Integration perspectives for improving regional policy in rural areas of Bulgaria

Purpose. The purpose of the research is to determine the degree of implementation of specific regional policies in rural areas in the context of Bulgaria’s integration into the European Union through the prospects of the changing economic situation and new trends in the implementation of regional po...

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Main Authors: Petar Borisov, Kamen Petrov, Nikolay Tsonkov
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Institute of Eastern European Research and Consulting 2024-03-01
Series:Agricultural and Resource Economics
Subjects:
Online Access:https://are-journal.com/are/article/view/810
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author Petar Borisov
Kamen Petrov
Nikolay Tsonkov
author_facet Petar Borisov
Kamen Petrov
Nikolay Tsonkov
author_sort Petar Borisov
collection DOAJ
description Purpose. The purpose of the research is to determine the degree of implementation of specific regional policies in rural areas in the context of Bulgaria’s integration into the European Union through the prospects of the changing economic situation and new trends in the implementation of regional policy. Methodology / approach. The focus of the research is the need for a working regional policy that gives importance to the development of rural areas and influences the demographic and socio-economic processes in Bulgaria. The study is defined by comparative analysis, reference to expert assessment, use of statistical data, and analysis of strategic documents and programs related to regional development. Results. This research has shown that the applied regional development policies within the European Union have partial success. At the same time, the problems and emerging deficits are successfully defined, but it is more difficult to find optimal solutions that can be applied in more than one municipality. In this direction, regional policy has its achievements in its development, but new solutions are still being sought for several spatial and territorial problems in connection with integration into a common European market. This means a comprehensive process of functional impacts in the socio-economic development of nearly 281 regions. In Bulgaria, the situation is even more complicated, because it is necessary to have a dual approach in regional politics. On the one hand, the development of the most urbanised regions, and on the other hand, the development of the rural areas, which are decisive for the development of the greater part of the territory of Bulgaria. Originality / scientific novelty. The regional development policy carried out in the years after 2007 has a static and spontaneous character, the new approach of the measures and programs after 2023 are based on new concepts and elements in line with information technologies, development of intelligent systems, economic connectivity to overcome the backward development of rural areas. New approaches and moments are proposed in the construction of a regional policy, which has a new framework and provisions for the development of the European economic space. In this direction, the need for expert decisions related to the management of regional development comes to the fore. Practical value / implications. It is necessary to make regional development a national priority. In addition, governments should facilitate access to young people and medium-sized businesses for the use of inputs and the promotion of projects. Access to financing, strategic, and planning activities, which have their characteristics at different levels, must be further developed.
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spelling doaj.art-6d4905f4a43342b3b47af03def5997892024-04-14T20:19:56ZengInstitute of Eastern European Research and ConsultingAgricultural and Resource Economics2414-584X2024-03-01101260–283260–28310.51599/are.2024.10.01.11810Integration perspectives for improving regional policy in rural areas of BulgariaPetar Borisov0Kamen Petrov1Nikolay Tsonkov2Agricultural University – PlovdivUniversity of National and World EconomyUniversity of National and World EconomyPurpose. The purpose of the research is to determine the degree of implementation of specific regional policies in rural areas in the context of Bulgaria’s integration into the European Union through the prospects of the changing economic situation and new trends in the implementation of regional policy. Methodology / approach. The focus of the research is the need for a working regional policy that gives importance to the development of rural areas and influences the demographic and socio-economic processes in Bulgaria. The study is defined by comparative analysis, reference to expert assessment, use of statistical data, and analysis of strategic documents and programs related to regional development. Results. This research has shown that the applied regional development policies within the European Union have partial success. At the same time, the problems and emerging deficits are successfully defined, but it is more difficult to find optimal solutions that can be applied in more than one municipality. In this direction, regional policy has its achievements in its development, but new solutions are still being sought for several spatial and territorial problems in connection with integration into a common European market. This means a comprehensive process of functional impacts in the socio-economic development of nearly 281 regions. In Bulgaria, the situation is even more complicated, because it is necessary to have a dual approach in regional politics. On the one hand, the development of the most urbanised regions, and on the other hand, the development of the rural areas, which are decisive for the development of the greater part of the territory of Bulgaria. Originality / scientific novelty. The regional development policy carried out in the years after 2007 has a static and spontaneous character, the new approach of the measures and programs after 2023 are based on new concepts and elements in line with information technologies, development of intelligent systems, economic connectivity to overcome the backward development of rural areas. New approaches and moments are proposed in the construction of a regional policy, which has a new framework and provisions for the development of the European economic space. In this direction, the need for expert decisions related to the management of regional development comes to the fore. Practical value / implications. It is necessary to make regional development a national priority. In addition, governments should facilitate access to young people and medium-sized businesses for the use of inputs and the promotion of projects. Access to financing, strategic, and planning activities, which have their characteristics at different levels, must be further developed.https://are-journal.com/are/article/view/810regional policyregional integrationrural areassustainable development.
spellingShingle Petar Borisov
Kamen Petrov
Nikolay Tsonkov
Integration perspectives for improving regional policy in rural areas of Bulgaria
Agricultural and Resource Economics
regional policy
regional integration
rural areas
sustainable development.
title Integration perspectives for improving regional policy in rural areas of Bulgaria
title_full Integration perspectives for improving regional policy in rural areas of Bulgaria
title_fullStr Integration perspectives for improving regional policy in rural areas of Bulgaria
title_full_unstemmed Integration perspectives for improving regional policy in rural areas of Bulgaria
title_short Integration perspectives for improving regional policy in rural areas of Bulgaria
title_sort integration perspectives for improving regional policy in rural areas of bulgaria
topic regional policy
regional integration
rural areas
sustainable development.
url https://are-journal.com/are/article/view/810
work_keys_str_mv AT petarborisov integrationperspectivesforimprovingregionalpolicyinruralareasofbulgaria
AT kamenpetrov integrationperspectivesforimprovingregionalpolicyinruralareasofbulgaria
AT nikolaytsonkov integrationperspectivesforimprovingregionalpolicyinruralareasofbulgaria