analysis of the results of public consultation and consultation procedures. The option for the new scope of the Level 2 planning regions in Bulgaria is with four Level 2 planning regions as follows:

- Northern, including the regions of Vidin, Montana, Vratsa, Lovech, Pleven, Gabrovo, Veliko Tarnovo, Targovishte, Ruse, Razgrad and Silistra;

- Eastern, including the regions of Dobrich, Varna, Shumen, Burgas, Sliven and Yambol;

- Southern, including the districts of Sofia, Pernik, Kyustendil, Blagoevgrad, Pazardzhik, Smolyan, Plovdiv, Stara Zagora, Haskovo, Kardzhali;

- Sofia City, including the region of Sofia (Sofia Municipality).