The Voice of the People: Stara Zagora Region is thinking about its future

11/04/2025

Pol.is campaign launched - join the conversation about the region's tomorrow

How do the citizens of Stara Zagora, Kazanlak, Galabovo, Radnevo, Chirpan, Gurkovo and surrounding settlements imagine the future of the region? What priorities do they see as most important for sustainable development? Starting today, everyone who lives in or feels connected to Stara Zagora can join a large-scale electronic discussion through the Pol.is platform Pol.is, part of the activities of the European project DUST (Democratic jUst Sustainability Transitions)..

From a live dialogue to a digital platform

On 18 March 2025, in the cosy atmosphere of the Hotel “Efiir”, Stara Zagora gathered active citizens, experts, young people and enthusiasts during the inspiring seminar “The Voice of the People: Ideas for the Future”. The meeting was part of the preparations for the launch of the Pol.is campaign - an online tool for e-democracy that allows participants to express their opinions, vote and see where their opinions match or diverge from those of others.

A highlight of the event was the visual scenario of the future - an image of a human head enveloped by grey smoke but with a bright green ‘crown’ of vegetation. Provocative and evocative, this symbol opened up a number of conversations - about the industrial past and a sustainable future, about the need for young people to return and about the potential for the region to become a place of innovation and green growth.

What are we discussing at Pol.is?

The Pol.is platform is already active and offers a wide range of topics formulated on the basis of the workshop discussions. These include:

🎓 Connecting education with the real needs of the economy
🌍 Green mobility as a solution for a cleaner and more connected region
🌐 The impact of digitalization on young people
🧠 The region's potential as a digital and innovation hub
🏙️ Ideas for bringing young people back to their hometowns

Participation is completely anonymous, , without the need for registration and accessible from any device. All it takes is a few clicks to make your voice heard and support ideas you think are important.

🔗 🔗 Join the discussion here: http://stz-utre.bk.tudelft.nl/

Why is it important?

The project DUST Project aims to create mechanisms for more effective citizen participation in policy making, especially in regions that are experiencing economic and social transition. Through the use of innovative tools such as Pol.is, people's voices can not only be heard, but actually taken into account in local and regional decision-making.

Stara Zagora is one of the pilot regions in Europe where this approach is being tested. This makes the involvement of the local community even more crucial - you are forming a role model..

Together we can do more

The young participants of the workshop called for more online forms of participation - where they feel active and engaged. Adults were reminded that physical meetings have their irreplaceable value. Pol.is brings these two worlds together, providing a platform for dialogue that respects all perspectives.

Don't miss the opportunity to be part of the change! The future of Stara Zagora and the region starts with us!

The DUST project is funded by Horizon Europe.
Learn more at: www.dustproject.eu
More about Pol.is: DUST uses Pol.is