Nearly BGN 51 million are envisaged for financing cultural and historical projects under the Regional Development Programme 2021 - 2027

The Deputy Minister of Regional Development and Public Works Zahari Hristov met with the Deputy Ministers of Culture Vessela Kondakova and Plamen Slavov to discuss the possibilities for financing projects in the field of culture under the Regional Development Programme in the current and next programming period and on European and territorial cooperation programs.

By the end of 2029, a total of 72 cultural sites for nearly BGN 51 million will be financed by the new Regional Development Program 2021-2027. The goal is to attract over 480,000 visitors to these infrastructure sites.

During the new programming period of the Regional Development Programme, the first priority- integrated urban development is planned to finance cultural projects in the ten major municipalities, and the second priority - integrated territorial development of the regions, will be funded cultural infrastructure sites in the ten other municipalities. The idea is to provide European funds for activities related to cultural infrastructure and cultural heritage. It is planned to finance and develop plans for protection of sites of different cultures.

The three programs for cross-border cooperation at the EU's external borders between Bulgaria and the Republic of Serbia, the Republic of Northern Macedonia and the Republic of Turkey respectively, in the next programming period, provide support for activities related to cultural protection and cooperation development within the Integrated Territorial Development priority, which is part of the strategic framework of all three programs. Support is allowed both for revitalization, restoration and renovation of sites of cultural and historical importance and for the preservation of intangible cultural heritage, incl. holding events with effects on cross-border cultural co-operation.

Under the INTERREG VI-A Romania - Bulgaria 2021-2027 programme, it is envisaged that under the priority "Integrated Region" investments will be directed to projects for protection of both tangible and intangible cultural heritage.

Under the INTERREG VI-A Greece-Bulgaria 2021-2027 programme, taking into account the experience of transitional programming periods, cultural heritage protection measures are expected to meet broad support and a major part of the investments of the future Strategy for Integrated Measures will be directed in this area.

The meeting was attended by Mrs. Tsvetana Gerdjikova and Mr. Angel Angelov - advisors in the Cabinet of the Minister of Regional Development and Public Works, arch. Petar Petrov - Director of the National Institute for Immovable Cultural Heritage, Nina Stoimenova - Deputy Director General of DG "SPPRD" in the MRDPW, Desislava Georgieva - Director of the Directorate "Territorial Cooperation Management", experts from the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Regional Development.