Fifth Stakeholders Meeting in Bulgaria under the DETOCS Project
On 10 July 2025, the fifth stakeholder meeting under the DETOCS project – Decarbonising the Tourism Industry Post Covid-19 Support, funded by the Interreg Europe programme, took place at the Business Incubator in Burgas. The event brought together representatives from Burgas Municipality, regional and local authorities, business stakeholders, and the non-governmental sector. The project’s technical partner – the Regional Energy Agency of Pazardzhik (REAP) – joined the meeting online.
A key focus of the meeting was to present the project’s objectives and current progress. DETOCS aims to promote the sustainable use of renewable energy sources and improve energy efficiency in public and tourism-related infrastructure. Experts from Burgas Municipality introduced participants to the Long-Term Programme for Promoting the Use of Renewable Energy Sources and Biofuels for the period 2021–2030, which is due to be updated within the framework of the project.
Participants were also introduced to inspiring European practices shared by the project partner from Italy. These included concrete examples from tourist sites in the municipality of Campobasso, where innovative and sustainable energy solutions are being implemented. The practices offered valuable insight for local stakeholders exploring how similar approaches could be applied in Burgas.
Another highlight of the meeting was the presentation of the Energy Community established by Burgas Municipality – one of the first initiatives of its kind in Bulgaria, focused on powering high-consumption public buildings with solar energy. The energy community brings together citizens, small and medium-sized enterprises, local institutions, and NGOs. Through joint investments, the community is funding the installation of a 400 kWp photovoltaic system on the city’s municipal swimming pool – a key facility that hosts numerous sports and tourism events. This site will soon be powered by clean, renewable energy. The initiative positions Burgas as a pioneer in citizen-led energy transition models and strengthens its image as a green and sustainable tourism destination.
The event also included the online participation of a representative from the Ministry of Environment and Water (MoEW), who presented the main strategic directions and measures at both national and European levels aimed at decarbonisation and the transition to a low-carbon economy. The MoEW representative highlighted the importance of local initiatives such as the one in Burgas for achieving shared climate goals and stressed the need for close cooperation between institutions, the business community, and civil society.
The meeting once again demonstrated the value of interinstitutional cooperation, regional exchange of good practices, and the engagement of local communities in the transition towards clean energy and sustainable development.
