The common challenge approached by the project is to improve the accessibility and mobility to the TEN-T network and thus to create suitable conditions for sustainable development in the border area.

4,945,538.25 euro, out of which 4,203,707.51 euro ERDF

Lead Beneficiary (LB): TAU Giurgiu County

Beneficiary 2 (B2): Borovo Municipality

Start date: 01.08.2019

End date: 31.12.2023

Duration: 53 months. 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, the finalization date of the project being establish on 31.08.2024.

Ruse (Bulgaria)

Giurgiu (Romania)

• Integrated information and awareness system
• Joint traffic management system and awareness
• Modernization of DJ 601: Bolintin Vale – Malu Spart
• Works in Borovo Municipality

Programme outputs: - Modernized transport infrastructure providing access to the TEN-T network (Total length of reconstructed or upgraded roads 11.73 km.);

- 2 joint mechanisms to facilitate the connection of secondary/tertiary nodes to TEN-T infrastructure

Programme results: Cross border population served by modernized infrastructure leading to TEN-T – more than 20,877 inhabitants.

Current Project Status:

The implementation period of the project ended on 31.12.2023, but because of delays registered in the investment activity of LB, the project was included on the list of un-finalized projects with a new completion date set on 31.08.2024. The project was finalized on 31.08.2024.

The main investment of the project was the modernization of 7.41 km of road in Giurgiu within the investment activity „Modernization of DJ 601: Bolintin Vale – Malu Spart – DN61, km 13+685 – km 14+184 and km 22+263 – km 29+ 180 (221)”, for which BL was responsible. BL completed the construction works on 23.05.2024, while the reception upon completion of the works took place on 10.07.2024.

The second investment of the project was the modernization of 4.32 km of street network in Borovo, which was carried out by B2. B2 completed the construction works for the modernization of 5 streets in Borovo on 14.12.2021.

B2 had elaborated the study „New opportunities for traffic management and traffic safety measures in Giurgiu-Borovo area”. The study examined the state of transport infrastructure in the cross-border region, identified affected areas, made a SWOT analysis of the current situation, a risk analysis related to optimizing transport conditions in the cross-border region Borovo - Giurgiu, review of applicable regulations in Bulgaria and Romania defining the institutional responsibilities of the authorities regarding transport conditions and traffic safety by analyzing their role in the whole process.

The interactive map developed within the project is available in Bulgarian, English and Romanian, contains the locations of the black spots and can be accessed at https://w-ten.info/?ait-items=blackspot-locations&lang=en. The application is available for free on Google play and App store under the name “Borovo Blackspots”. The application allows a user to report a new accident, it also promotes important touristic objectives, which can be visited by potential tourists coming to the area, and it promotes the rules of traffic safety.

B2 elaborated the Traffic Management Plan and purchased equipment on his behalf for the traffic monitoring system in order to realize a functional information system for traffic monitoring. In addition, LB purchased equipment for the traffic management system and put it onto operation on 23.11.2023. The Joint traffic management system developed by the project’s beneficiaries is functional and can be accessed at https://wtentraffic.eu/.

Within the project were organized the following events:

- 2 Conferences “New opportunities for traffic management and traffic safety measures in Giurgiu-Borovo”, one in Borovo on 24.11.2023 and one in Giurgiu on 27.11.2023.

- The Workshop „How to improve the traffic safety measures within the Giurgiu - Borovo cross-border area?” on 24.11.2023 in Borovo.

- The closing press conference on behalf of B2 took place on 11.12.2023 in Borovo with 50 participants.

- B2 implemented also the traffic awareness activities on 24.11.2023, respectively 11.12.2023, and developed the promotional materials (leaflets, posters).

- The closing press conference on behalf of LB took place on 13.08.2024 in Giurgiu with 47 participants.

The overall objective of the project is to increase tourism attractiveness of Ruse-Giurgiu CBC region represented by 2 of the region’s iconic cultural and historic sites the Pantheon in Ruse and the Fortress in Giurgiu.

1,426,760.12 euro, out of which 1,212,746.09 euro ERDF

Lead Beneficiary (LB): Ruse Municipality

Beneficiary 2 (B2): Territorial Administrative Unit – Giurgiu Town.

Start date: 31.07.2018

End date: 30.04.2024

Duration: 69 months and 1 day

Giurgiu (Romania)

Ruse (Bulgaria)

• reconstruction of the Pantheon of National Revival Heroes in Ruse;
• multimedia presentation;
• developing and equipping of Giurgiu fortress with modern fittings;
• joint management plan;
• joint marketing strategy;
• catalogue and website presenting iconic cultural heritage in Ruse-Giurgiu region;
• integrated tourism route;
• information and publicity activities.

Programme outputs:

- 1 integrated tourism products/services created;

- 2 strategies and management plans for valorizing the cultural and natural             heritage;

Programme results: increase of the number of overnights in the cbc area with 8000.

The project is finalized.

The LB – Ruse Municipality finalized the works in relation to the Renovation of the Pantheon of National Revival Heroes in Ruse. The Pantheon is functioning and opened for visitorsevery day during the working hours between 9.00-12.00 and 13.00-18.00.

B2 – TAU Giurgiu Municipality officially receipted the works execution within the investment objective - Giurgiu Fortress on 26.04.2024, the investment site being open to public access without any restrictions.

