Representatives of the local community gathered to discuss the opportunities and challenges facing rural areas, with a particular focus on the Municipality of Gotse Delchev. The event brought together a wide range of stakeholders, including local authorities represented by the Chairperson of the Municipal Council, village mayors, directors of educational institutions, long-standing partners, the Local Action Group Gotse Delchev–Garmen–Hadzhidimovo, the Labor Office, the Youth Center – Gotse Delchev, active community centres and digital hubs, businesses, NGOs, and citizens.

The workshop aimed to explore new local policies that could create favourable conditions for attracting remote workers to the region. Participants recognised emerging trends in flexible working arrangements as an important opportunity for the revitalisation and sustainable development of the municipality.

Attendees were presented with the results of surveys and interviews conducted with people already working remotely in Gotse Delchev Municipality and across Bulgaria. They also discussed the common challenges shared by all project partners from the Danube region—Slovenia, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Austria, Serbia, Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herzegovina—including rural depopulation, the migration of young people in search of better career opportunities and higher incomes, limited accessibility, and underdeveloped social services.

The participants highlighted the municipality's many strengths:

• High standards of education and childcare,
• Modernised educational and healthcare infrastructure, STEM centres in schools, and forward-looking curricula such as robotics, programming, informatics, artificial intelligence, electric vehicles, and environmental studies.
• Proximity to beautiful natural surroundings,
• Peaceful and safe living environment,
• Rich cultural heritage, vibrant local events, strong traditions,
• and an open and welcoming attitude towards newcomers.

Participants engaged in lively discussions on potential solutions, partnerships, resource sharing, and joint initiatives. 5 key topics were discussed:

• Infrastructure,
• Local Green Policy,
• Wellbeing,
• Culture and Education
• and Housing.

They emphasized the importance of involving all stakeholders in shaping local policies based on a shared vision and practical actions aimed at improving the quality of life in Gotse Delchev Municipality and creating a supportive environment for remote workers. One realistic and promising solution identified was the development of a network of co-working places supported by up-to-date information and services.

Further meetings, consultations, and discussions are planned in the coming months.

The event was organised by Business Incubator – Gotse Delchev, Entrepreneurship Promotion Centre within the framework of the Interreg Danube4Rural.com Project. The solutions generated through this initiative will be pilot-tested, adapted, and integrated into a comprehensive model for attracting highly qualified remote workers to rural areas.