You could subscribe/unsubscribe
Here

The FLGR's e-Brief is sponsored by LOGIN and

Visit the Investment Bulgarian Municipalities Web-site
www.invest.bg
managed by FLGR

• Round Table on Partnerships for the EU funds
  

• Culture and Regional Policy
  

• "LEADER: Q & A" Section
  

• Recognition to FLGR
  

• Last Issue of Municipal Radio Forum
  

• Interesting Bulgarian Web Places
  

[Round Table on Partnerships for the EU funds] Round Table on the topic "Project preparations for the Structural Funds: Lessons learned from the field" was held on 3rd April, 2007 in Sofia. It was organized by the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works (MRDPW), the UK Embassy in Sofia and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Over 80 participants attended the event, including representatives of all the Structural Funds Managing Authorities, District Governors, Associations of Municipalities, Mayors, Non-Governmental Organizations and representatives of the academia.

The event marks the closure of the joint MRDPW/UK Embassy/UNDP project "Strengthening municipal capacities for the identification and preparation of partnership projects to be funded by the Structural Funds".

The moderator of the Round table was Ginka Kapitanova, FLGR Executive Director.

Building Local Capacities to Prepare Partnership Projects for the SFs
Presentation by Hachemi Bahloul, Programme Specialist, UNDP Bulgaria, Round Table on the topic пїЅProject Preparations for the Structural Funds: Lessons Learned from the FieldпїЅ, Sofia, 3 April 2007

Strengthening the partnerships in planning and absorption of the EU Structural Funds and Cohesion Fund
Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works, presentation, Round Table on the topic пїЅProject Preparations for the Structural Funds: Lessons Learned from the FieldпїЅ, Sofia, 3 April 2007



to the top >>

[Culture and Regional Policy] On April 18th, 2007 training on "Culture and Regional Policy - New EU Cohesion Policy 2007-2013 Objectives" was held in the Balabanov House in Plovdiv. It was organized by the French Embassy in Bulgaria, Culture National Fund with the Ministry of Culture and the Foundation for Local Government Reform.

The training was delivered by Relais Culture Europe Association, which is recognized by the European Commission as one of the Cultural Contact Points, i.e. units designed to disseminate information about EU programs providing funds for projects in the sphere of culture. The Relais Culture Europe Association functions as the French Cultural Contact Point since July 1998.

Cooperation in the sphere of culture within the EU as well as with countries outside the EU, cultural exchanges and cultural diversity promotion are amongst the main principles of EU integration. Promotion of culture could not be effective without networking in the EU and through encouraging development of cooperation projects within and outside the European community.

Representatives of beneficiary municipalities under the Community Forum Program - Cultural Historical Heritage as a Factor for Regional Sustainable Development attended the training. The program has been implemented by the Foundation for Local Government Reform in partnership with the Culture National Fund and with the financial assistance of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation.

to the top >>

["LEADER: Q & A" Section] FLGR in its function of an interim secretariat of the National Rural Network in Bulgaria started a "LEADER: Q & A" section in the Bulgarian part of its website.

It is expected that the realisation of the National Plan for Rural Areas Development would commence immediately after its approval by the European Commission. The interest of the local stakeholders to the implementation of LEADER approach and establishment of Local Action Groups (LAG) in Bulgaria is enormous.

FLGR also gathers information on already registered or in the process of registration LAGs in Bulgaria.

to the top >>

[Recognition to FLGR] In April 2007 USAID Bulgaria Local Government Initiative marked successful completion after 12 years of efforts.

On this occasion the FLGR team was recognized for its successful partnership and contribution to the local government development in Bulgaria.



to the top >>

[Last Issue of Municipal Radio Forum] On 26 April, 2007 on the air was the last issue of Municipal Radio Forum - a joint initiative of the Bulgarian National Radio - program "Horizont" and the Foundation for Local Government Reform (FLGR) with he financial support of the American Agency for International Development.

For six years every last Thursday of the month, the hour from 11 till 12 a.m. on the waves of the National Radio were discussed hot topics in the field of local self-government, such as municipal budgets, housing, local economic development, innovations in the Bulgarian municipalities work, improving administrative services, rural development, etc.

Participants in the radio discussions were mayors, municipal councils chairmen, municipal experts and representatives of NGOs. The goal of the 6-years efforts was achieving public awareness on the possibilities and challenges for the Bulgarian local governments.

Guests of the last issue of the Municipal Radio Forum were Gene Gibson, Head of the Democracy Programs Department, and Kiril Kiryakov, Senior Local Government Advisor of USAUD - Bulgaria, Ginka Chavdarova, Executive Director of the National Assembly of Municipalities in Republic of Bulgaria, and Ginka Kapitanova, Executive Director of FLGR. The Forum was dedicated to the Legacy Impact of the USAID Programs on the work of Bulgarian local governments.

to the top >>

[Interesting Bulgarian Web Places]

The Christine Reeh's documentary Waiting For Europe
won Best International Documentary (Short) at Los Angeles March 2007 Awards of the New York International Independent Film & Video Festival. This inward portrait of young Vania follows her from Bulgaria to Portugal and Spain and back home. This film is about emigration from a feminine point of view. It's about growing up and putting off lifeпїЅ while hoping that, one day, the utopia of Europe will actually happen.

Ensemble Contre la Peine de Mort: Sauvons le medecin palestinien et les infirmieres bulgares condamnes a mort en Libye!
Signez la petition!

Rila National Park Website
Rila National Park is one of the largest and most valuable protected areas in Europe-listed as Category 2 by the World Conservation Union (IUCN). The Park and all four of its nature reserves are on the UN List of Representative Protected Areas. The Parangalitsa Reserve and the former Marichini Ezera Reserve (now incorporated in the territory of Central Rila Reserve) are part of the World Biospheric Reserves Network under the UNESCO Man and Biosphere Program. Central Rila is the largest nature reserve in Bulgaria and covers a total area of 12,393.7 hectares. Parangalitsa, designated in 1933, is one of the oldest Bulgarian nature reserves.

to the top >>