EVROBALKANI, NGO (Bulgaria)

Evrobalkani was founded in 2004 in Bulgaria by a team of professionals aiming to support the process of European integration in South-Eastern Europe and the socio-economic development of the region. The organization integrates the knowledge and experience of highly-qualified experts from different spheres who provide technical assistance and consulting services to non-governmental organizations, municipalities, and small and medium enterprises. Evrobalkani affirms the values of civil society and equal opportunity and actively works for the social and economic integration of the Balkans in the European Union.

The organization started its activities with the EU pre-accession programmes on cross-border cooperation in the Balkans; we expanded our activities with the public and private sectors under the EU Operational Programmes in Bulgaria on projects related to regional development, environmental protection, educational  exchanges, the creation of youth networks, and the inclusion of vulnerable communities (migrants, people with disabilities, disadvantaged children).  Evrobalkani has accumulated extensive grant writing and project coordination experience with EU-funded initiatives. Evrobalkani maintains an active network of partnerships with organizations across the EU old and new member states as well as the candidate countries.

Evrobalkani has worked in multiple cross-border initiatives in South-Eastern Europe with local governments and civil society organisations from Bulgaria, Greece, Turkey, Macedonia, Serbia, and Romania aimed at facilitating inter-cultural dialogue and the European integration process. Our experts have regularly worked on initiatives supporting the development and competitiveness of small and medium enterprises, the creation of employment opportunities at the local level and for disadvantaged communities, the cross-border exchange of best practices in health, education, and social policies as well as gender equality and the inclusion of marginalized groups. Our Team has extensive teaching and presentation experience as well as completed coursework on international migration issues, multicultural diasporas, and the treatment of immigration detainees. Evrobalkani has developed and coordinated projects with municipalities in Bulgaria to re-socialise people with disabilities by creating hourly and full-time employment for them at tourist sites and municipal visitor centres. In addition, Evrobalkani has worked in multiple cross-border initiatives in South-Eastern Europe with local governments and civil society organisations from Bulgaria, Greece, Turkey, Macedonia, Serbia, and Romania aimed at the creation of tourism products adapted for travellers with disabilities. We also recently participated in regional project under Erasmus+ with the participation of trainees from 6 partner countries. The project activities included two eight-day training events on the topic of “migration and inclusion” in Berlin and Amsterdam, connected with a five-month try-out and evaluation period of non-formal educational methods and best practice in all partner countries.