Topical Information

Eng. Daniel Panov, Chair of the Board of Directors of the National Association of Municipalities in the Republic of Bulgaria (NSORB) and Mayor of Veliko Tarnovo, opened the 39th session of the NSORB General Assembly and welcomed delegates from across the country.

“Welcome to the forum, which for three decades has been the institutional pillar of local self-government in Bulgaria – the place where municipalities formulate common positions, defend principles, and bear responsibility to their citizens. Today, over 298 delegates are present in the hall – mayors, chairs of municipal councils, and councilors from 169 municipalities. This is a strong signal of legitimacy, representativeness, and unity,” said Panov.

He noted that this year’s General Assembly session is especially significant as it marks the launch of initiatives for the 30th anniversary of NSORB, which will be celebrated on December 11.

“Thirty years ago, guided by the clear belief that strong local self-government is the foundation of a democratic state, a group of visionaries – mayors and municipal council chairs – had the courage to create an Association that would serve as a collective voice, a corrective, and a partner to the central government. Today they are among us, and shortly we will have the opportunity to express our respect and gratitude to them,” Panov emphasized.

The NSORB Chair stressed that it is precisely the unity of local authorities that gives them the strength to speak convincingly and consistently when defending the principles of local self-government and the future of Bulgarian municipalities.

“Within NSORB, an atmosphere of respect and professionalism is maintained, even when the political environment outside this hall often loses these very standards. Society expects from us not noise, but solutions; not confrontation, but results; not excuses, but work – every day, on-site, close to the people. That is why from the podium of local government we must clearly express a principled position: in a rule-of-law state, there is no place for pressure or violence against elected officials. The attack on our colleague – Mayor of the village of Bistritsa, Samuil Popov – is an alarming signal that must not be ignored. Democracy has a price, and violence cannot be part of that price. When a mayor is attacked, the institution that represents the state closest to the citizen is attacked. Therefore, we insist that the competent authorities act decisively and ensure the safety of both citizens and elected officials in local government,” Daniel Panov stated.

The Chair of the Association also expressed his belief in the strength of municipalities and called for predictable and fair financial rules for local governments. “Without sudden changes, without transferring tasks without resources, and with clear respect for local self-government as an equal pillar of statehood. These are the conditions that allow municipalities to work with confidence, plan long-term, and deliver results that citizens can see,” Panov said.

The forum continued with discussions on key topics regarding the development of local self-government, financial sustainability of municipalities, and partnership with state institutions.