The overall objective of the project is to improve the safety of river Danube navigability for the whole length of the CBC area.

5,699,612.87 euro, out of which 4,844,670.93 euro ERDF

Lead Beneficiary (LB): Executive Agency "Maritime Administration" (Bulgaria)

Beneficiary 2 (B2): Romanian Naval Authority (Romania)

Start date: 15.09.2018

End date: 14.10.2022

Duration: 49 months

Montana and Ruse in Bulgaria

Constanta, Giurgiu and Teleorman in Romania                                                                   

• Development of preliminary study and data collection
• Development of common technical specifications for transport safety IT tool
• Establishment of Emergency response centers in Bulgaria and Romania
• Development of action plan joint based on reciprocity and competencies between EAMA and RNA. The action plan will cover the processes of cooperation and collaboration between the two partnering institutions in the scope of their competencies. The action plan will improve the time for reaction and will increase the level of coordination between partners in risk situations disturbing the transport safety on the Danube river including the area were getting in to the Black sea.

Programme outputs:

1 study, strategy, and action plan to improve safety of the navigation on the Danube and the Black Sea supported;

470 km total length of new and improved inland waterway;

Programme results: 100 % of the RO-BG CBC Danube length and Black Sea where safety of the navigation has been improved. 

The project is finalized.

LB purchased two multipurpose non-self-propelled crafts in Bulgaria in July 2022 and one is located in Lom and the other one is located in Ruse, where were established two “Emergency response centers in Bulgaria". On 7^th October 2022 was organized the final press conference on behalf of LB in Ruse, Bulgaria.

B2 purchased two multipurpose and multifunctional crafts in May 2021 and one is located in Bechet and the other one is located in Giurgiu. Also, finalized the establishment of “Emergency response center in Romania” in Constanta, Romania. On 12^th of October 2022 was organized the final press conference on behalf of B2 in Constanta, Romania.

Within the project, the web platform: https://danubesafety.net/ was developed. On the website are provided details related to the tasks of the beneficiaries and information regarding the improvement of the safety services of naval transport.

The Action Plan for Joint Emergency and Rescue Operations between the "Maritime Administration" Executive Agency and the Romanian Naval Authority in the Bulgarian-Romanian area of the Danube was developed. The joint action plan addresses the specific incidents occurring in the common Bulgarian-Romanian section of the Danube river, which requires joint actions with the use of delivered equipment under the project to LB and B2.

To cover the risk prevention management and to solve potential and existing problems in these areas by using the joint forces of the two neighboring countries instead of each country using only its own resources.

800,216.15 euro, out of which 680,183.72 euro ERDF

Lead Beneficiary (LB): Dobrichka Municipality Administration (BG)

Beneficiary 2 (B2): Calarasi County Emergency Situations Inspectorate “Barbu Știrbei” (RO)

Start date: 13.03.2019

End date: 12.12.2022

Duration: 45 months

Dobrich in Bulgaria

Calarasi in Romania

• 1 Strategy and Action plan for common activities against the flood and other natural disaster
• 1 Joint network of partners for joint early warning and emergency response, including 1 action plan;
• Purchase and equipment delivery for Dobrichka Municipality for mitigate the negative impact of the natural and other disasters;
• Purchasing of specific equipment for Calarasi Emergency Situations Inspectorate.

Programme outputs:

456.859 persons benefiting from actions of risk management

456.859 persons benefiting from flood protection measures

11 joint partnerships signed in the field of joint early warning and emergency response

Programme results:

456.859 persons will benefit by the quality of the joint risk management in the CBC area

The project was finalized on 12.12.2022. The following results were achieved during the project implementation:

