29 Jun 2026
Representatives of the Department of Investments, Energy Efficiency and Green Transition at the Municipality of Stara Zagora took part in the second transnational meeting of the European Network4Work project, held in Varberg, Sweden.
The meeting brought together partners from several European countries to exchange good practices and experience in developing policies to promote employment, address labour shortages, reduce skills mismatches, and retain young people and skilled workers in their regions.
Rositsa Raykova, Head of the Department of Investments, Energy Efficiency and Green Transition, presented the Municipality of Stara Zagora’s progress in implementing the project. Her presentation highlighted the activities completed so far, meetings held with local stakeholders, and the results achieved in identifying the main needs and challenges facing the local labour market. She also outlined the municipality’s efforts to build a lasting partnership between institutions, educational organisations, businesses and other stakeholders to develop effective solutions for improving employment.
A Bulgarian recruitment platform connecting employers with jobseekers also attended the international meeting as a representative of the project’s local stakeholders from Stara Zagora. Its participation provided an opportunity to present business perspectives and good practices, and to discuss closer cooperation between local government, employers and educational institutions in support of labour market development.
During the meeting, the partners discussed the next stages of project implementation, communication and dissemination activities, and the process of transferring good practices between the participating European cities. One of the main conclusions was that successful employment policies must be based on the actual needs of local communities and the active involvement of all stakeholders.
The programme also included a visit to Derome, one of the region’s leading employers and a leader in sustainable timber construction, with more than 2,500 employees. Participants learned about the company’s innovative production processes, its use of artificial intelligence technologies, and its successful partnership with higher education through cooperation with Campus Varberg. They were introduced to a workforce training model aligned with current labour market needs that could also be applied in other European regions.
The Municipality of Stara Zagora’s participation in the international meeting reaffirms the local administration’s commitment to exchanging European experience, building lasting partnerships, and developing effective policies to promote employment and economic development in the region.
Network4Work is implemented under the URBACT IV programme and aims to support European cities in developing and implementing sustainable employment policies through the exchange of knowledge and good practices, and active cooperation between the public sector, businesses, educational institutions and civil society. For the Municipality of Stara Zagora, participation in the project offers an opportunity to build on its experience, apply successful European practices, and work with local stakeholders to develop solutions that meet actual labour market needs and contribute to the municipality’s sustainable economic development. The project partners are Nyíregyháza (Hungary), Stara Zagora (Bulgaria), Lousada (Portugal), Vilanova i la Geltrú (Spain), Varberg (Sweden), and the Sarajevo Economic Region Development Agency (Bosnia and Herzegovina).
