Making Migration Work for Development (MMWD) DEMOGRAPHIC CHANGE AS A KEY VARIABLE IN REGIONAL GROWTH STRATEGIES FINAL CONFERENCE, bologna, italy 13.09.2014 MUNICIPALITY OF VRATSA

RESULTS ACHIEVED (1) Prepared database of population, labor, households, education, etc., used in the development of strategic documents for the project. Translated and disseminated a flyer for the project.

RESULTS ACHIEVED (2) Translated and disseminated the first newsletter; Identified stakeholders in the Municipality of Vratsa; Developed Demographic projections for the Municipality of Vratsa (LAU I) to 2020 and printed as a book; Developed policy scenarios based on expected demographic changes in human resources, labor market and social needs in the municipality of Vratsa to 2020 and printed as a book;

RESULTS ACHIEVED (3) Developed training materials for stakeholders. Conducted two-day training (round table) with stakeholders.

RESULTS ACHIEVED (4) Increased awareness in the public administration, NGOs and academic circles about the present day and future importance of international migration; Informed participants of attempts to correctly describe and explain the processes of international migration.

Printed and disseminated materials for the visibility RESULTS ACHIEVED(5) Printed and disseminated materials for the visibility

Printed and disseminated materials for the visibility RESULTS ACHIEVED(6) Printed and disseminated materials for the visibility

Key challenges of demographic change in the municipality of Vratsa Decreasing population (approximately 12 %); Aging population (an increase of approximately 15% over eight years of the 65+ age group ); "Brain drain"; Low level of employment - unemployment; Low work pay; Low birth rate;

Perspectives for development Development of social and economic potential of human resources in the municipality to address the deterioration of the quality characteristics of the population. Increasing the share of employees in the municipality of Vratsa and creating a favorable environment for the development of various economic activities. Providing access to quality health care, including the growing elderly population. Improving the quality of education, motivation and attainment of children in order to successfully continue the education process or the effective inclusion in the labor market. Balanced and sustainable spatial development of the territory and the settlements of Vratsa, guarantor of economic feasibility in the implementation of public and private investment intentions, predictability and stability of the decisions of local authorities.

The local authorities in Bulgaria, including Municipality of Vratsa operate in environment that lacks decentralization, including financial one. Additionally, one of the areas that at local level are in the scope of competencies of the local self-government, are constructed and managed at national level. That is why the municipalities find it difficult to implement highly efficient policies related to the essence and structuring of the operations in the areas of healthcare, education, social services, tax policy etc.

Thus it is essential to derive the mechanisms with which the Municipality could make a real impact. In order to achieve maximum effect it would be purposeful to implement the integrated approach when it comes to planning and performing the related policies at local level, in the context of the developed scenarios. On the basis of these scenarios we derived seven interconnected policies with which the local authority could impact the outlined processes, as well as to render the necessary services and environments in the conditions defined in the scenarios. The suggested policies included to various degrees a combination of “soft” (mostly services for assistance, addressed at particular beneficiaries) and “hard” (being investments in facilities, spaces and/or infrastructural elements) measures. It would be purposeful to consider the spatial components related to the intervention in the physical environment and they should be combined with the instruments of the spatial policy.

Policy Scenarios 1. Policy for development of human resources Aim – development of the social and economic potential of human resources in the municipality to overcome the deterioration of the quality characteristics of the population. 2. Policy to increase employment and promote local business Aim – Increasing the share of persons employed in the municipality of Vratsa and creating a favorable environment for the development of various economic activities. 3. Social policy Aim – To meet the specific needs of the increasing elderly population to live in dignity 4.Health policy Aim – Providing access to quality healthcare, including for the increasing elderly population 5. Education policy Aim – improving the quality of education, motivation and performance rate of the children in order to successfully continue the educational process or effectively be included in the labor market. 6. Spatial and public works policy Aim – Balanced and sustainable spatial development of the territory and the settlements of Vratsa municipality, which will guarantee economic feasibility in the implementation of public and private investment intentions, predictability and stability of the decisions of local authorities. 7. Housing policy Aim – Increasing access to housing and quality living environment so young people will not leave the municipality .

THANKS FOR YOUR ATTENTION! Ralitsa Geshovska (Organization-communication manager) ralges@abv.bg