Integrated regional development and municipal security: analysis of synergies and challenges in Bulgaria

Abstract

The article analyzes the interrelationship between regional development policies (implemented through the Integrated Regional Development Plan (IRDP)/Integrated Territorial Development Plan (ITDP)) and the enhancement of municipal security in Bulgaria. The objective is to identify synergies where development investments simultaneously function as security and resilience measures. The methodology is based on documentary and comparative analysis of Bulgarian and European strategic frameworks. Clear synergies are established in the areas of infrastructure resilience, social inclusion, environmental risk, and cybersecurity. Key challenges observed include institutional fragmentation, poor coordination, financial deficit, and the lack of a unified methodology for measuring the "security effect." The conclusion is that security must be treated as a horizontal priority across all axes of the IRDPs/ITDPs.