1.  Municipality of Nikopol

2.  Located in the Northern region of Pleven  Area of 415.9 км2  Administrative center of the municipality  Includes the city of Nikopol and 13 surrounding villages  Implements all the administrative, educational, cultural and social services for the population

4. History  One of the oldest towns in Bulgaria  The earliest traces of life date back to the Stone Age in the region of Citadel Hill, were remains of Thracian times have been discovered / 1200-100 BC. /

5.  Arose as a settlement during the Roman Empire  He received the name of Nicopolis - City of Victory

6.  From this era dates the gravestone which is incorporated into the fountain Elia  Built into the roman gable during the second century in memory of his deceased wife  In the nineteenth century archaeologist Dezharden translated the slab into French

7.  The largest period of development occurred from the 12 th to 14 th century  Tsar Ivan Alexander hosted the envoy to the Venetian doge here  In 1388, Ivan Shishman Nikopol sought refuge here and Nikopol became the capital of the state  Nikopol was conquered in 1395 by Sultan Bayezid I and the remainder of the land came under his power/ Sandzak /

8.  1396 “Battle of the Nations” – campaign of 10000 knights led by the western Hungarian king Sigismund advanced against Turkish troops, but the campaign ended without success  After the battle Bulgaria and the Balkan Peninsula finally fell under Turkish rule  Nikopol, the last royal capital, became the main administrative town of Sandzak

9.  Preserved from that era are important monuments to our national history national:  The Rock Church of St. Stephen - XII-XIII century, which is part of the monastery complex  The Cruciform Church of Peter and Paul - XII-XIV century.  The Fortress Kaleto

10.  On July 16, 1877 the Russian army crossed the Danube and took the fortress of Nikopol, the first and only fortress which the Danube Russian Army captured with force

11.  Today on the eastern hill above the town stands a monument commemorating this victory

12.  After the liberation of Nikopol, although still a relatively small city, it is again the administrative center, running an active cultural, social and political life

13. Resources

14.  The nature around is beautiful and diverse - from low valleys to high plateaus  The majority of the municipal territory is agricultural land  74% arable, 14% meadows and pastures and 8% woodedNATURE

15.  Nearly 7 000 hectares within the municipality falls within the nature park “Persina”, and approximately 57% within the ecological Natura 2000 network

16.  Nikopol is situated on the bank of the Danube River with wonderful places for recreation and tourism

17. Economy  Priority development sectors of the economy: agriculture, hunting and forestry, manufacturing, trade, repair and maintenance of cars

18.  Industrial sector  "Battery" - AD - production of batteries for domestic and military purposes  ”Renom" Ltd. - manufacturing of agricultural equipment  "Chayka” AD for production of workwear  The technical infrastructure is relatively well developed. The municipality has one electrical substation Nikopol - 110/20/6 kV. The installed capacity is 32 mVA / 2 units of power transformers of 16 mVA /.

19.  Food production and processing sector  "HOVE" - for the production of distillate and brandy  "Dionysus" - AD - production and storage of wines and spirits  The territory of the municipality contains13 agricultural cooperatives

20.  Service sector  ”Danube Nikopol” Ltd. - carpentry, tinsmith and other services

21.  More common economic activities:  The processing of wheat, the production and sale of flour and bread and the buying of milk and processing of it’s raw materials is carried out by existing dairies within the municipality  The largest of which is "Elia – Milk” Ltd.

22.  There are three banks within the municipality- “DSK”, “Post” and "Invest Bank” JSC. There is a branch of DZI and representatives of various insurance companies

23. Transportation  There are daily trains and busses to the regional center  The port of Nikopol is a municipal port of regional significance  Supplies of fuel and lubricants for the population is provided by 3 gas stations and 7 petrol stations

24.  Construction and operation of the ferry complex “Nikopol - Turnu Magurele” has became an important transport junction for international freight and travel

25. People  About 12 000 citizens live within the municipality - belonging to different ethnic groups including Bulgarians, Turks, Roma and others  The largest percentage of people are aged 18 to 62 years - 51%  The working population is employed mainly in agriculture, hunting and forestry, manufacturing, trade and services, transport and communications and health and social work Our Greatest Asset

26.  As a result of economic situation most of the companies important to the economy have closed  Unemployment is one of the most severe problems for the municipality - In recent years, it has varied between 14 and 24%

27. Opportunities for Development in: Tourism Hunting Fishing Agriculture Industry Services

28. For the project- “Acquisition of Skills to Develop Public Activity Potential for Local Action Groups in the Municipality of Nikopol”

29. Goals  To strengthen the participation and organization of local community development processes in the municipality of Nikopol, through the establishment of active partnerships at local level to implement initiatives to ensure continued sustainable development of the area  The unification of the local population around collective projects and activities to improve the economic competitiveness of the region, integrating environmental concerns and quality of life for all citizens

30. Partners  Local authorities – Municipality of Nikopol  Business- “Elia – Milka” Ltd  NGO Sector – “Foundation for the Environment and Agriculture”

31. Expected Results  Review studies and analysis of the status and development prospects of the region  Develop strategies for local development  Trained staff and local leaders to work on developing a strategy  Preparation of information materials and promotion of the strategy.  Hold a general meeting to elect a board chairman and registration of the local action group.  Submission of the documents by invitation for the selection of Local Action Groups to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food

32. We Are Still At Тhe Beginning Good luck! Beginning

33. Why We Are Here  TO LEARN MORE  TO LEARN HOW TO WORK TOGETHER TO IMPROVE THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF THE REGION IN WHICH WE LIVE