The Interreg programme promotes equality in education and the prevention of social exclusion, contributes to cooperation between schools and universities and aims to develop common educational strategies and tools, said Aphroditi Lioliou from the Managing Authority of European Territorial Cooperation Programmes INTERREG during a cross-border conference held here on Wednesday. The event was part of BTA’s Europe on Balkans: Cohesion Skills project.
"Through all the programmes in which we participate as a managing authority, we also support those in the field of education that relate to the topic of cohesion," Lioliou pointed out. She noted that Interreg is an instrument for political and economic cohesion, education, qualification and their accessibility. The programme concerns educational institutions and contributes to strengthening the quality and accessibility of education, especially in regions that, due to their geographical location, have certain weaknesses, she pointed out.
She emphasized that the Interreg projects in the programming period 2014-2020 were mainly focused on education and youth. "We have had joint initiatives for professional orientation, exchange of students and teachers, development of infrastructure for education and digital tools," Lioliou noted.
The challenges of the region include rapid technological progress, the uneven educational needs of the population, the limited time of learners, the balance between practice and theory, she stressed, adding that the impact of the new environment is that those who have to implement educational policies and the teachers themselves must constantly adapt their methods and content to respond to the rapidly changing scientific environment.
"Under the Greece-Bulgaria Interreg programme, we announced the first call for project submissions in early 2024," Lioliou recalled, adding that the programme for the construction of a comprehensive cross-border region Greece-Bulgaria has a budget of EUR 32 million and 163 proposals have been submitted so far. One in every five project proposals was in the field of education within this call, she pointed out, noting that this shows the enormous importance that organizations attach to quality education.
Lioliou said that the current programming period by the European Commission within the framework of the Interreg programmes puts an emphasis on digitalization of education, qualification in green skills and circular economy with an emphasis on vulnerable groups and social integration and continuation of activities within the framework of the Greece-Bulgaria programme.
BTA's Europe on Balkans: Cohesion Skills project aims to raise public awareness and foster open dialogue about cohesion policy, local achievements, and the implementation of the EU's policy priorities. The project kicked off with a conference in Veliki Preslav in November 2024. The schedule of conferences until the end of September 2025 includes events in the following cities: Blagoevgrad, Burgas, Varna, Veliko Tarnovo, Vidin, Vratsa, Gabrovo, Dobrich, Kazanlak, Kardzhali, Kyustendil, Lovech, Montana, Pazardzhik, Pernik, Pleven, Razgrad, Ruse, Samokov, Svishtov, Sliven, Smolyan, Sofia, Stara Zagora, Troyan, Targovishte, Haskovo, Shumen, and Yambol. Cross-border conferences will be held in Belgrade, Bosilegrad, Bucharest, Edirne, Skopje, and Thessaloniki. The project builds on the Europe in the Balkans: A Common Future and Europe in Bulgaria: A Common Future projects, implemented by BTA in 2023 and 2024, respectively.
/YV/
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