PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN BULGARIAN AND SWISS MUNICIPALITIES

published on 08 June 2009

Balkan Assist Association coordinates the development of partnership between Bulgarian and Swiss municipalities.

Main Goal:
Exchange of experience and know-how in various areas (social, economy, cultural, of the life), establish new contacts between institutions, enterprises, and individuals and as a whole, enrich both Bulgarian and Swiss partners through knowing foreign traditions and practice.

Sub Goals:
The specific goals are related to the characteristics of the individual partnerships and their annual programs. Most often partnerships operate in the following areas:

• Municipal development and marketing

• Culture and education

• Professional qualification

• Attracting investors

• Tourism

Content and Encompass of the Project:
The partnerships are a part of the program of the Swiss government for support to the municipalities in Central Stara Plannina and they are in the framework of the Agreement for technical cooperation signed between the governments of Switzerland and Bulgaria in 1994.

The participants in the partnerships are a group of municipalities from the region of Central Stara Planina in Bulgaria and from the region of Berner Oberland in Switzerland. They are: Gabrovo – Thun, Tryavna - Brienz, Teteven – Frutigen, Troyan – Ostermundigen/ Kandersteg, Sevlievo – Biel/Bienne, Apriltsy - Zweizimmen. Numerous similarities between the two regions – mountain relief, beautiful nature, similar way of living and occupation, artistic and cultural traditions, are the basis of the sustainability of these partnerships.

The project is implemented with the financial support of the Swiss Agency for development and Cooperation. Balkan Assist Association coordinates the partners initiatives and strives for the partner municipalities to get the most necessary consultant and technical support in order to implement the activities planned:

• Delegations and working groups exchanges;
• Practices to acquire specialized experience;
• Information and experience exchange;
• Cultural exchange;
• Business contacts and cooperation;
• Implementation of common projects and initiatives;
• Know-how support to partnership projects and initiatives

The tendency is the partnership relations develop and deepen but gradually they start working on their own, independently and with no external funding.

Partners of association "Balkan Assist":
Our partners are the Bulgarian and the Swiss municipalities that participate in the project as well as a number of schools, cultural institutions and business organizations there.