The overall objective of the project is to improve joint risk management in the cross-border area by increasing the responsiveness of specific actors in the fight against forest fires in the cross-border area Dolj-Lom, Montana, thus strengthening institutional and technical management capacity in case of disaster and emergency response.

941,964.13 euro, from which 800,669.50 euro FEDR

Lead beneficiary (LB): Dolj County Council

Beneficiary 2 (B2): Lom Municipality

Beneficiary 3 (B3): INSPECTORATE FOR EMERGENCY SITUATIONS OLTENIA, Dolj

Beneficiary 4 (B4): "Mihai Bravul" Dolj County Inspectorate of Gendarmerie, Dolj

Start date: 21.07.2020

End date: 29.12.2023

Duration: 41 months and 9 days

Montana (BG)

Dolj (RO)

• Increasing intervention capacity in fighting forest fire in the cross border area;
• Experience exchange in forest fire joint risk management;
• Establishing joint partnerships in the field of risk management situations generated by fire;
• Raising awareness campaign;
• Setting up Lom fire brigade Volunteers for prevention and fire fighting;
• Communication.

Programme outputs: Population benefiting from forest fire protection measures: 46 700 persons; Number of joint partnerships in the field of joint early warning and emergency response: 4;

Programme results: The quality of joint risk management in the CBC area: 3;  

Current Project Status:

The end date of the implementation period of the project was 29.12.2023, but because of delays in the implementation of activities by LB, the project was included on the list of un-finalized projects, according to the provisions of the Romanian Government Decision no. 36/2023, following the decision of the Monitoring Committee of the Interreg V-A Ro-Bg Programme, no. 313/14.11.2023. The new completion date of the project is 30.04.2023.

During the period 02-05.10.2023, B3 - Inspectorate for Emergency Situations Oltenia in collaboration with B4 "Mihai Bravul" Dolj County Inspectorate of Gendarmerie organized the joint application for forest fire simulation, in Craiova and was attended by all the project partners.

During the period 05-08.12.2023 B2 – Lom Municipality organized and participated the team management meeting, the workshop for elaboration of partnership agreements, the seminar and the joint application for forest fire simulation which took place in Lom and were attended by all project partners.

During the period 05-08.12.2023 LB organized the elaboration and signing of the following joint partnerships in the field of risk management situations generated by fire:

a) Partnership agreement concluded between Dolj County School Inspectorate and Regional Department of Education – Montana;

b) Partnership agreement concluded between Dolj County and Lom Municipality;

c) Partnership agreement concluded between "Mihai Bravul" Dolj County Inspectorate of Gendarmerie and Voluntary Unit Civil Protection – Lom;

d) Partnership agreement concluded between Inspectorate for Emergency Situations Oltenia, Dolj County and Voluntary Unit Civil Protection – Lom.

LB concluded the contract no. 102/28.11.2023 for supplying of a warning alarming system consisting in 6 electonic sirens and 1 alarming system
with SC AXATEL SERVICE SRL. The sirens and the alarming system were delivered and installed according to the contract, on 14.12.2023.

B2 has concluded the contract for the execution of reconstruction works for the building which will serve as the headquarters of the volunteers fire brigade on 5^th of May 2023 and the works started on 05.06.2023, according to the Protocol for the opening of a construction site and for determining the construction line and level. Currently the reconstruction works are 100% finalized and Act no. 15 for acceptance of the construction have been issued on 02.11.2023.

The final press conference was organized by LB in Craiova on 15.12.2023.

All the activities within the project have been finalized and all the equipment have been purchased.

1,494,037.68euro, out of which 1,269,932.02euro ERDF

Lead Beneficiary (LB): Shabla Municipality (Bulgaria)

Beneficiary 2 (B2): Territorial Administrative Unit - Cernavoda Town (Romania)

Start date: 27.07.2018

End date: 26.11.2023

Duration: 64 months

Dobrich (Bulgaria)

Constanta (Romania)

Programme outputs: 1 integrated tourism products/services created; 2 common strategies, policies or management plans for valorizing (including raising awareness) the cultural and natural heritage through its restoration and promotion for sustainable economic uses

Programme results: 40,000 tourist overnights in the CBC region

The project was finalized on 26.11.2023. The following main results were achieved:

1. The project management teams have been established. 2 Press Announcements for the project start were posted on the websites of Shabla and Cernavoda Municipalities;

2. The technical design for the development and reconstruction of the "Archaeological Park Durankulak-Hamangia” in Shabla, has been elaborated by the LB. The contract for works execution was signed on 13.04.2023, the construction site was opened on 21.04.2023. The construction works were finalized on 18.10.2023 (Act no. 15/18.10.2023). In addition, the works included placement of a Ticket Center, extension of the Visitors Center and construction of a connecting pedestrian walkway. The Archaeological park “Durankulak - Hamangia” is opened to the public, having the following work schedule:

Wednesday - Sunday, 10.00 am - 5.00 pm.

