REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA PLEVEN DISTRICT

1. URMA Urban-rural partnerships in metropolitan areas REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA PLEVEN DISTRICT

2. URMA Urban-rural partnerships in metropolitan areas The District Pleven is located in the central part of Northern Bulgaria with population of 266 000. The District is situated between Corridor № 4, Corridor № 7 /Danube river/ and Corridor № 9. REPUBLIC OF BULGARIAPLEVEN DISTRICT

3. URMA Urban-rural partnerships in metropolitan areas Pleven District is part of the North-western planning region (NUTS II-BG31). The central location of the District in Central Bulgaria, its favorabletransport-geographic situation, as well as the outlet to the Danubeare prerequisites for intensive economic development, for maintainingdomestic and international economic relations. The urbanpopulation is 66.5 % of the total population of the District. Pleven District is comprised of 123 population centers - 14 cities and 109 villages. REPUBLIC OF BULGARIAPLEVEN DISTRICT

4. URMA Urban-rural partnerships in metropolitan areas The territory of Pleven District is 4.2 % of the territory of Bulgaria To the north it has an outlet on the Danube, the port of most significant economic importance being Somovit port. The district of Pleven is the center of eleven municipalities. REPUBLIC OF BULGARIAPLEVEN DISTRICT

5. URMA Urban-rural partnerships in metropolitan areas • Pleven District has: • Favorable and strategic geographic location • Traditions in strategic economic sectors – agriculture and manufacturing • Potential for alternative tourism development – presence of many cultural and historical attractions of national value • Ready availability of qualified labor force • Low operational costs REPUBLIC OF BULGARIAPLEVEN DISTRICT

6. URMA Urban-rural partnerships in metropolitan areas Aims of Pleven district • The aims of Pleven District are: • Achieving economic growth and increased competitiveness of the economy of Pleven district; • Development and modernization of infrastructure providing conditions for growth; • Improving the attractiveness and quality of life in District Pleven, while preserving regional identity; • Strengthening the institutional capacity of local and regional level for successful socio-economic development; REPUBLIC OF BULGARIAPLEVEN DISTRICT

7. URMA Urban-rural partnerships in metropolitan areas Current situation in terms of interventions in the urban / rural environment • 4 municipalities in Pleven District covered the urban agglomeration area, while the remaining 7 municipalities covered the rural area; • There are significant differences between urban and rural municipalities (demographic, infrastructure, education, health and access to basic services, incl. broadband); • The strengthening of partnership, cooperation and trust between urban and rural areas is a key element for achieving sustainable regional development.It is necessary to create a strong urban communities, to create opportunities for development of adjacent urban / rural areas; REPUBLIC OF BULGARIAPLEVEN DISTRICT

8. URMA Urban-rural partnerships in metropolitan areas Current situation in terms of interventions in the urban / rural environment • In the period 2007 - 2013, the efforts of Pleven and municipalities are aimed at capacity building for project development and implementation of European Union funds (170 mill.lv) and the proper expenditure of budgetary funds. • The main interventions are aimed at rehabilitation of transport infrastructure, water supply, sanitation, agriculture, water treatment plants for sewage, education and social infrastructure, cultural heritage; • The worsening economic situation in the economic crisis lead to a significant gap in the basic parameters of development compared to other EU regions. Northwest planning region has the worst indicators in the EU. REPUBLIC OF BULGARIAPLEVEN DISTRICT

9. URMA Urban-rural partnerships in metropolitan areas Reasons for participating in the project • Through the exchange of experiences and ideas the URMA project will improve the regional policy making process. • Hence the Pleven Region is interested in performing urban-rural partnerships regarding to regional policy. • Additionally URMA should help to organize an open regional development process, with a large-scale involvement of different urban and rural stakeholders. • Pleven region is not very experienced in the process of building successful and sustainable partnerships for successful regional development. REPUBLIC OF BULGARIAPLEVEN DISTRICT

10. URMA Urban-rural partnerships in metropolitan areas What can we expect from the project? • Creating sustainable partnerships after the project. • To implement best practices and examples in the planning and management of the territory of Pleven, mainly to mitigate internal regional disparities • Increasing the capacity of the administration of Plevendistrict • Generate ideas for future projects REPUBLIC OF BULGARIAPLEVEN DISTRICT

11. URMA Urban-rural partnerships in metropolitan areas THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION! Contacts: Address:Bulgaria, 5800 Pleven1st, “Vazrazhdane” sq.Phone: +359 64 880100Fax: +359 64 800 114www.pleven-oblast.bge-mail:pleven_oblast@mail.bgWorking time: 09:00 -17:30 REPUBLIC OF BULGARIAPLEVEN DISTRICT