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

• Temporary e-mail Connection
  

• Survey Results
  

• 2007 'Innovative Practices' Annual Issue
  

• 2007 Re-certification
  

• Sustainable Land Management
  

• Interesting Bulgarian Web Places
  

[Temporary e-mail connection] During the period 19 August - 4 September 2007 the e-mail addresses of the FLGR team member will not be visible in the web due to technical circumstances.

If you need to contact members of the team please use their personal e-mail:

Dessislava Tencheva, [email protected]
Dilyana Kundeva, [email protected]
Marina Dimova, [email protected]
Nevena пїЅaneva-Mladenova, [email protected]
Nikoleta Efremova, [email protected]
Rossitsa Raycheva, [email protected]


to the top >>

[Survey Results] On its website FLGR asks the visitors what is more important for Bulgaria - to fight corruption or to successfully absorb the EU funds?

In the Bulgarian part of the site from the 70 voters more than 70 % insist it is more important to fight corruption.

to the top >>

[2007 'Innovative Practices' Annual Issue] In August 2007 a new FLGR publication is on its way to the readers - 2007 'Innovative Practices' Annual Issue was published in Bulgarian and English in the framework of the LOGIN Programme.

From October 2006, when the FLGR National contest 'Innovative Municipality' took place, until July 2007 162 innovative practices were submitted to the electronic database, managed by the Foundation for Local Government Reform (FLGR). The practices were implemented by a variety of organizations and institutions on a local level: municipalities and their civil or business partners, chitalishtпїЅ (community centres), as well as regional and professional associations of municipal experts. 85 of the submitted documents are in Bulgarian, while 77 are in English (some of them in shortened versions).

Some of the practices were presented by the organizations and institutions, which initiated them, others - by FLGR's partners or journalists. To all who spared their time for enriching the 'Innovative Practices' database we are greatly thankful. We also firmly believe that their experience will encourage and motivate followers from all over the country.

The 2007 'Innovative Practices' Annual Issue presents only 12 of the submitted practices. On selecting them, we have tried to showcase how projects in similar spheres of life can be implemented either by NGOs, relying on very limited budgets or by coalitions of organizations, enjoying substantial financial support by EU programs.

Thus we desire to underline that either work has been beneficial to the Bulgarian society development. What is more, we believe that the synergy of their efforts will better contribute to our communities' development. Alas, we regret to say that most of the organizations and institutions are still striving to coordinate their activities and to avoid 'piece-work' impact.

The second important issue that we highlight in this edition is the role of the 'good-news carrier', which the innovative practices database takes. On the background of distrust and pessimism, which have been haunting our society, the innovative practices showcase in a transparent way the steps, which some institutions and organizations take to improve their communities' quality of life. These initiatives often require a change of thought as well as courage to implement the new ideas. Not infrequently the experts, who dare try the practices, have to assume additional responsibilities. As a rule their only reward is the attention they get from colleagues from other municipalities or even from other countries.

The third conclusion, suggested by the innovative practices content, relates to the needed financial means - it comes out that when an idea have been identified as a priority by the community and the local government or the civil organisations, then funds can always be raised.

Enjoy reading!
http://www.flgr.bg/?act=cms&sort=1&cid=1018&sub=0&lang=1

to the top >>

[2007 Re-certification] 10 municipalities - members of the Bulgarian Local Economic Development Partnership (BLEDP) applied for the renewal of their Ready for Business Municipality Certificate, as the term of their certificates expired. In August 2007 the FLGR team evaluates the candidates and verifies the technical compliance with the criteria.

All municipalities that apply for re-certification should successfully fulfill the criteria:

- Creation of a professional LED unit in the framework of the municipal administration and a tem of trained experts;
- Transparent work with the businesses;
- Assessment of the municipal LED resources and development of up-to-date local economic development action plan;
- Municipal marketing materials targeting businesses and prospective investors;
- Participation in the пїЅ common marketing website of BLEDP www.invest.bg
- Support for expansion of the local companies.

The new certificates will be awarded in September 2007.

to the top >>

[Sustainable Land Management] The implementing of the "Integrating Sustainable Land Management Policies at Municipal Level" Project by FLGR is in its last stages.

The FLGR team assisted 10 pilot municipalities - Ardino, Boichinovtsi, Bolyarovo, Dalgopol, General Toshevo, Ihtiman, Ivaylovgrad, Knezha, Suhindol and Sungurlare - to revise their Municipal Development Plans 2007 - 2013 in accordance with the national policy and principles of the sustainable land management.

One of the main tasks was to help the local stakeholders to identify feasible and relevant project ideas in the area of sustainable land management, which will be developed into full project concepts, eligible for funding under the various Operational Programmes of Bulgaria.

Now the process of approval of the revised Municipal Development Plans 2007 - 2013 by the Municipal Councils is taking place, ending September 2007.

The project Capacity Building for Sustainable Land Management is a joint initiative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Ministry of Environment and Water and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. The project is financially supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and co-financed by the MoEW.

to the top >>

[Interesting Bulgarian Web Places]

Luxembourg concert: Elitsa Todorova and Stoyan Yankulov - Stundzhi
Inspiring improvisations interleaving traditional Bulgarian and other exotic percussion instruments, modern electronic beat, drum n bass, and ethno elements.

Gela Bagpipes Playing Competition, Rhodope Mountains, 4 - 5 August 2007
For 5-th consecutive year bagpipe players from all over Bulgaria measured strengths. The participants were divided into three age groups - up to 15 years of age, from 15 to 20 years and over 20 years.
The biggest attractions were very young musicians and bagpipe players from Australia (Cory Dale), Japan (Yutaka Ban) and the Netherlands (Meiss Muller).
Special prize was given to the Japanese Yutaka Ban. The Australian player Cory Dale won the third place, the second one by the virtuoso Stefan Yanev and the last year winner Ivan Balabanov deserved the first place again.
12 000 visited the Gela contest and the meadow was covered by people dancing the typical national "horo" dance.

to the top >>