Ruse hosts a regional conference under the BTA project "Europe in the Balkans: a Common Future"

Tuesday, 16 January 2024

A two-day regional conference on a project of the Bulgarian Telegraphic Agency promoting the European cohesion policies in Bulgaria and the Balkans started today in Ruse. The event under the title "Europe in the Balkans: a Common Future" is held at the BTA National Press Club in the Danube city and is moderated by Martin Penev, the agency's correspondent in Ruse.

"It is an honour to welcome the first regional meeting of the Forum to the City of First Things. As Mayor of Ruse, I thank the Bulgarian Telegraphic Agency for the initiative. Europe really offers many opportunities and as a mayor and a citizen of Ruse I have repeatedly seen the benefits of the European development programmes. However, it is also important that there is an understanding of our societies in this part of the continent that we are bearers of an extraordinary history, spirituality, principles and values, and it is linked to the fact that we must be seen as equals.The meaning of the support from Europe should reach every single person so that Bulgarians can perceive that these are not just means, but the development of good practices in their work and implementation is stimulated", said the Mayor of Ruse Pencho Milkov at the opening of the forum. He also acknowledged that along with its main function to disseminate up-to-date and reliable information, the BTA also carries out many socially important activities.

Official guests of the event were also the Director General of BTA Kiril Valchev and the Deputy Governor of Ruse Georgi Georgiev.
The conference brought together in Ruse directors and heads of directorates at state and local level related to EU funding, representatives of NGOs, as well as mayors of town halls from the district. The key topics of the talks are the new developments related to the EU funding programmes for the period 2021-2027, in the context of the EU Cohesion Policy, as well as the results achieved in EU projects for the period 2014-2020.

The BTA project is supported by the European Commission and builds on "Europe in Bulgaria: A Common Future". The series started on December 20 last year in Sofia. The discussions in Ruse mark the beginning of the talks related to the development of the North Central Region. Through its initiative, the BTA aims to provide information to the general public and promote an open dialogue on cohesion policy, local performance and the implementation of EU policy priorities.
A series of forums will be held in Blagoevgrad, Burgas, Varna, Veliko Tarnovo, Vidin, Vratsa, Gabrovo, Dobrich, Kazanlak, Kardzhali, Kyustendil, Lovech, Montana, Pazardzhik, Pernik, Pleven, Plovdiv, Razgrad, Samokov, Silistra, Sliven, Smolyan, Sofia, Stara Zagora, Targovishte, Haskovo, Shumen and Yambol, as well as cross-border conferences in Belgrade, Bosilegrad, Bucharest, Edirne, Skopje and Thessaloniki.

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