FLGR initiated and successfully organised the first for the country information seminar entitled "The Way of the EU Structural Funds to Bulgaria", targeting especially municipal councils. The event was held on 14 April 2006 in the Municipality of Lukovit, with the participation of the municipal councillors together with representatives from the municipal administration.

The information seminar has been provoked as a result from the strong interest shown on the topic on behalf of the municipalities during the national information campaign "The Operational Programmes: Possibilities for the Bulgarian Municipalities". With such a specialised information event FLGR builds on its efforts to provide timely and useful information to local governments and targets particularly the municipal councils - as a very important decision making body at the local level.

So far the municipal councils in the country did not have the opportunity to take part in such specialised training seminars, focusing on the new EU policies, the Structural Funds for the 2007 - 2013 programming period, the Operational Programmes (OPs) of Bulgaria and the possibilities for the municipalities within these programmes. Therefore the information seminar not only provides well structured and clear review of the Operational Programmes, but also sends the message of how important the role of the local decision makers will be in the process of successful participation of the municipalities in the implementation of the Programmes, ensuring sustainable development and access to funding. The municipal councillors learned about the "path" integrated approach for planning the municipal projects and allocate them within the relevant OP for financial support.

FLGR will continue to provide such information seminars upon request from the municipal councils throughout the country.