The Regional Environmental Reconstruction Programme for South Eastern Europe REReP Record

Bulgarians and Serbs from Euroregion A framework agreement was signed in June establishing the Euroregion Stara Planina, uniting 11 cities in Bulgaria and Serbia toward the development of a mountain tourist area. “The goal of the newly established Euroregion is to develop and ‘impose’ an integrated, transboundary tourist product on the market, offered by all the founding municipalities, which creates bigger opportunities for local and international tourists to visit the Western Balkans,” said Miglena Todorova, director of the REC Country Office Bulgaria, which supports the initiative. Todorova noted that the Bulgarian side of Stara Planina already has the “Western Balkan” walking route stretching 150 km through 10 towns and villages and several picturesque sites. Plans call for the building of simple infrastructure, including places for rest, mountain huts and interpretive signs, and the establishment of a similar route on the Serbian part of the mountain. The scheme would also include the organisation of summer Bulgarian- Serbian festivals featuring local folklore and crafts. The region has a tradition of tapestry, pottery-making, and natural dying of wools and other fabrics. The establishment of the Euroregion is a result of a transboundary REC Bulgaria project initiated in 2002 and financed with EUR 600,000 by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). The project’s main goal is to unite municipalities, state administrations and public organisations on both sides of the border in the management of shared natural resources and the sustainable development of West Stara Planina region.

REReP Record Home