Another EUR 109 million will be invested in the cross-border region between Bulgaria and Romania under the cross-border cooperation program

The Road Infrastructure Agency has two approved projects for the rehabilitation of over 17 km of national roads in Northern Bulgaria

More than EUR 109 million will be invested under the Interreg V-A Romania-Bulgaria 2014-2020 Program in the border region between the two countries. This was announced at the tenth meeting of the European Cross-Border Program Monitoring Committee, which took place in Veliko Tarnovo. It was co-chaired by Denitsa Nikolova, Deputy Minister of Regional Development and Public Works. At the meeting, a total of 74 new projects were approved between partners from both countries within the third call for proposals.

“The cross-border cooperation program between Bulgaria and Romania is one of the key programs for territorial development of the border region on both banks of the Danube and has a positive effect on the regions. By means of this program, we support economic growth and employment in border areas,” the Deputy Regional Minister said.

Denitsa Nikolova noted that two of the approved projects have been drafted by the Road Infrastructure Agency and concern the rehabilitation of important road sections in North and Northwest Bulgaria, which is of great importance for the interconnectivity. Nearly EUR 4 million will be invested in the rehabilitation of about 10 km from the third-class road Gulyantsi - Dolna Mitropolia in the region of Pleven. The second project is worth nearly EUR 3 million and envisages the modernization of a 7.7 km section of road II-81 Kostinbrod-Berkovitsa-Montana, which will provide access from Berkovitsa to transport corridor IV.

The approved projects also include Improvement of Joint Action for Emergency Response of the General Directorate Fire Safety and Protection of Population, which will be funded by more than EUR 1 million. With over EUR 3 million, Executive Agency Maritime Administration will set up Emergency Rescue Centers in Ruse, Lom and Turnu Magurele for the purpose of preventing and overcoming disasters related to Danube navigation.

“We have witnessed serious interest and a large number of bidders on that call. This is a real indicator of the fact that the program provides excellent opportunities for institutions and organizations in the cross-border region to implement their ideas for coping with common challenges. Moreover, the projects are of high quality,” Deputy Minister Nikolova said. She noted that through their joint program and cooperation Romania and Bulgaria have shown that together they can achieve more.

“The impact on regional development and territorial cohesion is already positive. The program has proven its importance and significance for the development of the cross-border region,” Deputy Minister Nikolova noted. She added that within the presidency of the EU Council, Bulgaria was working to promote and preserve cohesion policy. “The Bulgarian Presidency has focused its effort on holding a fair and open political debate on the future of the Cohesion Policy and maintaining its important role beyond 2020. With regard to territorial cohesion, we believe that the Cohesion Policy must maintain its long-term investment nature, while increasing the resources for less developed regions, improving shared management, strengthening and enhancing local capacity to implement territorial instruments, and using financial instruments,” she said.