site.btaEurope on Balkans: Cohesion Skills to be Held in Sofia on Friday

The Europe on the Balkans: Cohesion Skills conference Europe will be held on Friday at the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) building in Sofia.

The forum is organized under a BTA project, which is implemented with the support of the European Commission.

The conference will focus on the latest developments in the cohesion policy in the European Union for the 2021-2027 period  and the results achieved in the 2014-2020 period . The main points of the conference will be related to education, knowledge and skills and their connection with the labour market, as well as young people.

The forum will be opened by BTA Director General Kiril Valchev. Participants will include the head of the Human Resources Development Programme, the head of the Education Programme Executive Agency, and the Director of the Education Directorate at the Sofia Municipality.

With its initiative, BTA aims to provide information to the general public and promote an open dialogue on cohesion policy, local results and the implementation of the political priorities of the European Union.

BTA launched the Europe on Balkans project with an opening conference in Veliki Preslav on November 1, 2024. Its aim is to provide objective and comprehensive information in order to give an accurate overall picture of the European Union's cohesion policy, including the Just Transition Fund, the relevant support under the European Recovery Plan or from the Technical Support Instrument. Special emphasis is placed on education and skills as a driver for the development of regions.

From November 2024 to September 2025, BTA organized discussions under the project in 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, as well as cross-border conferences in Belgrade, Bosilegrad, Bucharest, Edirne, Thessaloniki and Skopje.