The project offers a joint integrated approach for the whole Romania-Bulgaria cross-border area and it addresses a functional area; in this way, the project goes beyond the constraints imposed by national boundaries. Taking a holistic approach, and taking into account the economic, social and environmental elements, the strategic nature of the project is highlighted in the proposed activities:

• Identify elements of potential
• identify the main issues/ sectorial fields of analysis,
• building a database
• developing a strategy for the whole cross-border area,
• finding ways of cooperation between authorities and citizens, all relevant stakeholders on both sides of the Danube.

The project defines and builds the framework for cooperation in order to facilitate the use/exploitation of the territorial capital with the purpose to facilitate competitiveness and innovation for the entire program area, and also to protect and improve the environment and furthermore, the project helps define the next financial period (2014-2020) for both countries by identifying and prioritizing high-impact interventions to a cross-border area in the context of the European Union development and of the promoted priorities.

The administrative territory analyzed in the project includes:

• Seven counties in Romania: Mehedinți, Dolj, Olt, Teleorman, Giurgiu, Călărași, Constanța;
• nine districts in Bulgaria: Vidin, Vratsa, Montana, Pleven, VelikoTarnovo, Ruse, Silistra, Dobrich and Razgrad.

Cross-border impact

The project would ensure a coherent and integrated approach of the lower stream of the Danube, an area that includes one of the longest borders in Europe, with a 610 km frontier out of which 470 km on the Danube, a structuring element at European level. Furthermore, the project would ensure continuity and would set the basis for a transnational development strategy for the entire Danube. The project, drafted at NUTS III level, addresses an area of 71 930 sq km out of which 54.66 % is Romanian territory.

The project contributes to attaining the objectives of the Operational Programme for Cross-border cooperation 2007 – 2013 Romania-Bulgaria by mobilizing people, communities and economies from the Romanian – Bulgarian cross-border area in order to develop common projects of cross-border cooperation by using the resources of both countries. The strategy aims to create a common framework, a common vision for a territory that has common characteristics and challenges.

The lead partner is the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Administration, Romania (link which leads to the partners’ presentation box.)

The 11 project partners from Romania and Bulgaria are: (link to each partner which leads to the partners’ presentation box.)

1. Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works (Bulgaria)
2. ARIES-Oltenia (Romania)
3. Europroject (Romania)
4. National Administration of land reclamation (Romania)
5. District Administration – Pleven (Bulgaria)
6. Human Resources Development Agency-Ruse (Bulgaria)
7. BusinessSuportCenter for Small and Medium Enterprises (Bulgaria)
8. ASDE-Ecoregions (Bulgaria)
9. Bulgarian Association for Alternative Tourism (Bulgaria)
10. VelikoTarnovoMunicipality (Bulgaria)
11. Association of Danube River Municipalities (Bulgaria)

Total value of the project: 6.813.222,50 EUR

The objectives taken into account are the following:

•  Realize a comprehensive evaluation of the social, economic and territorial cohesion and economic competitiveness of the Romanian-Bulgarian Cross-Border area
•  Elaborate the Territorial Development Strategy for the sustainable spatial and economic development of the Romanian-Bulgarian Cross-Border area
•  Setting up a comprehensive and operational territorial database for the Romanian-Bulgarian Cross-Border area
•  Developing and implementing efficient and sustainable territorial monitoring instruments
•  Developing and implementing relevant pilot projects as a major input for further a durable implementation
•  Rising awareness in the Romanian-Bulgarian Cross-Border area for common problems and sustainable solutions in the area and for an efficient promotion of the region

 

Target groups

• Central and local public administration represents the bodies with responsibility in spatial and urban planning in Romania and Bulgaria, so they have a key role in the implementation of the territorial strategy.
• Business environment and other relevant stakeholders bring financial potential from the private area, in order to increase the budget for some public interventions.
• Research institutions and universities represent one of the most important target groups, which can offer innovative ways for the future development.
• Civil society represents a key point in ensuring the success of the project.