From 3 to 5 June 2025, representatives of the management and implementation team of the LIFE22-IPC-BG-LIFE-SIP CLIMA-SUMP project took part in a training seminar on the topic "Green Public Procurement and the Social Climate Fund", held in the city of Ruse.

The aim of the training seminar was to enhance administrative capacity and raise awareness on key topics related to the opportunities for green public procurement and the Social Climate Fund. The training covered:

• The main principles and product groups in green public procurement, as well as practices for their implementation in the context of municipal activities;
• The EU Social Climate Fund – a new instrument aimed at supporting vulnerable households, micro-enterprises, and transport users in the context of the climate transition. The fund will be implemented over the 2026–2032 period, with a maximum budget of EUR 65 billion from the EU. Each Member State is required to develop a Social Climate Plan in consultation with local and regional authorities, social partners, and civil society. In addition, Member States must contribute at least 25% of the expected total costs of their national plans.

Participation in the seminar was essential for gaining up-to-date knowledge about new funding mechanisms for the green transition. Green public procurement and the Social Climate Fund are important tools for implementing sustainable policies in transport, energy, and the building sector, and should be more systematically integrated into the governance of Sofia Municipality.