The Challenge
Although Varna is the third-largest city in Bulgaria, in 2024 it ranked 12th out of the 28 regional cities in the country in the ranking by Transparency International Bulgaria, which assesses the capacity, governance, and role of local civil society organizations. Varna lags significantly behind Sofia, Ruse, and Plovdiv in terms of the capacity and role of the civil sector in local communities. This is largely due to the lack of public dialogue with local authorities, especially regarding European policies, as well as a lack of understanding among citizens of EU rights, values, and policies at the local level.
The result is the emergence of fake news regarding European policies, euroscepticism, an “impossibility of change” syndrome, and the rise of anti-European currents (the leaders of the largest prorussian nationalist parties and movements in the country originated from Varna).
Actions
“Citizens’ Dialogues for Europe in Varna” aims to support dialogue between citizens and institutions, transparency, and good governance in Varna by raising awareness of EU rights, values, and policies at the local level. Twelve citizens’ discussions will be organized in Varna with prominent experts defending pro-European values. In the short term, they will give wide visibility to the alternative perspective on the myths being spread regarding the implementation of European policies at the local level, including the climate crisis, the Green Deal and the “destruction” of the Bulgarian economy, “expensive, inefficient, and harmful” renewable energy sources (RES), etc.
In the long term, they will build a core of active citizens sharing European policies and values and will debunk false claims regarding the role of the EU in local politics.
Training will be organized for civil activists on the right to petition the European Parliament, the role of the European Ombudsman, and the procedure for submitting complaints to the European Commission.
To improve dialogue with local authorities, an analysis of the best European and national practices in this field will be conducted. It will be presented to local authorities, the media, and citizens, along with concrete proposals for the Municipality of Varna.
Results
In the long term, the activities will improve the capacity and role of the civil sector in local communities and public dialogue with local authorities.
The initiative is implemented by the Public Center for Environment and Sustainable Development under the “Partnership” Fund of the “Partnership among Civil Society Organizations for Impact on Rights and Values” (PACT) project, and is carried out in partnership with the Institute for Economic Policy.
Project Coordinator:
Iliyan Iliev
Phone number: 0887 35 11 41
e-mail: pecsd@ecovarna.info
This text was created within the framework of the “Citizens’ Dialogues for Europe in Varna” initiative, funded by the European Union and the Open Society Institute – Sofia Foundation (OSIS). The views and opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union, the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA), or OSIS. Neither the European Union, nor EACEA, nor OSIS can be held responsible for them.