1. In regard to implementation of WP I1 “Purchase and equipment delivery for Dobrichka Municipality for mitigate the negative impact of the natural and other disasters” on behalf of the LB, the tender procedure for purchase of equipment was finalized by signing the contracts for 5 lots for purchase of specific equipment on 13.05.2021. The equipment have been already delivered and accepted by the LB, as follows:

a) For Lot 1 “Acquisition of Roller container with gasoline generator and pneumatic telescopic hook installed in it” – the equipment was delivered and accepted by the Lead Beneficiary on 17.02.2022;

b) For Lot 2 “Acquisition of Drone” – the equipment was delivered on 24.08.2021 and accepted by the Lead Beneficiary on 25.08.2021;

c) For Lot 3 “Acquisition of Specialized fire and rescue equipment” – the equipment was delivered and accepted by the Lead Beneficiary on 17.02.2022;

d) For Lot 4 “Acquisition of Inflatable boat with outboard engine and echo sounder” – the equipment was delivered and accepted by the Lead Beneficiary on 27.09.2021;

e) For Lot 5 “Acquisition of All-terrain vehicles” – the equipment was delivered on 24.08.2021 and accepted by the Lead Beneficiary on 25.08.2021.

2. In regard to implementation of WP I2 “Purchasing of specific equipment for Calarasi Emergency Situations Inspectorate” on behalf of B3, the contracts for equipment purchase have been signed and the equipment was delivered to the beneficiary as follows:

a) Contract from 03.09.2019 for purchase of intervention vehicle. The equipment was delivered to the beneficiary on 06.09.2019;

b) Contract from 11.11.2020 for purchase of network server with operating system license. The equipment was delivered to the beneficiary on 23.11.2020;

c) Contract from 11.11.2020 for purchase of workstations with operating system license and Office type package licenses. The equipment was delivered to the beneficiary on 23.11.2020;

d) Contract from 11.11.2020 for purchase of office package licenses. The equipment was delivered to the beneficiary on 23.11.2020;

e) Contract form 11.11.2020 for purchase of external video surveillance system. The equipment was delivered to the beneficiary on 25.01.2021;

f) Contract from 07.01.2021 for purchase of wall screen. The equipment was delivered to the beneficiary on 27.01.2021;

g) Contract from 06.10.2021 for purchase of UPS 10 000 VA and UPS Workstation. The equipment was delivered to the beneficiary on 25.10.2021 and 26.10.2021;

h) Contract from 06.10.2021 for purchase of display panel, monitors and video projector. The equipment was delivered to the beneficiary on 22.10.2021 and 26.10.2021;

i) Contract from 06.10.2021 for purchase of fixed TETRA radio terminals. The equipment was delivered on 14.10.2021;

g) Contract from 07.10.2021 for purchase of operational intervention vehicles. The equipment was delivered on 23.11.2021;

k) Contract from 03.12.2021 for purchase of printers and multifunctional devices. The equipment was delivered on 31.12.2021;

l) Contract from 03.12.2021 for purchase of switch management 48 ports and rack 42U 800x1000 mm. The equipment was delivered on 31.12.2021;

m) Contract from 24.02.2022 for purchase of 5 Portable TETRA network terminals. The equipment was delivered on 24.03.2022;

n) Contract from 07.07.2022 for purchase of Sound system, including amplifier, diffusor and microphone system - receiver and 2 microphones. The equipment was delivered on 05.08.2022;

o) Contract from 23.06.2022 for purchase of Metal sliding door locker and Mailbox. The equipment was delivered on 04.07.2022;

p) Contract from 07.07.2022 for purchase of Work station, including Windows operating system license, Microsoft Office License and License editor, CDR (CORELL) file reader. The equipment was delivered on 08.08.2022;

q) Contract from 07.07.2022 for purchase of Notebooks – 2 pcs, including Windows operating system license (2 pcs) and Microsoft Office License. The equipment was delivered on 08.08.2022;

r) Contract from 07.07.2022 for purchase of Laptops - 11 pcs, including Windows operating system license and Microsoft Office License. The equipment was delivered on 08.08.2022;

s) Contract from 07.07.2022 for purchase of Audio alarm system. The equipment was delivered on 25.07.2022.

3. The common Strategy and the common Action plan were elaborated and accepted by the LB in May 2020. The documents were translated in English and Romanian language and printed in 100 trilingual copies in March 2021.

4. The first Joint simulation exercise was organized by the LB in the period 29-30.08.2022 in Dobrichka municipality and the second Joint simulation exercise was organized by B3 in the period 13-14.10.2022 in Calarasi county.

