Municipalities today

Bolyarovo Municipality will take part in the international project FLAMESHIELD, aimed at improving disaster prevention and emergency response in the cross-border region between Bulgaria and Turkey.

The official launch of the initiative was marked by the signing of an agreement between the General Directorate “Fire Safety and Civil Protection” and the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works.

The event was attended by the Mayor of Bolyarovo Municipality, Hristo Hristov; the Mayor of Topolovgrad Municipality, Bozhin Bozhinov; the Mayor of Svilengrad Municipality, Anastas Karchev; representatives of local authorities; and partners from Turkey.

The project is financed under the Interreg VI-A IPA Bulgaria–Turkey Programme 2021–2027 and has a budget exceeding EUR 5.1 million. Over the next 36 months, specialized machinery and equipment for responding to fires and disasters will be purchased, including heavy tracked bulldozers for the needs of the fire services.

A particularly important focus of the project is the training of volunteers, professional teams, and young people from the cross-border region. Joint exercises, training programmes, and practical field drills involving Bulgarian and Turkish institutions are planned.

“For Bolyarovo Municipality, this project is extremely important because in recent years we have been among the areas most affected by forest and field fires. Every investment in equipment, training, and coordination is an investment in people’s safety,” stated Mayor Hristo Hristov. He emphasized that good cooperation between institutions and volunteers is crucial in dealing with crisis situations.

The Mayor of Topolovgrad, Bozhin Bozhinov, also stressed the importance of cooperation between municipalities in the border region. “Disasters do not recognize borders, and only through joint efforts can we respond faster and more effectively. This project will help not only through equipment, but also by building better organization and preparedness,” he noted.

The Director of the General Directorate “Fire Safety and Civil Protection,” Chief Commissioner Aleksandar Dzhartov, pointed out that climate change is posing increasingly serious challenges to institutions. “In recent years, we have witnessed severe fires and floods. That is why coordinated action and proper preparedness are extremely important. The most difficult task is prevention – ensuring that a fire does not start at all. This is exactly why the project will also focus attention on educating children and young people,” Dzhartov emphasized.

The project also includes partners from Turkey, among them regional forestry structures, AFAD disaster and emergency directorates, and local authorities from both sides of the border.

Source: Bolyarovo Municipality