On 2 and 3 December 2025, national ESPON outreach events were held in Sofia, Bulgaria, at the premises of the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works. The events were organised by the National Centre for Territorial Development, acting as the ESPON Contact Point (ECP) for Bulgaria, and focused on the presentation of LORDIMAS, an ESPON tool supporting municipalities in assessing and improving their digital maturity.

The events gathered representatives of national and local administrations, municipalities and experts, providing a platform for exchange on how ESPON tools and evidence can support local decision-making and territorial development.

Focus on LORDIMAS – a practical tool for the local governments

The core of the events agenda was dedicated to LORDIMAS, developed under Thematic Action Plan – Smart Connectivity. The tool was presented as a practical and user-friendly instrument enabling municipalities to:

• assess their level of digital maturity;
• identify strengths and gaps in digital governance and service delivery;
• plan concrete next steps for digital transformation.

Participants received guidance on how LORDIMAS can be integrated into municipal planning processes and used to support informed decisions on digital investments and administrative modernisation.

European perspective and expert contributions

The events benefited from the participation of Martin Gauk (ESPON / LORDIMAS), who presented the tool’s methodology and practical applications, and Gabriela Ruseva (Living-in.EU / Eurocities), who provided a broader European perspective on digital transformation, including links to Living-in.EU, Digital Europe and INTERREG initiatives.

The agenda also included national examples and interactive discussions, allowing participants to address practical questions related to implementation at local level.

LORDIMAS presented at the NAMRB Annual meeting

LORDIMAS was also presented during the Annual Meeting of Municipal Experts on Programmes and Projects, organised by the National Association of Municipalities in the Republic of Bulgaria (NAMRB) on 9 December 2025. The session provided an opportunity to introduce ESPON activities and tools to a broader municipal audience and to highlight how territorial data, research and instruments such as LORDIMAS can support municipalities in planning and implementing development policies. The presentation attracted strong interest from municipal experts and contributed to raising awareness of ESPON 2030 and LORDIMAS as a useful tool among local stakeholders. 

Engagement and next steps

The events generated strong interest among municipalities and encouraged dialogue on how ESPON tools can be applied in practice. Feedback highlighted the relevance of LORDIMAS as a concrete support tool for local authorities facing increasing demands for digitalisation.