Varna Economic Development Agency

22/07/2026

AGRICOOP Project – 2nd Consortium Meeting | Varna, Bulgaria | Interreg NEXT Black Sea Basin | MEET THE PARTNERS' VIDEO

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nqANPC6Leg

The 2nd Consortium Meeting of the AGRICOOP project was successfully...

20/07/2026

🌳✨ Building the Future of the Danube Wood(s) Cultural Route! 🇷🇸🌍
On 25–26 June 2026, the DANUBE WOOD(s) ROUTE Partner & Steering Committee Meeting and the Capitalization Event of the 1st and 2nd Call Interreg Danube Region Programme Projects brought together partners from across the Danube Region in Belgrade, Serbia. The event was hosted by our Serbian project partner, the Danube Competence Center.

💻 Representatives of the Varna Economic Development Agency (VEDA) actively participated online, joining discussions on the project's progress and its exciting next steps.

🎤 The event opened with inspiring welcome speeches and presentations of the 2026 Strategic Flagship Projects delivered by:
🌿 Ms. Helena Cvenkel – Lead Partner of the DANUBE WOOD(s) ROUTE Project (BSC Kranj)
🇷🇴 Ms. Irina Cozma – Priority Area 3 Coordinator (Culture, Tourism and People-to-People Contacts), EU Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR)
🇪🇺 Mr. Johan Magnusson – Team Leader, Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy, European Commission
🇧🇬 Ms. Dora Ivanova – Ministry of Tourism of Bulgaria

🤝 During the Capitalization Event, partners exchanged experiences and showcased inspiring achievements from several Interreg Danube Region Programme projects, including DanubeCrafts, ROMAN LEGACY, TRANSDINARICA2, SReST, and many other successful initiatives that are shaping a more sustainable and connected Danube Region.

🌲 The second day focused on the DANUBE WOOD(s) ROUTE Partner & Steering Committee Meetings, where partners reviewed the project's progress, coordinated the final implementation activities, and discussed future cooperation.

⭐ One of the most significant milestones ahead is the joint preparation of the application to the Council of Europe for the certification of the Danube Wood(s) Cultural Route as an official European Cultural Route—an important step towards preserving, promoting, and celebrating the unique forest and wood heritage of the Danube Region for future generations.

🌍 Together, we are creating a cultural route that connects nature, history, local traditions, and sustainable tourism across borders, bringing the rich wood heritage of the Danube closer to citizens and visitors alike.

🙏 We are proud that VEDA continues to contribute to this inspiring international initiative and to the shared vision of a greener, more connected, and culturally vibrant Danube Region.
🍃 Growing together. Connecting heritage. Inspiring the future.

17/07/2026

🌱 AGRICOOP Project – 2nd Consortium Meeting Successfully Held in Varna, Bulgaria! 🇧🇬🤝🇹🇷🇬🇪

The Project, funded by the Interreg NEXT Black Sea Basin Programme, successfully held its 2nd Consortium Meeting in Varna, Bulgaria, on 16–17 July 2026.

The Varna Economic Development Agency (VEDA) had the pleasure of hosting the meeting, providing the venue at the Odessos Conference Hall, Cherno More Hotel & Casino, where project partners and distinguished guests gathered to review the project's progress and discuss the next implementation steps.

The meeting welcomed Mr. Eyyüp Ergan, Chairman, and Ms. Nazlı Genç, Secretary General of the Trabzon Commodity Exchange – the Project Lead Partner, Prof. Dr. Hamdullah Çuvalcı, Rector, and Prof. Dr. Ömer Faruk Ursavaş, Vice Rector of Karadeniz Technical University (Trabzon), Assoc. Prof. Guguli Dumbadze, PhD from Batumi S***a Rustaveli State University, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kibar AK and Assist. Dr. Furkan Harun BAŞ from Ondokuz Mayıs University (Samsun), representatives of the National Agricultural Advisory Service – Territorial Office Varna, and other experts and stakeholders from the partner countries.

During the meeting, partners reviewed the achievements of the first project implementation period, presenting the results of field visits, interviews and analyses on the current state of Invasive Alien Species (IAS). Particular attention was given to identifying the five most widespread invasive pest insects and the five agricultural crops most affected by these pests in Bulgaria, Türkiye and Georgia.

The consortium also discussed the development of a Catalogue of Agricultural Products Affected by Climate Change and Invasive Species, the design of mobile pest detection stations, and the MAPEST mobile application, which will support farmers and agricultural authorities in the early detection and monitoring of invasive pests. Partners exchanged valuable experience, good practices and innovative solutions for preventing and combating invasive species while strengthening regional cooperation.

The meeting concluded with the definition of the next implementation steps for the second project period, reaffirming the partners' shared commitment to protecting agriculture, biodiversity and food security through innovation, scientific cooperation and cross-border collaboration.

🌍 Through the support of the Interreg NEXT Black Sea Basin Programme, the AGRICOOP Project is contributing to a more resilient, sustainable and climate-adapted agricultural sector across the Black Sea region.

02/07/2026

Green Living Areas Through Your Lens: Join the Green Living Areas Mission Photo Awards 2026

Show us how your community becoming greener accross the Mediterranean. The Interreg Euro-MED Green Living Areas Mission invites citizens and project partners from across the Mediterranean to share inspiring photographs showcasing greener, healthier and more resilient communities through the Green Li...

13/06/2026

🤝🌍 Advancing Sustainable Tourism Through Collaboration and Innovation

On 10 June 2026, project partners gathered in Valletta, Malta, for the 5th TOURISMO Project Technical and Steering Committee Meeting, marking another important milestone towards the successful completion of the project.

