At the National Meeting of Municipal Experts on Programmes and Projects in Bulgaria, organised by the National Association of Municipalities in the Republic of Bulgaria (NAMRB), participants took part in a series of thematic sessions dedicated to current funding opportunities, project implementation and territorial cooperation.

As part of the session on Territorial Cooperation Programmes 2021–2027, the Bulgarian ESPON Contact Point, hosted by the National Centre for Regional Development, presented ESPON 2030 and its contribution to evidence-informed policymaking. The presentation introduced ESPON as a valuable source of territorial evidence, analyses and practical tools supporting authorities at national, regional and local level.

A key focus of the session was LORDIMAS, ESPON’s digital maturity assessment tool for local, metropolitan and regional authorities. The tool was presented as a practical resource for municipalities wishing to assess their digital readiness, identify needs and set priorities for future action.

The presentation also highlighted the connection between LORDIMAS and the Living-in.EU initiative, underlining the importance of European cooperation, digital innovation and better-informed local governance for stronger territorial development outcomes.