Common Borders, Common Solutions: The Romanian-Bulgarian cross-border regional cooperation
07-11-2018
The EU provides funding for a broad range of projects and programmes covering areas such as: regional & urban development, employment & social inclusion, rural development, fisheries policies, research & innovation, humanitarian aid.
The Romania-Bulgaria Cross-Border (RBCB) Cooperation Programme supports the development of eligible border areas, both in Romania and Bulgaria for over 14 years. These programmes aim to create a "bridge" between the two countries in order to support the border regions. One of the main purposes is to solve similar development problems by collaborating and promoting common solutions. Thus, the border will unite the regions on both sides of the Danube, instead of separating them.
A practical example of how EU-funded programmes support regional development is the Cross-Border Cooperation Regional Office Calarasi (CBC RO Calarasi) - an establishment which fosters interregional, internal and international cross-border cooperation. One of their main tasks is to promote cooperation between the regions, communities and authorities located on both sides of the Romania-Bulgaria borders in solving common problems by designing and implementing cross-border strategies and projects that contribute to the development of these communities in terms of living standards and economic development. CBC RO Calarasi has been offering technical assistance for CBC Programmes since 2006, being the intermediate body between the Managing Authority and the project Beneficiaries and currently is Joint Secretariat for Interreg V-A Romania-Bulgaria Programme.
EURACTIV invites you to this high-level workshop to discuss the achievements and impacts of the Romania-Bulgaria Cross-Border Cooperation Programme. Questions will include:
- What impact does cross-border co-operation have in terms of innovation or enhanced administrative capacity?
- How should this kind of programmes be managed to ensure a high absorption of the funds?
- What is the impact of such a programme and what lessons can be drawn from its implementation?
- To what extent has co-operation been enhanced? What barriers have been removed?
Supported by:
Location
Euractiv Network Office
Boulevard Charlemagne 1, 1041 Brussels
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Panellists
Nathalie Verschelde, Deputy Head of Unit, Interreg Cross-Border Cooperation Internal Borders DG REGIO, European Commission
Peter Kouroumbashev MEP, Member Committee on Industry, Research and Energy, European Parliament
Calin Chira, Coordinator Cohesion Policy Section, The Permanent Representation of Romania to the EU
Michaela Kauer, Director
Brussels Liaison Office City of Vienna
Strahil V. Karapchanski, Vice Mayor of Ruse
Moderator
Georgi Gotev, Journalist - European politics and policy, EURACTIV
Schedule
12:00 – 12:30 Registration
12:30 – 13:00 Opening statements
13:00 – 14:00 Open discussion and Q&A
Contact
Simona Ovesea
simona.ovesea@euractiv.com
+32 (0)2 788 36 86
Related article
EU must look after regions, even if future funding is cut
European border regions matter and the EU must continue looking after them despite planned cuts for Cohesion policy funding, particularly as some of them remain under-developed, participants at a recent EURACTIV event said, highlighting the example of Romania-Bulgaria cross-border cooperation.