Representatives from the ten partner organizations, including Varna Economic Development Agency, reviewed the progress achieved across the project’s key work packages, focusing on innovative solutions for tourism flow monitoring, analysis of tourism behavior patterns, forecasting and sentiment analysis to support evidence-based decision-making, and the development of a best-practice framework for the certification of sustainable tourism destinations.

The meeting also provided an opportunity to discuss the long-term exploitation, sustainability, and scaling-up of TOURISMO results, ensuring that the project’s achievements will continue to create value beyond its lifetime. In addition, the Lead Partner, READ SA, informed participants about TOURISMO’s involvement in the Test-to-Transfer phase, opening new opportunities for the wider adoption of the project’s innovative solutions.

Beyond the technical discussions, participants enjoyed a guided walking tour of Valletta, organized by the host partner MRDDF. The tour offered a unique opportunity to explore the city’s rich cultural heritage, remarkable history, and vibrant urban environment, while strengthening cooperation among project partners.

As the TOURISMO project approaches its final stages, the commitment and collaboration demonstrated by all partners continue to drive the development of smarter, more sustainable, and more resilient tourism destinations across the Mediterranean region.

13/06/2026

🌍✈️ Smart Tourism Starts with Smart Data!

On 9 June 2026, representatives of the Varna Economic Development Agency participated in the Final Conference of the Project, held in Valletta, Malta.

The event brought together partners, experts, public authorities, and representatives of other projects to discuss innovative, data-driven solutions for managing tourist flows in urban destinations and popular tourist areas.

During the conference, participants explored how advanced technologies such as visual sensors, IoT devices, drones, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) are helping cities better understand the movement of people and vehicles, improve visitor experiences, optimize operational capacity, enhance safety and privacy, and support sustainable tourism development.

Real-life examples from across Europe demonstrated how smart monitoring frameworks can provide valuable insights for faster decision-making and more efficient management of tourism-related challenges.

The Varna Economic Development Agency contributed to the conference with a presentation entitled “Monitoring tourist flows with drones at the Varna Pilot in Bulgaria”, showcasing innovative approaches tested within the project and highlighting the potential of drone technologies to support evidence-based tourism management.

We are proud to be part of a European initiative that promotes smarter, more sustainable, and more resilient tourism destinations.

12/06/2026

🎥 Meet the Bulgarian Associated Partners of RE-ACT Schools

Discover the local impact of the RE-ACT Schools – Transformation of Schoolyards to Combat Climate Change Effects and Promote Healthy and Active Environments project through the perspectives of representatives from Aksakovo Municipality and St. Kliment Ohridski Secondary School.

As associated partners, they play a vital role in transforming the pilot schoolyard into a greener, healthier, and more climate-resilient environment for students and the wider community. Their collaboration demonstrates how local authorities, educators, and citizens can work together to create innovative solutions that support climate adaptation and improve urban living conditions.

Developed through Mediterranean cooperation, RE-ACT Schools promotes sustainable, nature-based approaches to addressing the challenges of climate change and creating healthier public spaces for future generations.

▶️ Watch the video and learn more about their contribution to the project at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gd1HW--O2O0

In this video, representatives of Aksakovo Municipality and St. Kli...

12/06/2026

🎥 Meet the VEDA Experts Behind RE-ACT Schools

Discover how VEDA is contributing to the RE-ACT Schools – Transformation of Schoolyards to Combat Climate Change Effects and Promote Healthy and Active Environments project. In a newly released video, VEDA experts share insights into the project's mission to transform schoolyards into climate-resilient, healthy, and inclusive spaces for children and local communities.

Bringing together partners from six Mediterranean countries, RE-ACT Schools promotes nature-based solutions, innovative design approaches, and digital climate modelling to address climate change impacts, reduce urban heat island effects, and enhance biodiversity.

We are proud to support sustainable urban transformation and climate adaptation across the Mediterranean region.

▶️ Watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HB-PNDZJlsE

In this video, members of the VEDA team from Varna, Bulgaria share ...

18/05/2026

TOURISMO FINAL CONFERENCE
9 June 2026, 09:00 – 15:00
Valletta Design Cluster, Malta

The conference agenda brings together practical experiences from across Europe, focusing on how data and technology are already being applied on the ground.

Highlights include:
• Smart monitoring of visitor flows from cruise ports to historic city centers
• Use of thermal cameras, drones and real-time data in tourism management
• Case studies from islands, coastal areas and UNESCO sites
• Tools for assessing tourism carrying capacity and environmental impact
• Innovative platforms supporting data-driven destination management

From early-stage insights to fully implemented solutions, the conference offers a full picture of how destinations are moving towards more balanced and resilient tourism systems.

Free participation (lunch included). Limited seats available.
Agenda and Registration by June 1st:

The TOURISMO Final Conference will take place on June 9, 2026, from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM at the Valletta Design Cluster in Valletta.

15/05/2026

🌍🏫 At the beginning of May 2026, the Euro-MED funded project RE-Art Schools was presented to 12 participants taking part in an Erasmus+ funded Digital and Cultural Skills course.

The audience included architects, engineers, schoolteachers, and senior experts from Constanța, Romania, who were eager to learn more about recent activities of VEDA and exchange good practices from their professional fields.

The participants showed strong interest in the RE-Art Schools initiative and its expected results related to climate change mitigation and the renovation of school yards into healthier, safer, and climate-neutral environments for children and local communities.

Particular attention during the discussions was given to the co-design workshops, the installation of environmental sensors, and the upcoming activities related to the elaboration of architectural plans and future construction works within the project.

🤝 The meeting provided an excellent opportunity for knowledge exchange, networking, and strengthening cooperation around sustainable educational environments and climate-resilient urban spaces.

-MED