Interview of Ms Denitsa Nikolova, Deputy Minister of Regional Development and Public Work and Bulgarian National Coordinator of EUSDR

What are the main objectives of the EU Strategy for Danube Region for the year of the Bulgarian Presidency? (priorities, short and mid-term goals, long-term effects)

Being part of the Danube Strategy family is one of most valuable and significant political commitments which have been taken by the Bulgarian government in the last decade. The added value of the Strategy for us is in the partnership and the support for the implementation of joint strategic projects that contribute to the objectives of the Strategy. Bulgaria, as the rotating Presidency of the Danube Strategy, aims at working towards the visibility of the Strategy and identifying joint solutions to the common challenges. During our Presidency we focus the discussions on two major issues from the Connectivity pillar of the Strategy, which are of utmost importance for all Member States and especially for Bulgaria - cultural heritage and tourism, with a particular emphasis on the fact that 2018 is the European Year for Cultural Heritage. The development of cultural heritage is one of the main possibilities for boosting regional economies. In obvious combination with tourism, they become a strong tool for regional development and achievement of the strategy’s goals in the future. This sector is directly linked to important topics such as vocational education, security of public places, digitisation and innovative practices, transport connectivity. In this respect, the main event of the Bulgarian Presidency will be the 7th Annual Forum and the Ministerial Meeting of the Danube Strategy, to be held on 18-19 October 2018 in Sofia, which will focus on economic growth and territorial cohesion through investments in tourism and cultural heritage, including through financial instruments. In addition, the Bulgarian Presidency ensures continuity in the work of the EUSDR and is focusing on improving its governance and coordination. During our Presidency the focus is given on the establishment of new body for coordination that will support the Danube Strategy. We count on the support of all stakeholders, as well as of the European Commission, in order to be able to implement the new governance model of the Strategy. In long-term perspective a more coherent strategic approach in identifying projects, recognised by the different stakeholder at national, regional, macro-regional and EU level is needed for the more successful embedding of the Strategy into the future framework post 2020. Therefore, we should work towards improving the visibility of the Danube region and to create synergies between existing instruments, policies and programmes. There is a need to strengthen political commitment, i.e. ownership of this policy at national and macro-regional level - from establishing partnerships and uniting around common strategic projects that are crucial for the Danube region up to the implementation phase with secured funding. In this regard, there are still difficulties in reducing the gap between the strategies and funding opportunities. These aspects require a more coordinated and integrated use of available funding at different levels.

Which achievements of the Hungarian Presidency does Bulgaria plan to follow in 2018? What are the longer term initiatives that you are planning to hand over to the next presidencies for completion?

During past years we have established a good cooperation and collaboration within the Trio Presidency. Each Presidency ensures a continuity of main priorities and actions of the previous Presidencies. This approach is of crucial importance for the successful implementation of the Strategy. In 2017 the Hungarian Presidency have launched the discussion about the future of the new DSP and has put a lot of efforts together with all NCs to find the most appropriate option for the functioning of the new supportive body. The Bulgarian Presidency continues the path made in this direction by ensuring all necessary steps and actions for the selection and the establishment of the new structure.  During our Presidency we are starting discussions about the necessity to review the EUSDR Action plan with the support of our Trio colleagues, Hungary and Romania. As an outcome of this process we will prepare a roadmap to be agreed upon by NCs this year and our colleagues from Romania will continue to work on the Action plan revision next year during their Presidency.

How do you reckon the Presidency of the Council of the EU could affect or support MRS, especially driven by its motto ’United we stand strong’? (What are the challenges and the benefits of holding the EU and the EUSDR Presidencies at the same time?)

It is a considerable challenge and quite an ambitious task to have both Presidencies in the same period. On the other aspect it gives us the possibility to strengthen the political commitment, the ownership of this macro-regional policy and to work towards by allowing us to put forward the importance of the macro-regional strategies as an integral part of the EU policy framework for the future period. This is also an opportunity to have common goals for strategic projects in synergy with the existing for the rotating Presidency of the Council – for instance the synergy between EUSDR and Western Balkans integration. Additionally, through territorial cooperation instruments, we work as a priority to overcome the common challenges faced by the partner countries and regions in the Western Balkans in order to support their accession process to the EU. Driven by the understanding that we should take full advantage of the potential of the existing macro-regional strategies, we work to enhance the visibility of the Danube region where appropriate. The Danube region is linked through opportunities and challenges and achieving an integrated approach will contribute to the territorial cohesion and economic development in the region. Increasing the networking opportunities and the synergies between the four EU macro-regional strategies could have an impact in achieving sustainable results and a higher added value for the EU as a whole.

Please share with us a project example (preferably EU funded), which, in your opinion, best represents the added value of the macroregional approach.

The Strategy provides the participating countries with opportunities for strategic investment at macro-regional level. We have nine strategic projects of a total value of more than EUR 40 million that were selected, covering areas like water transport, transport infrastructure, energy, improving administrative capacity, education, youth, innovation. They contribute for a coordinated and integrated approach in tackling specific regional problems as improved navigability, better connectivity, flood prevention, water pollution, all being not limited by national borders. As a part of the implementation of the Strategy several success stories were outlined as good examples of what has been achieved together, based on the cooperation at macro-regional scale in the Danube Region. The projects with their added value provide further motivation for continuing to cooperate along this successful path in order to contribute to the balanced, sustainable and inclusive growth of the region. As an excellent example is the ongoing ART NOUVEAU project - an initiative aimed at exploration, preservation and wide-ranging promotion of the Art Nouveau heritage in the Danube region. With an overall budget of 1.6 million euro the project is co-financed by the Danube transnational cooperation programme. The project involves 10 partner organisations from 7 countries – local and national level institutions from Romania,

Bulgaria, Serbia, Slovenia, Hungary and Austria, and associated strategic partners – Réseau Art Nouveau Network, Belgium and the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Administration, Romania. Museums and institutes for protection of monuments will undertake scientific research of roots and forms of expression of Art Nouveau, enhance its physical conservation and ensure its preservation in a digital form. As a result, Art Nouveau values and monuments will be admired by inhabitants, tourists and future generations instead of being lost to them as relicts of the past. Apart from its immediate and palpable results, this project will ultimately achieve an invaluable one: harnessing cohesive potential of the Art Nouveau cultural heritage in Danube region.