14.04.2022

UNDER THE PROGRAM FOR COOPERATION WITH ROMANIA, 8 BULGARIAN DISTRICTS WITH ACCESS TO OVER 207 MILLION EUROS FOR DEVELOPMENT

The Council of Ministers approved the draft Interreg VI-A Romania-Bulgaria 2021-2027 Cross-Border Cooperation Program. The total budget is 207.5m euros.

Of these, 163.5 million euros are provided by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The program will fund joint projects under four priorities: "Well Connected Region", "Greener Region", "More Educated Region" and "Integrated Territorial Development", the government's press service said.

The program territory of Interreg VI-A Romania - Bulgaria 2021 - 2027 covers eight Bulgarian districts - Vidin, Montana, Vratsa, Pleven, Veliko Tarnovo, Ruse, Silistra and Dobrich. On the Romanian side, it includes seven Romanian regions - Constanta, Calarasi, Giurgiu, Teleorman, Dolj, Mehedinţi and Olt.

Beneficiaries can be national, regional and local authorities, universities, research centers, associations, non-governmental organizations, civic associations and networks and others.

The main goal of the program is to ensure sustainable and innovative growth of the regions, in accordance with the new EU cohesion policy for the period 2021-2027. The set goals are in line with the European vision for sustainable development in the implementation of regional policy, including the Territorial Agenda 2030, the European Green Pact and others.

The program is to be sent for approval by the European Commission.