The Union of the Bulgarian Black Sea Local Authorities (UBBSLA) is an independent non-governmental, voluntary, self-governing and non-profit organization established as a juridical person in 1992 by 7 municipalities. The Union has been re-registered in accordance with the Law on juridical non-for profit persons in 2002, as organization, acting to public benefit for an indefinite period of time. The Union can take up and pursue activities in the country and abroad in compliance with the relevant local legislation.
As a Municipal Association, the UBBSLA operates within the context of the Local Self- government and Local Administration Act which allows the municipalities “For protection of the common interests thereof and for promotion and development of local self– government, municipalities may form a national association and regional associations."
The UBBSLA has built a regional network of Bulgarian Black Sea municipalities and has begun to develop as a regional union of local authorities, offering services and representing its members" interests thus contributing for evolvement of competent local authorities and creation of proper legal environment necessary for municipal development.
At the moment, the Union of the Bulgarian Black Sea Local Authorities unites 21 municipalities bordering the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast, namely: Avren, Aksakovo, Balchik, Beloslav, Bourgas, Byala, Varna, Valchi dol, Dalgopol, Devnya, Dobrich, Dolni chiflik, Kavarna, Malko Tarnovo, Nessebar, Pomorie, Primorsko, Sozopol, Souvorovo, Shabla and Tsarevo, located in three administrative regions – Bourgas, Varna and Dobrich.
The main principles of the UBBSLA’ activities are VOLUNTARY AND EQUALITY.
The UBBSLA has been established in order to:
• Organize member municipalities’ efforts for solving problems- common for the Black Sea Region;
• Coordinate municipalities’ activities in the fields of self-government, economics, science, ecology, tourism, culture, transport, communications, etc.;
• Participate in programs and projects for preserving the Black Sea environmental equilibrium;
• Coordinate information flow among its member municipalities and from the region to Europe and the world;
• Ensure co-ordination in commercial and cultural activities among its members.