PEER REVIEW VISIT IN VARAŽDIN

On October 3-4, 2025, the Bulgarian partners in Be Ready, Sofia Development Association and Bureau for Integration and Social Innovations, visited the city of Varazdin for a peer review of the local pilot.

The intervention chosen by the city was implemented at Mali plac, a small urban square in Varaždin, identified as one of the city’s urban heat islands in the city’s vulnerability and risk assessment report, part of Be Ready’s UHI assessment methodology. The selected area is a residential zone, with brick and panel apartment buildings from the 1980s and 1990s. The location had not undergone any investment or upgrade since its construction, which had left the space outdated, lacking shade, with very little green coverage. Due to the lack of greenery and adequate infrastructure, the square is exposed to excessive heat during the summer months, creating uncomfortable and often unsafe conditions for citizens, especially for vulnerable groups such as the elderly and children.
Within the framework of the BeReady project, the Development Agency North, in cooperation with the City of Varaždin, designed and executed the intervention based on “white measures” aimed at mitigating the urban heat island effect. The intervention included the construction of three new canopies providing much-needed shade during peak summer heat. The space was additionally equipped with new urban furniture such as benches, tables, and swings, making it more attractive, functional, and user-friendly for the local community. New solar panels will be installed and will provide lighting of the canopies.

The peer review visit coincided with a public launching event at the pilot site, which brought together many residents, stakeholder organizations (such as the Faculty of Geotechnical Engineering, the Faculty of Science (University of Zagreb), the Red Cross, the Institute for Spatial Planning of Varaždin County, HEP – Croatian Electricity Company, the Architects’ Association of Varaždin, Parkovi Varaždin (municipal company for green areas), and the Regional Energy Agency. The mayor of the city also attended, reaffirming the city authorities' committment to continue the efforts for making Varaždin more climate change resilient.

It is estimated that around 2,000 people will benefit directly from the improved microclimate and infrastructure during the summer months, while the indirect benefits extend to the wider community of Varaždin by providing a model for climate adaptation that can be replicated in other neighborhoods.

The approach applied at Mali plac is relatively simple, low-cost, and easily replicable; it is in line with Be Ready’s methodology for testing acupuncture measures to address UHI effects. Similar interventions — such as installing shading structures and equipping public spaces with basic urban furniture — can be implemented across different neighborhoods in the city. By targeting other identified urban heat islands, the municipality can gradually improve microclimate conditions throughout Varaždin, creating a network of cooler, more comfortable public spaces that directly benefit residents and visitors alike.

Be Ready is an INTERREG Danube Region project co-financed by the European Union.

THE FINAL CONFERENCE OF THE GENDERED COALITION PROJECT BROUGHT TOGETHER OVER 140 PARTICIPANTS IN PARIS AND ONLINE

On September 29, 2025, the international closing conference “Disinformation, Gender and AI: The Power of Media and Information Literacy” was held at the Research Center of Sorbonne Nouvelle University in Paris. The event marked the culmination of the GenderED Coalition Project, carried out with the support of the Creative Europe programme, and highlighted the collaboration with the partner project Algowatch.

The conference gathered more than 140 participants – both in person and online – including experts, activists, educators, and representatives of institutions from across Europe. The programme presented the results of both projects: the MOOC, the Community of Practice, media campaigns developed by each partner, and other exhibition materials aimed at enhancing media and information literacy and fostering a more inclusive digital society.

The Sofia Development Association co-organized the event. Among the speakers was Avel Ivanov, a young Bulgarian teacher at a school of philosophy, politics, and society, who joined a panel discussion on the role of education and the media in tackling disinformation.

“Today, young people are thrown into complex technological systems and online worlds that are difficult to navigate. The content that girls and boys receive is fundamentally different and often reinforces ideas about the ‘proper’ type of masculinity and femininity,” Ivanov noted, emphasizing the need for targeted efforts to promote media literacy and critical thinking among adolescents.

During the discussions, experts stressed the importance of combining educational approaches, policies, and technological solutions to counter disinformation and to promote gender equality in the digital environment.

The results and resources developed by the GenderED Coalition Project will remain available to all interested teachers, students, communities, and organizations seeking to advance media literacy and build resilience against disinformation.

CHISINAU AND GALATI REPRESENTATIVES VISIT MUZEIKO AS SOFIA GOOD PRACTICE FOR CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION

As part of a peer review exchange under the Be Ready Project, implemented in the framework of Interreg Danube Programme and co-financed by the European Commission, municipal representatives from Chisinau (Moldova) and Galati (Romania) visited Sofia to explore urban strategies for adapting to rising temperatures and mitigating urban heat.

A key highlight of the exchange was the visit to Muzeiko – Sofia’s Municipal Children's Science Center. The center, designed with sustainability at its core, provided an inspiring look at how educational institutions can contribute to climate awareness. Through engaging exhibitions on climate change, ecology, and sustainability, curated by scientists, educators, and designers, Muzeiko fosters curiosity and environmental responsibility among young visitors.

Muzeiko also presented its green roof, and shared insights on developing climate shelters, rain gardens, and other sustainable urban infrastructure. The center's integrated sustainable management serves as a model for future climate adaptation efforts.

The exchange highlighted strong potential for transnational replication of Sofia’s good practices, contributing to a more climate-resilient Danube Region through shared learning and collaboration.

This project is supported by the Interreg Danube Region Programme co-funded by the European Union.

