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On February 18, the National Coordination Meeting of European Information Networks in Bulgaria was held at the House of Europe in Sofia. In a thematic panel dedicated to the interaction between municipalities and European information networks, Iva Ivanova, Head of the “PR, Communications and Publications” Department at the National Association of Municipalities in the Republic of Bulgaria (NSORB), participated.

The meeting was organized by the Representation of the European Commission in Bulgaria and focused on the launch of the new mandate of the “Europe Direct” network. Participants emphasized the importance of partnership between European institutions and local authorities for better citizen information and the promotion of public dialogue on key topics.

“Today, more than ever, European policies are felt in the daily lives of citizens. They see newly built youth centers, support for social services and businesses, and renovated educational and cultural institutions. In recent years, there are specific reasons and motivations explaining why certain processes are happening. Here, municipalities play a key role, and your partnership is strategic for us,” said the NSORB representative.

She gave examples, highlighting the need for clearer communication about increased cybersecurity requirements in the digitization process, the need for energy efficiency, as well as reforms in waste management.

“The way European policies are perceived largely depends on how they are communicated and implemented locally. They need to be translated into the language of each community. This is where our intersection lies, because municipalities are closest to citizens and are the ones who must deliver the right message,” Ivanova added.

The NSORB representative introduced the participants to the Association’s goals, structure, and activities, with particular focus on communication channels and opportunities for information exchange.

During her speech, Iva Ivanova also presented to the teams of European information centers the project implemented by NSORB – “SUCCESS – Skills, Synergy, and Partnerships for European Horizons.”

“Our main activity is to support municipalities in developing their European projects, with a focus on municipalities in Northern Bulgaria and those with lower administrative capacity,” emphasized Iva Ivanova. She noted that through training, expert assistance, meetings, and information campaigns, the Association works to better prepare local authorities for applying and managing European projects.

According to her, the “SUCCESS” project also provides support on cross-cutting topics such as public procurement and state aid. “These are areas that often create difficulties at the local level, so we provide external expert support and exchange of good practices between municipalities,” she said. As part of the initiative, data has already been collected from 16 municipalities, for which individual analyses and concrete recommendations to enhance their administrative capacity are being prepared.

Ivanova also emphasized the project’s communication focus and the need for coordination and partnership on the ground with “Europe Direct” centers.

The presentation also highlighted NSORB’s youth initiatives. “For the third year now, we are organizing a National Youth Competition on October 12 – the Day of the Bulgarian Municipality. The idea is to give young people a voice and encourage them to be active participants in local development,” she said.

Last year, the competition focused on European projects at the local level. “Young people were asked to create a video presentation of a European project implemented in their municipality and show how it has changed their environment,” she explained. The initiative was carried out in partnership with the Representation of the European Commission in Bulgaria, and the finalists were recognized at an official ceremony.

“For us, it is important that young people understand how local governance works and how European policies are applied in practice. This is an investment in the future of municipalities,” Ivanova emphasized.

During the meeting, best practices from municipal work were presented, as well as ideas for more active information exchange and initiatives with the new generation of “Europe Direct” centers. Among the presenters was journalist and long-time BNT TV host Boyko Vasilev, who shared his extensive experience in public speaking. He offered practical advice on how institutions and local authorities can formulate clear messages, communicate confidently with media and citizens, and present complex topics in an accessible and convincing way.

The event lasted two days and brought together representatives of institutions, communication networks, and partner organizations to discuss the role of European information centers and opportunities for more effective cooperation at the local level.