Municipalities today

Mayor Stefan Radev welcomed the head of the representation of the European Commission in Bulgaria, Yordanka Chobanova, who is visiting Sliven. The focus of the introductory meeting was the projects of the Municipality of Sliven for the improvement of the environment and living conditions and settlement of young people.

In front of the guest, Mayor Radev shared about the serious challenges facing the municipalities caused by the short deadlines for the implementation of the approved projects under the Recovery and Sustainability Plan.

"Municipalities from almost all of Europe raise the question that the deadlines are unrealistic and we will not be able to complete our projects," said Radev. He also drew attention to the change of the new operational programs, which, according to him, creates many risks, anxiety and uncertainty regarding their implementation.

Yordanka Chobanova thanked for the warm and cordial welcome in the City under the Blue Stones. She noted that today's visit is the first in Sliven in her role as head of the European Commission's representation in Bulgaria, which she assumed in March this year.

"I would say this is my hometown, as I completed my primary and secondary education here. I love Sliven, it is in my heart and I am here with great joy", she added and noted that every time she is in Sliven, she finds it more and more changed, renewed, developing and dynamic. In this regard, the leader congratulated Mayor Radev, his team and all those who are actively involved in the processes and transformation of the city.

"I am confident that Sliven, as a university town, will find its place, because it is necessary for young people to have the opportunity to stay in their hometowns and contribute to its development," Chobanova said. According to her, the European Commission is currently in a transition period. Bulgaria's portfolio is innovation, small and medium-sized enterprises, scientific research activity, which are the topics of the future. "I believe that together - we, as the Representation and the Municipality of Sliven, could work on projects, including the promotion of the European Commission's policies in various aspects."

The meeting was also attended by the Deputy Mayor for Economic Development Eng. Stoyan Markov, heads and managers of municipal departments and companies. They introduced the guest to some of the most significant projects of the Municipality, implemented with European funds. One of them is the project related to the development of tourism and renovation of national sites of the cultural heritage of Sliven, financed under the OPRD 2014-2020. Part of the activities of this project were aimed at the restoration of some of the most iconic house museums in the city. Today, they delight residents and guests of the city with their new look. After the renovation, there was also an increase in attendance for the same period last year.

Among the highlights of the meeting were the current projects that the Municipality is implementing under the Recovery and Sustainability Plan, and the upcoming activities under the Concept for Integrated Territorial Investments KITI (2021-2027).

The Industrial Park was also presented during the discussion.

At the end of the meeting, the mayor of Sliven presented the head of the representation of the European Commission in Bulgaria with Tsoncho Rodev's Sliven trilogy, which the Municipality republished.

The meeting was also attended by the deputy mayor Kamen Kostov, the director of the Regional History Museum "Dr. Simeon Tabakov", Assoc. Dr. Nikolay Sirakov and part of the team of the Regional Information Center.

Yordanka Chobanova's visit to Sliven also included the "Dobri Chintulov" house museum, the Sliven lifestyle and the "Tuida" fortress.