PEER REVIEW HIGHLIGHTS CLIMATE ADAPTATION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IN SOFIA

In a collaborative step towards building more resilient cities, representatives from the Municipality of Chișinău and the Association for the Development of Galați visited Sofia for a peer review focused on climate adaptation. Hosted by Sofia Development Association, the visit provided partners with an up-close look at Sofia's pilot project—an innovative initiative aimed at transforming urban infrastructure while fostering community participation. Located near Lion’s Bridge - a densely built urban area particularly vulnerable to the urban heat island effect, the pilot involves the renovation of a municipal building yard into a climate refuge, a public space designed to mitigate heat stress through urban greening, shade structures, water features, and accessible seating. The pilot project is implemented in the framework of Be Ready project, Interreg Danube Programme, co-funded by the European Union.

The site serves not only as a cool zone during extreme heat but also as a model for integrating sustainable urban design with public engagement. The pilot project highlights how rethinking underused municipal spaces can contribute meaningfully to climate resilience.

A key highlight of the peer review visit was the dialogue with local leaders and changemakers. Partners from Chișinău and Galați held fruitful exchanges with Sofia Municipal Councilors Ekaterina Yordanova, SDA board chairperson, Sevdelina Petrova, and Tsvetelina Zarkin, with Serdika District Mayor Momchil Daskalov and Deputy Mayor Dilyana Stoyanova, who shared insights into the local governance and policy efforts enabling such climate adaptation projects. These discussions emphasized the critical role of local political will and cross-sector collaboration in implementing sustainable urban solutions. Decision-makers underscored the importance of aligning municipal priorities with both climate goals and community needs.

The visit also celebrated the contribution of young artists from the Knot studio, whose public artworks now animate the climate refuge space. Their installations not only beautify the area but also serve as storytelling elements that engage the local population in climate awareness.

The project has brought together a diverse network of stakeholders, including B'Cause Foundation, CleanTech Bulgaria, Green Sofia, and JTI, illustrating how the private sector and civil society can support municipal efforts. These partnerships strengthen the pilot’s impact and open doors to future scalability and replication in other urban settings.

Volunteers and local residents have also been involved in shaping the space, reinforcing the idea that community engagement is essential in the success and longevity of climate adaptation efforts. The peer review affirmed that tackling the challenges of urban heat requires more than technical solutions; it demands inclusive planning, artistic expression, political commitment, and cross-border learning.

As cities across Europe face mounting climate pressures, such exchanges highlight the power of shared knowledge and solidarity in building more livable, resilient urban environments.

To stay informed, please visit the website and the social media accounts of the BeReady project: website (https://interreg-danube.eu/projects/be-ready ), Facebook https://www.facebook.com/bereadyprojecteu, LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/beready-project/.    

Be Ready is an INTERREG Danube Region project co-financed by the European Union.

EXPERTS GATHERED ACROSS EUROPE FOR SUCCESSFUL HYBRID SYMPOSIUM ON INCLUSIVE LABOUR MARKETS

On 18 September 2025, a dynamic hybrid symposium successfully brought together over 90 participants - including European policymakers, researchers, practitioners, and experts - to explore strategies for closing the labour market gap and fostering inclusion for vulnerable groups across Europe. Held as part of the EU Horizon Еurope Synclusive project, the event facilitated rich discussions, hands-on workshops, and cross-European knowledge exchange.

The Synclusive project aims to develop, implement, and evaluate an integrated, interdisciplinary systems approach to support the inflow, retention, and career development of vulnerable populations in the labour market. This symposium served as a key milestone in that effort.

The symposium opened with a keynote lecture by Agnès Parent-Thirion, Senior Research Manager at Eurofound and a leading expert on job quality and working conditions. In her presentation, titled “Job Quality of Vulnerable Groups: Towards Sustainable and Inclusive Employment?”, she explored the structural factors influencing the employment prospects of marginalized populations and emphasized the importance of sustainable job quality for long-term inclusion. The case study of Amersfoort was also presented in-depth.

Following that, participants engaged in one of three parallel online workshops, each focused on sharing best practices and actionable insights drawn from across Europe, including the Synclusive living labs in Netherlands, Finland, Bulgaria, and Portugal.

“Building Strong Local Coalitions” workshop examined how local governments, NGOs, employers, and community organisations have successfully collaborated to implement inclusive labour market strategies at the regional level.

“Developing and Testing Labour Market Interventions” discussed innovative labour market interventions that had been piloted and tested — highlighting key successes, challenges, and lessons learned for future implementation.

“Barriers and Drivers for People Aged 50+” provided new insights into the drivers and barriers affecting labour market participation among vulnerable individuals aged 50 and above, with a focus on tailored strategies to improve engagement and retention.

With over 30 participants on-site and more than 60 attending online, the symposium fostered a collaborative environment where participants exchanged practical tools, shared local experiences, and built connections across borders. The event highlighted the importance of a system-level, inclusive approach to employment and strengthened the European community working toward fairer and more sustainable labour markets.

The symposium was wrapped up by Irma … with EC’s DG Employment, who shared her impressions how Synclusive contributes to the Commission’s current initiatives, including the forthcoming first Anti-Poverty Strategy. She emphasized the importance of tailored approach, of sustainable funding and of success stories, among other factors.

The symposium marked an important step forward in driving inclusive employment strategies and reinforcing European collaboration for systemic change.

For more information about Synclusive and its upcoming activities, visit https://synclusiveproject.eu and follow us on LinkedIn and X.