site.btaBTA's Europe on Balkans Conference Held in Shumen

Representatives of various sectors who have worked on projects supported by the EU Cohesion Policy participated in a conference at the National Press Club of the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) in Shumen on Wednesday. The event was part of BTA's "Europe on Balkans: Cohesion Skills" project.

The importance of forums for promoting dialogue on cohesion policy in the European Union and presenting it to the public is undeniable, said Shumen Regional Governor Katya Ivanova. She stressed that the conferences help to make it clearer what the results are at the local level, how municipalities have developed, where the development of infrastructure is going, what the benefits can be for different sectors of the economy and ultimately how the people's lives have changed. Ivanova expressed her conviction that only with joint efforts from everyone, including central government, municipalities, non-governmental sector and business can the achievements be built upon, which will have an effect on the quality of life in Shumen Region.

Shumen Mayor Prof. Hristo Hristov said that Shumen has established itself as the economic centre of Northeastern Bulgaria. "There is no giving up. We are working at a fast pace and have attracted nearly BGN 90 million in grant funding under European programmes to improve the town's infrastructure and living environment, as well as the environmental cleanliness and the modernization of the base in the education system," he emphasized. "We must do everything possible to maintain the economic pace at which we are developing. In practice, we have no difficulties in terms of unemployment. In the town, we have large enterprises that need labour," Hristov stressed, adding that the main problem is to build an environment that meets the understanding of the way of life of young people today.

Projects worth nearly BGN 60 million were implemented on the territory of Shumen Region during the 2014-2020 programming period, said Regional Information Centre Manager Irena Stefanova. The grants on those projects amounted to BGN 59.3 million, she added, with the operational programmes Regions in Growth (BGN 35 million) and Human Resources Development (BGN 22 million) making up the majority of the funds. Stefanova noted that another BGN 2.3 million were funded under the Operational Programme Science and Education for Smart Growth. She also pointed out the distribution of funds by municipality, with the largest amount of financial funds for projects received by Shumen Municipality (BGN 34 million).

The European Union is helping to develop education in Shumen Region, said Kremena Marinova from the Regional Department of Education in Shumen. Among the projects implemented by educational institutions in Shumen region during the programming period 2014-2020, she pointed out the one for the qualification of pedagogical specialists, in which 95 kindergartens and 64 schools participated. 56 kindergartens were covered by the project for active inclusion in the preschool education system, and 31 schools worked under the project Support for Success. 

Shumen Municipality has attracted the most funds from external financing in Shumen Region, said Shumen Deputy Mayor Desislava Petrova. She pointed out that the municipality's budget for 2025 is BGN 190 million, to which BGN 90 million are added from European funds. "During the 2014-2020 programming period, Shumen Municipality implemented two key projects related to the infrastructure in education, which will cover 172 students from small settlements (...)", Petrova noted, adding that in this way, children will be able to study in a comfortable environment.

Smyadovo Municipality is implementing 113 projects worth over BGN 57 million, said Smyadovo Deputy Mayor Dimitrina Marinova. She noted that 42 of those projects are European-funded, worth BGN 32.8 million, adding that as a small municipality, Smyadovo takes advantage of every opportunity for external financing to improve the environment in which its residents live, as well as to provide employment. In recent years the Municipality has been actively working to implement projects financed by European and national programmes, Marinova emphasized, pointing out that they are aimed at improving infrastructure, promoting education, culture, social inclusion and environmental protection.

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.