Topical Information

How Bulgarian municipalities can prepare for the next programming period, what changes are expected in Cohesion Policy after 2028, and what lessons can already be drawn from the first implementation of Integrated Territorial Investments (ITI) were the main topics discussed during the plenary session “European and National Context for Sustainable Urban Development”, held as part of the first national European Urban Initiative (EUI) Capacity Building Event.

The forum was organised by the National Association of Municipalities in the Republic of Bulgaria (NAMRB) in partnership with the European Urban Initiative (EUI) Permanent Secretariat and the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works. As the National Contact Point for the EUI, NAMRB works to encourage the active participation of Bulgarian municipalities in European capacity-building initiatives, knowledge exchange, and the development of innovative solutions for sustainable urban development.

The event brought together representatives of Bulgarian municipalities eligible to participate in the European Urban Initiative programme.

Following the official opening, participants focused on the European and national context of sustainable urban development and the preparation of Bulgarian municipalities for the next programming period.

The plenary session, moderated by Yana Docheva, Team Leader at NAMRB and National Coordinator for the European Urban Initiative, featured speakers from the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works, the European Commission, and the World Bank, who presented the main conclusions from the current programming period and outlined future prospects for local authorities after 2027.

Before the discussion, Sevdalina Voynova from the Sofia Development Association emphasised that the forum's primary objective was to help Bulgarian municipalities make a successful transition between the current and the next programming periods through stronger strategic planning, more effective implementation of sustainable urban development strategies, and broader use of available financial instruments.

According to her, the programme was designed to guide participants gradually from the strategic framework to practical solutions—from European policies and trends to real-life case studies, thematic workshops, good practices from Bulgaria and across Europe, and opportunities for building new partnerships.

An interactive survey conducted at the beginning of the event highlighted several common challenges facing local authorities. Participants identified strategy implementation as more difficult than strategy preparation, noted that citizens' expectations are growing faster than municipal administrative capacity, and observed that administrative procedures often consume time that could otherwise be dedicated to developing effective solutions. These findings served as the basis for the three expert presentations that followed.

National Perspective

The national perspective was presented by Ivaylo Stoyanov, Head of the Strategic Planning and Programming Department at the General Directorate for Strategic Planning and Regional Development Programmes of the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works.

He noted that the current programming period introduced several major challenges for Bulgaria, including the simultaneous implementation of Integrated Territorial Investments (ITI), the Just Transition Fund measures, and new territorial planning mechanisms. This required significant legislative changes and the establishment of new governance and coordination mechanisms between institutions and local authorities.

Mr Stoyanov stressed that the philosophy of the integrated territorial approach has proven to be sound, while its practical implementation has clearly demonstrated the need for earlier methodological support, stronger strategic prioritisation, better understanding of funding opportunities under different programmes, and continued capacity building within municipal administrations.

Drawing on the experience gained so far, he also highlighted the need to simplify implementation mechanisms, reduce administrative complexity, and focus investments on achieving tangible territorial impact.

Looking ahead, he argued that the next programming period should begin with timely preparation of the new Integrated Territorial Development Strategies and Municipal Integrated Development Plans, accompanied by a stronger territorial and thematic focus, better coordination between regional and municipal planning, and more effective monitoring and evaluation systems.

He encouraged municipalities to begin building genuine partnerships now, develop project ideas alongside strategic planning documents, combine infrastructure investments with "soft" measures, and make full use of all opportunities to strengthen administrative capacity.

European Perspective

The European perspective was presented by Jörg Lackenbauer, Programme Manager at the European Commission's Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy (DG REGIO).

He introduced the European Commission's proposals for the next Multiannual Financial Framework (2028–2034), which envisage a substantial simplification of EU funding management through the consolidation of existing programmes into a single National and Regional Partnership Plan for each Member State.

The objective is to reduce administrative burden, improve coordination between policy areas, and ensure that investments are directed more flexibly towards the real needs of countries and regions.

Mr Lackenbauer emphasised that the future model will place much greater emphasis on results. Rather than reimbursing expenditure alone, payments will increasingly be linked to the achievement of specific milestones, indicators, and targets. Greater flexibility is also envisaged through the establishment of a crisis response reserve for unforeseen circumstances.

Despite these proposed changes, he stressed that the core principles of Cohesion Policy—including partnership, shared management, multi-level governance, and the territorial approach—will remain unchanged.

For the first time, however, the new framework proposes a dedicated policy objective focused on strengthening the administrative capacity of public institutions, reflecting the need for municipalities to be better equipped to implement European policies.

Lessons from the World Bank

The key findings from the World Bank's two-year technical assistance programme were presented by Fuad Malkawi, Senior Urban Development Specialist.

He emphasised that the integrated territorial approach is not simply a new funding mechanism but represents a fundamental shift in thinking—from sector-based investments to integrated, place-based development built on partnerships.

According to Mr Malkawi, the World Bank's cooperation with the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works and more than 120 Bulgarian municipalities has shown that the first two ITI calls have already led to stronger administrative capacity, better structured investment projects, and a clearer thematic focus. This provides a solid foundation for further developing the approach during the 2028–2034 programming period.

He outlined six key lessons from the implementation of Integrated Territorial Investments: the need for a stronger strategic framework, improved implementation mechanisms, more precise territorial targeting of investments, clearer thematic priorities, sustainable administrative capacity building, and the development of genuine partnerships.

He stressed that these elements should be viewed as a single integrated system, since weaknesses in any one area affect the overall effectiveness of the territorial approach.

Particular attention was given to the importance of developing project concepts during the preparation of strategic documents rather than waiting for funding calls to be launched. He also highlighted the need to combine infrastructure investments with "soft" measures such as public services, human resource development, innovation, and institutional capacity building.

In conclusion, Mr Malkawi stated that Bulgaria has already established a solid foundation on which to build its integrated territorial approach. The next step is to transform the practical experience gained into stronger strategic planning, more effective partnerships, and better governance, ensuring that Integrated Territorial Investments become a long-term model for regional development rather than simply a financing instrument.