Monday and Tuesday – non-working days.

3. The technical design for the Development of the Hamangia Centre in Cernavoda Town, including the two existing buildings allocated for the development of Hamangia Centre and Atelier Ganditorul (Thinker Workshop), has been elaborated by B2. The contract for works execution was signed on 04.08.2021, the construction site was opened on 25.08.2021. The construction works were completed on 31.10.2023. The commissioning process was finalized on 28.12.2023. The Hamangia Center and Thinker Workshop are opened to the public having the following work schedule:

Hamangia Centre – museum site: daily, 8.00 am - 4.00 pm.

Thinker Workshop: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11.00am – 4.00 pm.

4. The project website was developed and is available at www.hamangia.eu in Bulgarian, Romanian and English language;

5. It was developed the joint study on “Hamangia” culture and its impact in the target CB region;

6. The thematic conference "Hamangia" was organized online on 16^th of December 2021, through ZOOM platform;

7. There were organized 4 thematic working meetings, during which the cultural and historical heritage sites of Hamangia existing in the target cross-border region, which were included in the joint tourist route, were discussed:

a) Meeting no. 1 in Cernavoda Town, on 28.10.2022

b) Meeting no. 2 in Shabla Town, on 25.11.2022

c) Meeting no. 3 in Cernavoda Town, on 05.12.2022

d) Meeting no. 4 in Shabla Town, on 06.12.2022.

8. The joint tourist route “Hamangia” was developed. The tourist product includes visits to archaeological sites and museums, as well as hands-on experiences such as pottery making workshops and traditional culinary classes. The tour is designed to provide an immersive and educational experience for visitors interested in learning about the history and culture of the region. The joint tourist route starts at the Durankulak-Hamangia Archaeological Park in Shabla Municipality, Bulgaria and ends at the "Hamangia" Centre in the town of Cernavoda, Romania;

9. The guiding tour service based on 50+50 wireless headsets – 90 radio spots (30 in Bulgarian, 30 in Romanian and 30 in English language) was developed by the LB. The service was accepted by the LB on 03.11.2023 and the guiding tour was uploaded on the 100 pcs of MP3 players with headphones, purchased by the both project partners;

10. The virtual tour on the objects of the joint tourist route Hamangia was developed by the LB. The service was accepted by the LB on 17.11.2023. The virtual tour is uploaded on the project website available at the following link https://hamangia.eu/en/home-english/;

11. The LB purchased 18 all-in-one virtual reality glasses. The equipment was accepted by the LB on 12.10.2023. The virtual reality glasses are located at the archaeological complex “Durankulak - Hamangia”;

12. The development of the joint integrated marketing strategy was finalized. The strategy is uploaded on the project website available at the following link:

https://hamangia.eu/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Strategy_EN.pdf;

13. The development of the joint integrated management plan of the tourism product "Hamangia" was finalized. The joint management plan is designed to be relevant and applicable to both partners and is accessible on the project website at https://hamangia.eu/en/results/.

The general objective of the project is to develop road infrastructure in the cross-border area by improving access between nodes and the TEN-T network in the region. The proposed project envisages the modernization of two roads - Road II-81 Kostinbrod-Berkovitsa-Montana from km 94 + 000 to km 101 + 199.48, Montana district and road DJ561B Segarcea-Drănic from km 0 + 000 to km 12 + 130, county Dolj with a total length of 19.32 km.

7,737,783.80 euros, of which 6,577 116.22 euros ERDF

Lead Beneficiary (LB): Road Infrastructure Agency, Bulgaria

Beneficiary 2 (B2): Territorial Administrativ Unit Dolj County, Romania

Start date: 02.04.2020

End date: 29.12.2023

Duration: 44 months and 28 days.

Montana in Bulgaria

Dolj in Romania

• Modernization of the DJ561B Segarcea-Drănic road from km 0 + 000 to km 12 + 130, Dolj county;
• Modernization of the II-81 Kostinbrod-Berkovitsa-Montana road from km 94 + 000 to km 101 + 199.48, Montana district;
• Development of 5 common mechanisms consisting of education and information campaigns (awareness);
• Organizing communication and promotion activities.

Program achievements: 19.32 km of rehabilitated roads, 3 common mechanisms that facilitate the connection of secondary / tertiary nodes to the TEN-T infrastructure

The results of the program: 67,177 people from the cross-border area will be served by modernized infrastructure leading to TEN-T

The project is finalized.

On the behalf of LB:

The upgrading of the Road II-81 from km 94+000 to km 101+199, is finalized, and from 18.08.2022 the modernized road is put into use.

Regarding the implementation of road safety and awareness activities, the Road Infrastructure Agency signed on 17.12.2020 a contract for the implementation of road safety and advertising activities, for which it received brochures to be used in the awareness campaign for speed management and human tolerance on roads.

