Municipalities in challenge to present concepts for Integrated Territorial Investments by September 27

Deputy Minister Boneva: Thematic meetings in places help to highlight the most important ideas for investments in the regions

A campaign with thematic meetings in places can help to highlight the most important ideas and investments in the regions. Thematic regional meetings with the participation of experts from the World Bank are planned for this year. This was announced by the Deputy Minister of Regional Development and Public Works and Head of the Managing Authority of the Regional Development Program Angelina Boneva in Burgas. She participated in an integrated information meeting in connection with the application by September 27 in ISUN with concepts of Integrated Territorial Investments (ITI) for potential beneficiaries in the South-Eastern planning region.

Centralization should gradually become a model of multi-level governance with functions and roles at regional, district and local levels, with more opportunities for a smooth transition to decentralization. This is also a direction that is part of the process of Bulgaria joining the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, said the Deputy Minister.

We strive to encourage applications with combined concepts, as they are the most expedient, emphasized Ivaylo Stoyanov, head of the "Strategic Planning and Programming" department at the Main Directorate "Strategic Planning and Programs for Regional Development" of the Ministry of Regional Development. He explained that an option for combined concepts are, for example, the inclusion of measures from different sectors by one applicant, partnerships of two types of stakeholders, measures to overcome problems of several municipalities or a combination of measures financed by two or more programs. During the meeting, regional governors raised questions related to the units of the regional development councils and their visibility.

According to mayors of municipalities, however, without technical assistance, the implementation of integrated plans will be difficult and will be a serious challenge, because the approach is completely new. It promotes cooperation between municipalities, different organizations and businesses for specific ideas for regional development.

In Phase 1, the municipalities present until the end of September concepts for the development of their municipalities in cooperation with businesses and various organizations. According to the Deputy Minister of Regional Development Angelina Boneva, at the next stage, after the presentation of the project concepts and the selection of the proposals until the implementation of the specific project proposals, technical assistance and consulting support for the municipalities will be provided. Thus, after the selection of the projects, a bridge will be built between the first and second phases for the successful implementation of the ideas of the local authorities.

The Minister of Tourism Zaritsa Dinkova, the Ambassador of Georgia in Sofia, H.E. Otar Berdzenishvili, representatives of the European Commission and Burgas Municipality, together with Deputy Minister Angelina Boneva, participated in the opening panel of the "Burgas Blue Summit" forum. The event, dedicated to the development of the "blue" economy in the Black Sea region, was attended by experts from the World Bank, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food and numerous interested institutions from the public and private sectors.

The event discusses opportunities for the exchange of knowledge and expert solutions on key issues of the region's development, with an emphasis on maritime resources and potential. The initiative takes place within the framework of the Digital Blue Economy and Innovation Promotion Network (DBEIN) project, which is implemented with the financial support of the EU through the Natural Resources, Climate, Sustainable Blue Economy and Clean Energy program of the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund 2021-2027.

To the participants, Deputy Minister Boneva presented the programs of the MRWPD for the period 2021 - 2027, including the Black Sea Basin, and emphasized that with the adoption of the Maritime Spatial Plan for the period 2021-2035, Bulgaria has finally joined the European family of countries planning their maritime space. "The strategic document fulfills the requirements of Directive 2014/89/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of July 23, 2014 to establish a framework for maritime spatial planning and is key to planning the balanced development of the entire Bulgarian water area," noted the deputy regional minister. She added that currently the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications is working on updating the plan, despite the challenges of the war in Ukraine. The attention of those present was directed to the so-called digital and green transition (dual transition), and depending on the territory, the key aspects of the "blue" economy can also be applied to it.

Burgas Blue Summit Forum continues the next day in the "Flora" exhibition and congress center, built through the JESSICA initiative under the Operational Program "Regional Development" 2007-2013 managed by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.