5. Promotional materials were elaborated by B3 (indoor and outdoor banners, roll-ups, posters, leaflets and ballpoints pens) and handed to people in order to inform them about the project details and specifics. The project website https://riskmanagement-robg.eu./ was developed, available in Romanian, Bulgarian and English language.

6. Awareness raising campaign. Two information campaigns were organized by the project beneficiaries.

An information campaign was organized by the LB in the period 18-28.10.2022. Trainings among the young people from schools in Dobrichka Municipality and the target groups of the project were organized in locations Karapelit, Batovo, Zhitnitsa, Lovchantsi, Stefanovo, Pobeda, Stojer, Vedrina, Smolnitsa and Bojurovo. During the trainings, there were distributed promotional with information about the actions to be undertaken in case of disasters. Approximately 1.000 people participated to the trainings.

An information campaign was organized by B3 in the period December 2021 – November 2022. Trainings among the young people from schools in Calarasi County and the target groups of the project were organized in the locations Calarasi, Lehliu Gara, Cascioarele, Belciugatele, Oltenita, Chirnogi, Radovanu, Dragos Voda, Dorobantu, Soldanu, Budesti, Gurbanesti, Curcani, Ileana, Ulmeni, Manastirea, Ciocanesti, Chiselet, Spantov, Gradistea, Modelu, Roseti, Dichiseni, Borcea. During the trainings, there were distributed promotional materials with information about the actions to be undertaken in case of disasters. A total number of 3486 people participated to the trainings.

7. Network of partnershipsamong territorial entities involved in civil protection activities was created. The LB signed partnership agreements with the following institutions: Territorial Administrative Unit – Calarasi Town; Directorate General Fire Safety and Civil Protection to the Ministry of Interior, Bulgaria; Dobrich District Administration; Bulgarian Red Cross – District Council Dobrich and the municipalities from Dobrich District - Balchik Municipality, General Toshevo Municipality, Kavarna Municipality, Krushari Municipality, Tervel Municipality and Shabla Municipality. B3 - Calarasi County Emergency Situations Inspectorate “Barbu Știrbei” signed a partnership agreement with the LB – Dobrichka Municipality.

8. Forum for valorisation measures - natural disasters risk prevention measures was organized on 02.12.2022 in Dobrich with 58 participants. The purpose of the Forum was the participants to share the experience in fighting with disaster within the Dobrich-Calarasi cross border area.

1,489,666.82 euro, out of which 1,266,216.80 euro ERDF

Lead Beneficiary (LB): Territorial Administrative Unit- Turnu Magurele Town (RO)

Beneficiary 2 (B2): Municipality of Nikopol (BG)

Start date: 27.10.2020

End date: 26.10.2022

Duration: 24 months

Teleorman in Romania

Pleven in Bulgaria

Programme outputs: one supported cross border mechanism (agreements, networks, regulations, studies, policies, strategies, information exchange tools) to enhance cooperation capacity

Programme results: improved level of co-ordination of the public institutions in the eligible area

The project was finalized on 26.10.2022.

The project management teams on behalf of the both project beneficiaries were set up and the first joint meeting was organized online on 14.01.2021.The both project beneficiaries purchased the equipment necessary for the project management teams.

Activity T2. “Information and publicity” - LB has organized the conference for the start of the project on 30.08.2021. B2 and the representatives and doctors from the two hospitals from Turnu Magurele Town and Nikopol Municipality were part of the event. B2 has published 1 press release about the start of the project in the municipal newspaper. The templates for brochures, block notes, folders, leaflets, posters, roll-up banner and pen, under the responsibility of the LB, have been elaborated and delivered.

Activity T3. “Modernization of the hospital in Turnu Magurele” - the procurement procedure for procurement of medical equipment (organized in 13 lots) was finalized by signing 13 contracts for all equipment. The medical equipment was delivered and installed at the Municipal Hospital in Turnu Magurele and the staff was trained to work with the equipment.

Activity T4. “Modernization of the hospital in Nikopol City” - the tender procedure for purchase of medical equipment was finalized on 10.12.2021, by signing a contract. The medical equipment has been delivered and installed at the Municipal Hospital in Nikopol in March and April 2022. The staff was trained to work with the equipment.

