Methodological Aspects of Strategic Regional Planning for Achieving Sustainable Development in Bulgaria

Abstract

The publication explores the possibilities for integrating the global goals for sustainable development in Bulgaria’s strategic regional planning process. The authors consider the concept of achieving sustainable development in its strategic aspect. The scholars’ thesis is that strategic planning plays a crucial role in the regions’ future and is a reliable tool in their transition to sustainable development. The integration of sustainable development goals begins at the planning stage at national, regional, and local levels. In the study, the authors examine the United Nations Agenda 2030—Sustainable Development Goals and the new European consensus on the development ‘Our World, Our Dignity, Our Future.’ The author’s team also studies the legal framework and institutionalization of sustainable development in Bulgaria at the beginning of the XXI century. Current strategic documents for regional development are assessed for their compliance with the Global Sustainable Development Goals. To this end, the research team investigates the current strategic framework for regional development and conducts it, focusing on the environmental dimension of sustainability. The effective use of sustainable development opportunities is a proper perspective for regional policy in achieving maximum dynamics for socio-economic development in Bulgaria and its participation in building a competitive European economy based on knowledge and innovation.