The need for changes in the administrative-territorial division in the Republic of Bulgaria in the context of its membership in the European Union

Abstract

The present study examines the main features of the implemented regional policy in the Republic of Bulgaria. The main stages of its implementation are followed. Its relationship with the separate administrative-territorial divisions is being established. The peculiarities of the spatial planning of the country, which was conducted with the purpose of rational development of the territory, are considered. In its history, the country's ATD is constantly changing. In the present study, in a chronological way, the ideas on the division of the country into separate territorial units - municipality, district, planning regions, (statistical regions) are being chronologically analyzed. Due to the ongoing acute demographic crisis and the lack of economic and administrative capacity of individual territorial units, their consolidation is necessary. The opportunities for this process are outlined. In recent years, in connection with the country's membership in the EU and the requirements for absorption of European funding, it is necessary to consolidate the statistical regions in the country. The different options, as well as their advantages and disadvantages are mentioned.