The exchange of experience event was also held for 4 days in Turnu Magurele for 20 employees from a hospital from Nikopol and 20 from a hospital from Turnu Magurele. The event took place between 08.09.2022-13.09.2022 at the premises of the Hospital in Turnu Magurele.

The exchange of experience event was also held for 4 days in Nikopol for 20 employees from a hospital from Nikopol and 20 from a hospital from Turnu Magurele. The event took place between 21.09.2022-27.09.2022 at the premises of the Hospital in Nikopol Municipality.

The improvement of theoretical and practical preparedness of volunteer emergency response units and the enhancement of the coordination and efficient reaction in case of disaster in the cross-border area.

892,443.58 euro, out of which 758,577.02 euro ERDF

Lead Beneficiary (LB):Municipality of Tutrakan

Beneficiary 2 (B2): Directorate General Fire Safety and Civil Protection – Ministry of the Interior (BG)

Beneficiary 3 (B3): General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations - Ministry of Internal Affairs (RO)

Beneficiary 4 (B4): National Association of Volunteers in the Republic of Bulgaria

Start date: 12.09.2018

End date: 11.11.2022 - finalized

Duration: 50 months

Pleven, Veliko Tarnovo and Silistra in Bulgaria

Dolj and Constanta in Romania

• Risk analysis of the cross border area;
• Procurement of complete protective suits for firefighting and training tower;
• Development of a volunteer emergency response plan for common actions;
• Development of a joint training program for volunteer emergency response units;
• Conduct theoretical and practical trainings in Bulgaria and Romania.

Programme outputs:4,779,754 people benefiting from actions of risk management, 4,591,666 people benefiting from flood protection measures, 4,779,754 people benefiting from forest fire protection measures, 5 joint partnerships in the field of joint early warning and emergency response

Programme results: increased quality of the joint risk management in the CBC area from inappropriate (2.00) to satisfactory (3.00)

The project was finalized on 11.11.2022.

During the entire project implementation period, the following results were achieved:

B2 finalized the elaboration of the risk analysis of the cross-border area as follows:

1) Analysis of the scale, frequency, geographical concentration, seasonality and prerequisites for disastrous events in the cross-border area;

2) Analysis of regional and municipal plans for disaster preparedness and emergency response for a pilot region (Silistra District and Calarasi County);

3) Joint report on the emergency response preparedness in the cross-border area.

The analysis is uploaded on the project web page, available on the following link: https://volunteering-robg.com.

Within the frame of Activity T.3 “Development of a Joint Training Program for Volunteers”, a voluntary emergency response plan for common actions was prepared by the experts of B2 and B4. Eventually, it was sent for approval to B3.

Further on, a contract for the development of the joint training program for volunteer emergency response units was signed and, subsequently, five three days workshops were performed in an online format because of the COVID-19 restrictions.

B3 - IGSU finalized the procurement and construction of the mobile training tower in the beginning of September 2021, in Constanta.

LB succeed to finalize the construction works for the establishment of a Training center for volunteers in Belitsa. The constructed Training Centre in Belitsa is represented by the following main spaces:

1.       Ground floor –Entrance, Lobby (Bar) , Multifunctional dining hall (Restaurant), Corridors, Storage room, Staircase, Toilets for visitors, Kitchen

2.       First floor – 2 Conference Rooms, Hall, Dressing Room, Bathrooms, Medical Cabinet, Sport Hall, Fitness Room, Office space and 8 Bedrooms;

3.       Second floor – 11 Bedrooms;

Following the finalization of the entire process for developing of the of a Joint Training Program for Volunteers, the project beneficiaries reported also the concluding of 5 joint partnerships at project level in the field of joint early warning and emergency response.

Within the frame of the WP 4 “Conduct theoretical and practical trainings”, there were organized the 6 the practical trainings in Belitsa and 2 practical trainings in Constanta with more than 216 volunteers from Romania and Bulgaria. More information is available on the project web site, accessible in all three languages on the following link: https://volunteering-robg.com .