Iliana Yotova organizes a discussion about the mountain regions in Bulgaria –

/ world today news/ The delegation of the Bulgarian Socialists in the European Parliament and the Information Bureau of the EP in Bulgaria are organizing a conference entitled “Mountains – the unappreciated wealth of Europe. European policies for the development of mountain regions”. The event will take place on February 5, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. in the conference hall of the House of Europe – Sofia, 124 Rakovski Street.

The reason for the conference is Iliana Yotova’s initiative for a report on mountain regions in the EU. Among those present will be the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works, Ivan Asparuhov, mayors from the mountain municipalities, deputies from the Commission for Regional Development of the National Assembly. At the conference, the Mediana agency study will be presented: “Social and economic aspects of the development of mountain regions in Bulgaria and the EU”.

Yotova is the rapporteur on mountain regions in the Commission for Regional Development of the EP and the aim of the initiative is additional targeted investments in the mountains of the EU from the European funds. The most serious problem, according to her, is the depopulation of the mountains, which does not allow development and leads to the loss of opportunities to benefit from natural resources. The MEP believes that, apart from the existing problems, the wealth of natural resources in the mountainous regions can be a good opportunity for the development of these regions. This can be achieved through investments in small and medium-sized enterprises, the green economy, training, dual education and the development of fast and affordable internet.

The conference will discuss issues such as climate change, which poses serious challenges to tourism, difficulties with accessibility and infrastructure, and connectivity and the Internet. The problems can be overcome through the European funds, as they can lead to new investments in the current and next program period.