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How municipalities implement ideas and mobilize their own resources for the benefit of local economic development, even without European funding, how they integrate their own and external funds - this was the focus of the forum dedicated to exchanging experience and discussing the need to improve local and national instruments for support through a more targeted state policy.

Own resources invested in favor of local economic development

Moderator Evgeni Ivanov, consultant and partner in the NAMRB project "Growth through activation of local potential", identified the main themes of the good examples from the municipalities. The representatives of the local authorities presented good practices and challenges in the implementation of the key priorities of the Common Agricultural Policy, such as improving connectivity and accessibility, the utilization of local resources, more effective market partnership, promoting healthy nutrition, alternative solutions for providing basic services, as well as community-led local development.

We emphasize our comparative advantages - economically, socially and ecologically. Where rural municipalities outperform urban agglomerations and take full advantage of their unique assets and public energy, said Krasimir Jonev, Mayor of Letnitsa Municipality and Chairman of the NSORB Standing Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development at the NAMRB.

Against this backdrop follows a change in political approach and means. Rural municipalities should not be perceived as a uniform, backward mass, but as distinct local communities that can define and defend their interests, their strengths and specific development policies, he said.

Let those of us located near or with easy access to the big cities cooperate with them along the lines of integrated territorial investments. The rest should think about the so-called smart specialization based on local potential, advised the mayor of Letnitsa.

The support approach is also being revised, Mr. Johnev pointed out – from uniform standards or administrative measures imposed from the top down to the promotion of local strategies and projects developed from the bottom up.

Based on these new positions, the European Commission has produced its new, up-to-date Long-term vision for the development of rural areas. It builds on performance in the 2014-2022 planning period and anticipates our efforts in the current 2023-2027 period, which is well advanced and we are still in a transition period. It became clear that in December we will be able to apply for the first time in this program period, Mr. Johnev said.

Particular emphasis is placed on complementarity with national investments in terms of ensuring equal access to basic services and infrastructure, said the mayor of Letnitsa and added that with the Investment Program, for the first time, small and rural municipalities have a huge resource at their disposal.

The mayor of Tutrakan municipality, Dimitar Stefanov, presented the experience of the administration with appropriate and sustainable utilization of the local potential, using own and attracted resources. He presented the Diorama of the Tutrakan Epic, the Museum of Danube Fisheries, the Fisherman's Village and the "Fiery Danube" as a worthy example of preservation and revival of cultural heritage.

The Diorama has places for every age with separate guides. Visitors can see trenches and take part in a 5D battle.

The mayor of Byala municipality, Ruse region, Dimitar Slavov presented the project for the conservation of the famous Usta Kolyu Ficheto bridge and the nearby tourist center. This is one example of 'adding value' and actively marketing a unique local asset.

Juliana Decheva, Program Director "Cultural, Historical and Natural Tourism", America for Bulgaria Foundation presented the supported municipal projects. One of them is the "Open Vratsa" project - a platform providing information about the city and the region. The participants in the forum were introduced to completed and upcoming projects in Oryahovo, Tutrakan, Chiprovtsi, Svishtov, etc. The Foundation has supported and supports numerous projects with farm visits, nature tourism, projects related to cultural and historical tourism, hall projects, museum gift shops, bike trails, kayaking adventures, etc.

In the panel dedicated to municipal experience in supporting local producers, the experience of the municipalities of Elena and Brezovo, which implemented projects under the financial mechanism of the European Economic Area and the "GALOP" initiative of NSORB and the Norwegian Association of Local Authorities, was presented.

The concept of the Elena municipality relied on its key competitive advantages - the clean environment, the preserved traditional productions and the serious tourist potential of the Elena Balkan. The production of specific products from local animal husbandry was supported, combined with the diversification of accompanying services in the field of tourism and cultural development, Mayor Dilyan Mlazev pointed out.

The municipality of Brezovo has built a base and formed a team that will support local people to focus their efforts on the production of environmentally friendly products. The municipality imposed the "Bio Brezovo" brand on the market as a synonym for the highest standard and a guarantor of quality.

Boris Boyadzhiev, director of the Directorate in Troyan municipality, presented the developed practice for ensuring healthy school and community meals through its own greenhouse complex and orchards. The municipality became the first in the country to be registered as an agricultural producer. The Municipality of Lovech, which also certifies an agricultural producer, followed its path.

In a separate panel, interesting examples from municipalities of providing basic services in the community were presented.

The mayor of Letnitsa, Krasimir Johnev, told how they deal with civil defense through their own fire teams and volunteer formations, how they cooperate with the fire service in their twin German city of Basel and the support they receive from there.

Aykut Huseinov, manager of "Verbitsa Trans" EOOD, presented the municipality's decision to ensure accessibility to small settlements, forming a municipal enterprise.

The mayor of the Gotse Delchev municipality, Vladimir Moskov, told how the local administration renovated the base of the municipal hospital in the city with various projects, invested in building repairs, replacement of heating and medical equipment, provided an equipped mobile medical office. The Municipality now boasts a financially stable municipal hospital and an excellent track record of mobile healthcare and home-based medical monitoring for vulnerable residents.

The Mayor of Pomorie, Ivan Alexiev, introduced his colleagues to the efforts of the municipal leadership to develop a competitive tourist product with an attractive presentation. The town's Floating Musical Fountain is an impressive offshore facility moored nearly 25m offshore, funded under the Marine and Fisheries Programme. Over 3,000 spectators watched the show every night, all establishments were open, and boats and boats carried tourists all night, the mayor said.

The good news from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food

The Deputy Minister, Dr. Lozana Vasileva, began her speech with information about the PMS published for public discussion, which would break the two-year crisis with the implementation of the National Development and Reform Commission and the financing of local development strategies and the implementation of a unified procedural approach for multi-fund financing. She thanked the Association for the good partnership and dialogue and assured that the municipalities have a reliable partner in the person of the MAZ. For us, the most important priority is the investments for the settlements, she declared.

Mrs. Vasileva said that the "municipal measures" are expected to be opened in December, the selection methodology of which has been developed together with the NSORB. There will be funds and a guaranteed budget for each municipality, within which local administrations will be able to prioritize their investments. There are no restrictions on the activities, and the admission will be through the DFZ e-management system.

Vasileva suggested that the acceptance period be shortened from six to three months, since during this period the finished projects of the municipalities cannot be evaluated.

Apart from the infrastructure projects, Dr. Lozana Vasileva pointed out that there is a change in the regulation on public procurement and more precisely in the part with environmental requirements. There is a requirement to include a percentage of organic products. The Ministry of Agriculture offers assistance to municipalities in establishing contacts with organic producers.

The Ministry proposes to open the so-called forest measures next year, under which municipalities with forest territories will be the beneficiaries. The measures include funds for afforestation, restoration and prevention of forest massifs. There will also be a new measure which is for ongoing maintenance costs for newly established forests. It will be possible to apply for the restoration of forest roads under the prevention measure. According to the same measure, high-tech solutions are also admissible - e.g. cameras for monitoring forest massifs, and surveys.

A reception is planned The representatives of the local authorities once again raised the problem of the long coordination procedure with the National Institute of Cultural Heritage when it comes to cultural monuments.

The forum was attended by Iva Ivanova, executive director of DF "Agriculture" - RA, Stefan Spasov, Svetoslav Tsekov and Ralitsa Motovska, representatives of the Directorate "Development of Rural Areas" in the Ministry of Agriculture.