Scholarly record

PROBLEMS IN THE FORMATION OF POLICIES FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND THE USE OF PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS IN THE BORDER MUNICIPALITIES BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA AND THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA

Metodi Ivanov

Abstract

In the present article, based on the analysis and identification of the problems related to the socio-economic development of the border municipalities between the Republic of Bulgaria and the Republic of Serbia, an attempt is made to identify the main problems in forming policies to improve cross-border cooperation and achieving a balanced socio-economic development that will slow down the rate of population decline in the municipalities in question. The role of the local self-government bodies and the opportunities they have for the absorption of funds under the operational programs in the border municipalities for the Republic of Bulgaria and the pre-accession funds and programs for the Republic of Serbia will be presented. The continuing trend of population decline in the border areas of Bulgaria leads to a tendency to increase the ratio between the size of municipal administrations and the number of the population served by them. The picture is quite different in the small municipalities, as the difference in this indicator is especially clear in the border municipalities between the Republic of Bulgaria and the Republic of Serbia. As of 13 border municipalities on the part of the Republic of Bulgaria, the municipality of Kyustendil, there are 382 employees per one employee of the municipal administration, and in the smallest municipality there are 26 employees per employee. While on average for the Bulgarian border municipalities with the Republic of Serbia the ratio per employee is 110 people. These disparities in the municipalities in question signal to us a number of difficulties and problems that are present at the local level. As one of the significant difficulties regarding the development of the border Bulgarian municipalities is related to the lack of sufficient administrative capacity for the preparation, management and implementation of projects financed under the operational programs of the European Union, as well as regarding the implementation of public-private partnerships and about achieving sustainable socio-economic development. But on the other hand, it should not be forgotten that despite the fact that the territorial-administrative reform is not on the agenda at the moment, it cannot be avoided in the near future, especially if the trends in the development of the municipalities continue. Municipalities in border areas will need to pay more attention to the opportunities for public-private partnerships in order to attract more investment on their territory. On the other hand, the border municipalities on the territory of the two countries can cooperate in terms of creating opportunities and prerequisites for attracting strategic investors. An important place in terms of socio-economic development of these territories is the development of national sectoral policies and programs, as well as interstate relations and conditions for development that are created in these areas. Significant efforts should definitely be made to secure national and European funding in lagging regions in order to enable stimulating socio-economic development and retention of economically active people in these territories, as there are serious trends towards their depopulation and respectively falling into a situation requiring their deletion as administrative-territorial units.

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