Within the frame of activity T1 “Implementation of joint tourism mechanisms and elaboration of tender dossiers”, the Lead Beneficiary has receipt from the service provider the elaborated integrated tourism route, trilingual map, containing the identified tourist sites and catalogue in Bulgarian, Romanian and English. Тhe tourism route is aiming to present the historical past of the communities living in the Ruse-Giurgiu region in a systematic, organised and tourist-friendly way and is highlighting the renovated Pantheon and valorised Fortress. The route is available for the public on the following link: https://cetate-panteonrobg.ro/obiective-turistice/ . In addition, the LB elaborated a “Joint marketing strategy incl. joint branding and promotion of the tourism route” in tree languages - RO, EN, BG and is also available for the general public on the following link: https://cetate-panteonrobg.ro/en/useful-info/ .

Furthermore, B2 - Giurgiu Municipality developed a trilingual Joint Management Plan for common preservation, development and utilization of cultural heritage, which was further uploaded on the project web site for presenting iconic cultural heritage in Ruse-Giurgiu CB region, which could be accessed on the link: https://cetate-panteonrobg.ro/ .

As a result from the realization of the both investment touristic objectives, namely the Pantheon of Revivals in Ruse and the Giurgiu historical fortress, the project is contributing with additional 19.532 tourist overnights realised within the region Ruse – Giurgiu.

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 project was implemented until 29.12.2023, and subsequently, it was completed with the beneficiaries' own funds on 30.04.2024.

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

The main investment of the project was the acquisition of the warning-alarming system and 6 electronic sirens for which it was responsible LB. The warning alarming system is kept at the headquarters of Inspectorate for Emergency Situations Oltenia, Dolj County. The 6 electronic sirens were installed within 6 localities from Dolj County (Plenita, Farcas, Bratovoiesti, Sadova, Cetate and Brabova) and are functional.

The second investment of the project was the reconstruction of a building that now serves as the headquarters of the Volunteers’ Fire Brigade from Lom, which has been realized by B2. In addition, the building has been properly endowed.

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.

B3 and B4 purchased equipment specialized in fighting against forest fires, for an efficient management of the emergency situations.

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

The general objective of the project is to create the road infrastructure in Mangalia and Balchik representing direct connections to the TEN-T.

7,049,095. 87 euro, out of which 5,991,731. 48 euro ERDF

Lead Beneficiary (LB): Territorial Administrative Unit – Mangalia Municipality

Beneficiary 2 (B2): Balchik Municipality

Start date: 04.04.2019

End date: 03.10.2022

Duration: 42 months

Mangalia in Romania

Balchik in Bulgaria

• Development of 4 common mechanisms, namely route guide, feasibility study aimed at cross-border transport, traffic safety measures and awareness-raising activities;
• Modernization of 7.83 km of road infrastructure in Mangalia;
• Modernization of 8.62 km of road infrastructure in Balchik.

Program output: 16,450 m (16.45 km) total length of reconstructed or modernized roads; 4 common mechanisms to facilitate the connection of secondary / tertiary nodes to the TEN-T infrastructure (e.g. route guidance, incident / emergency detection and management, traffic flow studies, feasibility studies addressing the cross-border region);

Programme results: Cross-border population served by modernized infrastructure leading to TEN-T - 49,301.00 citizens.

The project is completed.

The project was completed on 03.10.2022.

LB (Territorial Administrative Unit - Mangalia Municipality) - "Improving the road infrastructure in Mangalia for a better connection to the TEN-T network" includes 17 city streets with a total length of 7.83 km. The contract for the execution of the works was signed on 12.12.2019 and on 23.12.2019 the order to start the works was issued.

The construction works for the objective - "Improving the road infrastructure in Mangalia for a better connection to the TEN-T network" were completed on 04.10.2022, according to the Reception Protocol at the end of the works no. 74841 of 04.10.2022.

Although the project was completed, during the special monitoring visit on 11.04.2024, the following were found:

- A number of 4 streets out of a total of 17 streets (16,450 m) are affected by the works carried out by RAJA (replacement of water pipes and sewerage).

- These streets are: Dr Motas street., Mihai Viteazu street., Oituz str. and Negru Voda street.

The modernized streets are currently affected by the works carried out by RAJA SA for works on the water and sewage network. After the completion of the works, the streets will be brought to the initial stage of modernization, prior to the intervention of RAJA SA.

B2 (Municipality of Balchik): "Modernization of road infrastructure in Balchik in order to improve connectivity to the TEN-T network" - 8.62 km

All construction activities have been completed. All necessary documents according to the Bulgarian spatial planning law have been issued and signed by all relevant parties for all three sections:

I. “Rehabilitation of municipal road DOB1149 /I-9, Kavarna- Balchik/- Topola- Ikantalaka- municipality limit (Kavarna- Balchik)- Tuzlata- Balchik - Albena / I-9 /, from km 4 + 500, to the municipality limit (Kavarna - Balchik), at km 10+020, at the intersection with Road II-27 from the city of Balchik – L=5 520 m” - Protocol of reception of the executed works, issued on 28.08.2020;

II. “Rehabilitation of municipal road DOB 3160 - /DOB 1149, Topola - Balchik/ - municipality limit (Kavarna - Balchik) - Tuzlata - /DOB 1149/” from km 2+170 to km 4+083 – L=1 913 m - Protocol of reception of the executed works, issued on 10.03.2020;

III. “Rehabilitation of a part of the street network of the city of Balchik”, for which the Protocol of reception of the works executed on 01.09.2020 was issued, including:

- “Primorska” street section from OT77 to OT118, L = 400 m;

- turnaround for buses on “Primorska” street, F = 1,400 m2;

- a crossroads between “Primorska” and “Cherno more” streets;

- the section of “Cherno More” street from OT37 to OT308, L = 790 m.