Topical Information

On 30 July, the village of Arbanasi hosted the opening of the two-day discussion forum “How to Attract More European Funding for Small Municipalities?”, organised by the National Association of Municipalities in the Republic of Bulgaria (NAMRB) within the framework of the SUCCESS – Skills, Synergy and Partnerships for European Horizons project.

The forum brought together representatives of 16 pilot municipalities, NAMRB experts, representatives of the project contractor ECORYS & Partners – NAMRB Consortium, and specialists in European policies and regional development. The event aims to explore opportunities for more effective access to European funding, identify the main challenges facing small municipalities, and present the expert support tools that NAMRB provides to local authorities.

The forum was opened by Teodora Dacheva, Deputy Executive Director of NAMRB, who emphasised that the SUCCESS project was designed with the clear objective of supporting municipalities in the preparation and implementation of European projects through continuous, practice-oriented expert assistance. According to her, small municipalities increasingly need a reliable partner to help them develop project ideas, strategic documents and concrete project proposals. She encouraged representatives of the pilot municipalities to make full use of the opportunities offered by the project and to actively share their needs so that NAMRB’s support can be further tailored to local realities.

A key focus of the first discussion panel was the presentation of the needs assessment prepared by experts from the ECORYS & Partners – NAMRB Consortium. Evgeni Ivanov presented the findings of a three-month study covering all sixteen pilot municipalities. He stressed that the analysis was not intended to compare municipal administrations but rather to identify common challenges and opportunities for development.

According to the study, limited human resources, insufficient specialised expertise, and difficulties in preparing and managing European-funded projects remain among the most significant challenges for small municipalities. At the same time, they possess considerable development potential that can be unlocked through better strategic planning and stronger partnerships with businesses and local communities. Ivanov emphasised that European programmes should not be viewed solely as a source of funding but as a tool for long-term economic and social development. Sustainable local development, he noted, depends not only on the availability of financial resources but also on building effective partnerships between local authorities, businesses and civil society.

Alexandra Pavlova, representing the ECORYS & Partners – NAMRB Consortium, focused on the practical opportunities provided by the SUCCESS project. She explained that expert support extends far beyond the preparation of a single project, covering the entire process—from developing project ideas and preparing strategic documents and analyses to submitting applications and supporting implementation. According to her, the role of the experts is to help municipalities transform the priorities already identified in their strategic documents into viable investment projects.

Pavlova also highlighted the importance of cooperation between neighbouring municipalities in preparing Integrated Territorial Investments (ITIs) and stressed that municipalities should begin preparing for the next programming period now so that they have mature project concepts ready when new funding opportunities are launched.

The presentation by Eng. Dilyan Mlyazev, Mayor of Elena Municipality, together with Deputy Mayor Nikolay Davidkov, attracted particular interest. They shared Elena’s practical experience in implementing European-funded projects and emphasised that successful projects continue to generate benefits for local communities long after their formal completion through follow-up investments and sustainable development.

As an example, Mayor Mlyazev presented the development of Elena’s municipal stadium, which has continued to attract additional investment in sports infrastructure following the completion of the initial European-funded project. He also highlighted the renovated Art Gallery, the modernised open-air cinema and the newly installed self-cleaning public toilet as examples of projects that have become lasting assets for both local residents and visitors.

In his remarks, the Mayor stressed the importance of continuity and close cooperation between local and central government to ensure that good ideas are successfully transformed into tangible results.

During the forum, Simeon Petkov, Senior Expert for Agriculture, Forestry, Rural and Mountain Areas at NAMRB, presented the successful experience of the Local Action Group (LAG) in the municipality of Isperih. He demonstrated how cooperation between the municipality, local businesses and the community has gradually transformed the region’s rich cultural and historical heritage into a driver of tourism and local economic development.

The presentation showcased a number of good practices, including the creation of new tourism products, festivals, support for local producers and initiatives engaging young people, all of which have contributed to increasing the municipality’s visibility and attracting more visitors.

The programme continues with a study visit to successfully implemented European-funded projects in Elena Municipality, where participants will have the opportunity to observe first-hand examples of sustainable local development based on the effective use of local potential.

The forum is organised within the SUCCESS – Skills, Synergy and Partnerships for European Horizons project, financed under the Technical Assistance Programme 2021–2027, co-financed by the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund and national co-financing.