Over 90 mayors elected from the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) list, representatives of the Movement at the National Assembly and the Executive Authorities, as well as members of the party took part in the conference entitled ‘Different Regions, One Standard’ that was held in Sofia under the auspices of MEP Filiz Hyusmenova.
The latter also read the main lecture of the conference. Filiz Hyusmenova defined the European regional policy as an instrument for financial solidarity and a powerful tool for economic integration, and also an opportunity for overcoming the differences and cohesion between regions.
The EU has allocated 347.4 billion Euro for regional policy in the period 2007-2013, which is slightly over one third of its total budget, reported MEP Hyusmenova. The goals of the European regional policy over that period are focused on cohesion, enhancing the competitiveness and increased occupation levels, applying territorial cooperation on an European level. Being a country whose gross domestic product does not exceed 90% of the average for the EU, Bulgaria will be able to use the Cohesion fund. This is a specialized fund aimed at supporting the under-developed Member States.
The Program Director of Directorate General for Regional Policy, Ms. Jana Trost and the Representative of the Brussels Region to the EU, Mr. Pascal Goergen shared valuable experience in the utilization of funds in the EU. In their statements they outlined the need of clear and transparent rules for utilization of funds and complaint procedures, without unnecessary bureaucracy. The municipalities need to have a vision on how should their priorities look in 1, 5, 20 years; their strategies should be in compliance with the strong and weak features of the respective settlements, and with the overall investment needs. The local and regional partners, the civil society and the NGOs should take part in the elaboration of the municipal development strategies. The mayors were directed to particular projects that could be submitted for funding.
Iskra Mihaylova, Deputy Minister of Regional and Urban Development, presented the Regional Development Operational Program and also highlighted to the municipalities concrete opportunities for applying with projects.