Opportunities for the Establishment of an Intermediate Level of Regional Governance on the Territory of Bulgaria

This article is devoted to the consideration of some territorial and spatial problems in the Republic of Bulgaria. The focus of the research and analysis is the administrative-territorial authorities and the assessment of the planning areas in the country. The work sets out certain views and options for targeted spatial planning policies at the level of planning districts. A position is expressed on the possibility of taking steps to introduce an intermediate level of regional governance in Bulgaria, as well as the introduction of a second level of self-government. Proposals have been made to restructure planning districts and turn them into administrative management bodies to improve state governance and effective implementation of regional policies. It is argued that a change in the functional structure in the vertical hierarchy of governance can set a new positive moment in governance to strengthen the effectiveness of regional development. In the presentation the author has presented relevant conclusions and perspectives for urban areas and agglomerations, as well as the role of the Bulgarian village within the municipalities. Some new trends in regional development related to the spatial development of our national territory have been captured, which have a debatable character, but also need pragmatic solutions for the planning areas.