On the behalf of B2:

The upgrading of the County Road DJ 561B km 0+000 to km 12+130, were finalized from 21.12.2023 and the reception of works has been made on 11.03.2024.

Regarding the implementation of road safety and advertising activities, on 30.09.2020 B2 signed a contract for the distribution of various specific promotional materials to target groups within the awareness campaigns.

Within the project was developed a joint package of traffic safety measures, related to their investment objectives, which includes solar radar speed signs, noisy road markings and guardrails reflectors installed at a smaller distance, performed on the modernized road sections in Montana District and Dolj County.

The project main objective is to improve traffic conditions, safety and conductivity between secondary and tertiary nodes and core TEN-T infrastructure in the cross border area through the modernization of 5.087 km of local and regional roads of cross-border importance.

4,769,687.25 euro, out of which 4,054,234.14 euro ERDF

Lead Beneficiary (LB): Veliko Tarnovo Municipality (Bulgaria)

Beneficiary 2 (B2): Territorial Administrative Unit Calafat Municipality (Romania)

Beneficiary 3 (B3): Future Today Association (Bulgaria)

Start date: 10.12.2019

End date: 31.12.2023

Duration: 48 months and 22 days

Vidin, Veliko Tarnovo in Bulgaria

Calafat, Dolj County in Romania

• Modernization of 5.087 km of local and regional roads of cross-border importance, which directly connect the secondary and tertiary nodes on both sides of the Danube to the basic TEN-T infrastructure;
• Coordinating the mechanisms for overcoming the new common challenges arising from the operation of the core TEN-T infrastructure on Pan European corridors 4, 8 and 9;
• Organizing awareness-raising activities with the support of NGOs for the safety of citizens in places where the heavy burden of road traffic meets the local population.

Programme outputs:

- 5.087 km of reconstructed or modernized roads;

- 3 common mechanisms to facilitate the connection of secondary / tertiary nodes to the TEN-T infrastructure, namely: Elaboration of a traffic safety measures report, applying route guidance and implementation of an awareness raising campaign of safety.

Programme results:

- 85,854 cross-border population served by modernized infrastructure leading to TEN-T.

Current Project Status:

The implementation period of the project ended on 31.12.2023, but because of the delays registered at the investment activity of LB, the project was included on the list of non-functional projects. The new completion date of the project is 31.12.2024.

LB finalized the process of requesting / obtaining the approvals from the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works for the Technical Design. The investment objective of LB is divided in 3 sub-sites. According to the Action plan provided by LB, the opening of sub-site no. 1is expected to take place in July 2024, while the works will be finalized in December 2024. According to the information provided by LB, the construction works for sub-sites no. 2 and 3 are unfolding and the status is as follows:

For sub-site no. 2 regarding the street network: The asphalt laying on Teodosii Tarnovski street in Sveta Gora district is reported to have begun. The asphalt laying activities also started in the area of the student dormitories, the bus exchange and the continuation of the street, part of the eastern entrance to the town of Veliko Tarnovo. The activities also started on Dimitar Naydenov and Slivnitsa streets, where new curbs and underground pipe network will be laid and after that asphalting and finishing of sidewalks will start. On the Kliment Ohridski street, the first layer of asphalt has been laid. The laying of pavement and construction of street lighting is pending. On Ksiliforska street in the Asenov district, preparatory activities are being carried out before the start of the asphalting.

For sub-site no. 3 with the bridges: For the bridge at km. 1+400 was laid the concrete for road slabs and paving blocks; the power cable for the street lighting passing through the facility was installed, as well as the metal base for the lighting poles.

For the bridge at km. 2+180, the supporting scaffold for the crossbars was built; formwork, reinforcement and concrete for the crossbars were laid; the retaining left wall was completed; were installed 18 pieces of main supporting beams of the facility.

B2 finalized the construction works on his behalf and reported as achieved 0.51 km of modernized roads in Calafat. The reception at the end of the construction works on behalf of B2 took place on 21^st of September 2023. In addition, B2 reported a value of 16,809 people served by the modernized Jiului street for the Result indicator.

B3 finalized the implementation of 2 joint mechanisms to facilitate the connection of secondary/tertiary nodes to TEN-T infrastructure, namely the awareness raising campaign on safety and the traffic safety measures mechanism. In regard with the route guidance mechanism, from the 3 traffic smart board delivered by B3, only 2 were installed, while the one delivered to LB was not installed yet because the construction works on his behalf are ongoing. The report on traffic safety measures can be found at the following links:

1. https://www.vidin.tv/?p=13223

2. https://lachezara-tv.eu/bg/2023/06/01/

3.https://veliko-tarnovo.bg/bg/evrofinansirane/mezhdunarodni-proekti-s-uchastieto-na-obshtina-veliko-tarnovo/proekt-po-dobre-svrzani-vtorichni-i-tretichni-tochki-v-glavnata-mrezha/.