SJIF Impact Factor: 7.001| ISI I.F.Value:1.241| Journal DOI: 10.36713/epra2016 ISSN: 2455-7838(Online) EPRA International Journal of Research and Development (IJRD) Volume: 5 | Issue: 11 | November 2020 - Peer Reviewed Journal 2020 EPRA IJRD | Journal DOI: https://doi.org/10.36713/epra2016 | www.eprajournals.com |1 | FEATURES OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE-TERRITORIAL DEVELOPMENT IN BULGARIA Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kamen Petrov Vice Dean in Faculty Management and Administration, Department Regional Development University of National and World Economy, Sofia, Bulgaria Article DOI: https://doi.org/10.36713/epra5498 ABSTRACT Knowledge of socio-economic processes for the realization of the state will determine the course and their division of the territory of the administrative-territorial and territorial units. Planning and construction of each administrative unit must meet the structural limits, requirements, parameters and characteristics peculiar to themselves socio-economic processes. Territorial unity and socio-economic development is implemented in line between the territorial scope of ATU, on the one hand, and the boundaries of socio-economic impact of public policies in the territories of another. It ranks among the administrative territorial unit active and important elements of the development of public relations . KEY WORDS: territory, state, structure, administration, development INTRODUCTION In the modern nation-state, the administrative- territorial structure is a key element of the organization of the state and public administration. Bulgaria is located in Southeast Europe and has a predominant local self-government. The region is an administrative territorial unit for conducting regional policy, implementing public administration at the local level and ensuring the concurrence of national and local interests. Figure 1. Geographical position of Bulgaria Source: Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Geographical Institute The territorial structure to a large extent determines the significance of all ongoing life processes in the state organism. It includes the division of the territory into administrative-territorial