The grant under the Operational Programme Science and Education for Smart Growth in the Targovishte Region for the programming period 2014-2020 amounts to nearly BGN 800,000, Regional Information Centre Manager Peyo Berov said during a local conference held here on Wednesday. The event was part of BTA’s Europe on Balkans: Cohesion Skills project.
He added that five contracts have been concluded under the programme and emphasized that the programme includes the implementation of integrated measures to improve access to education, educational integration of students from ethnic minorities, and increasing the capacity of pedagogical specialists to work in a multicultural environment.
Berov pointed out that the funds under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan are over BGN 10 million and that 49 projects have been implemented and are being implemented under the School STEM Environment procedure. Over BGN 26 million is the money provided under the Operational Programme Regions in Growth, with 17 supported contracts, he further noted. The funds have been invested in improving energy efficiency, the modernization of the educational and social infrastructure.
The grant for the implementation of 21 contracts under the Operational Programme Human Resources Development for the programming period 2014 - 2020 is over BGN 3 million. The objectives covered by these projects are related to training of employees, improving the knowledge and skills of staff, and support for professional qualification, said Berov, adding that for the new programming period ten contracts worth nearly BGN 960,000 have been concluded.
Berov stressed that there is no data on concluded contracts under the Operational Programme Education. He noted that what is open under the current procedures are three comprehensive programmes at the municipal level for school desegregation, prevention of secondary segregation and anti-discrimination, adult literacy, and development of the dual training system in vocational education and training.
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.
