Necessity of a New Territorial-Structural Division of the Republic of Bulgaria – European Requirements Cover Image

Необходимост от ново териториално устройствено райониране на Р. България – европейски изисквания
Necessity of a New Territorial-Structural Division of the Republic of Bulgaria – European Requirements

Author(s): Konstantin Kalinkov
Subject(s): National Economy
Published by: Икономически университет - Варна
Keywords: Cohesion; Decentralization; Regions for planning; Self-government; Territorial-structural division
Summary/Abstract: In the following scientific report, the author views the issue of the necessity of a territorial-structural division of our country and more specifically – a determination of the territorial range of the regions of level-2. This change is due to European requirements, saying that the regions of level-2 (NUTS-2) must contain between 800 000 and 3 000 000 residents. This way they will comply with EU’s requirements for the next program period after year 2020. The new division of the country will allow for achieving maximum opportunities out of the future cohesion policy of EU. For this purpose, the government has presented 3 options for discussion. The aim, which the author of the scientific report sets for himself, is to propose an alternative way for the territorial-structural divisionof the regions of level-2 and to point out the perspectives for the administrative-territorial structure of the country. The motives and criteria for this proposition are connected to the processes of urbanization in our country, and to the influence of the 10 Common European Transport Corridors, 5 of which pass through Bulgaria.