Nearly EUR 3 billion are being invested in Bulgarian regions

Nearly EUR 3 billion are invested under the Operational Programme “Regions in Growth” and several programmes for European territorial cooperation in the country during the 2014-2020 programming period. The funds are invested to ensure well-connected, safe and well-managed cities and regions by creating growth and jobs, tackling climate change and energy dependency, reducing poverty, social inclusion, slowing the depopulation trend.

This was announced in Bucharest by the Minister of Regional Development and Public Works Petya Avramova during her participation in the informal meeting of the EU ministers responsible for urban policy, organised by the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the EU.

It is important for Bulgaria to continue its efforts to achieve balanced territorial development in order to reduce the negative demographic and economic characteristics in small and medium-sized cities. Bulgaria is among the Member States with the greatest contribution to the implementation of activities for sustainable and integrated urban development during this programming period and for the implementation of its policies in cities the country successfully combines EU funding, loans from international institutions, national resources and financial instruments, the Minister pointed out.

The inclusion of cities of all sizes from different parts of Europe in the thematic partnerships of the EU Urban Agenda, together with other stakeholders and institutions, provided opportunities to jointly develop principles and actions that could have a significant impact on urban development in the future. Cities have been given a voice in discussing the important challenges facing them at European, regional and national level.

Our country actively contributes to the implementation of the EU Urban Agenda by participating in partnerships on urban mobility, digital transition, climate adaptation, as well as in the new partnership “Culture and Cultural Heritage", said Minister Avramova. The decision to establish it, as well as the partnership on "Security in Public Spaces", was taken by the Member States during the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the EU.

Bulgaria’s main priority is to overcome the differences between the regions and deal with negative trends such as depopulation, unemployment, lagging behind in economic development. Bulgaria is ambitious to use all tools effectively to overcome these problems. The government is taking serious steps to address the North-South imbalance by improving infrastructure, the urban environment and encouraging investment.

During the informal meeting, the countries united around the “Bucharest Declaration - A Common Framework for Urban Development in the European Union”.

It supports the implementation and continuation of the EU Urban Agenda in line with the New Leipzig Charter, in order to ensure a coherent EU policy framework for urban development and to ensure coordination between the various initiatives to address key European challenges, such as territorial and social fragmentation, and urban sprawl.

During the forum, Minister Petya Avramova spoke with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Regional Development and Public Administration of Romania Vasile-Daniel Suciu.