ARTOUR project aims at creating a thematic art & culture events tourist product based on the natural and cultural heritage in order to promote the CBC region as more attractive tourist destination and better use the potential of the tourism on the lower Danube.

454 130.10 euro, out of which 386,010.58 euro ERDF

Lead Beneficiary (LB): Association "Institute for Territorial Innovations and Cooperation - ITIC"

Beneficiary 2 (B2): Valahia Transalpina Professional Association

Start date: 06.09.2018

End date: 05.03.2020

Duration: 18 Months

Calarasi, Drobeta - Turnu Severin, Giurgiu, Constanta – in Romania

Vidin, Ruse, Silistra – in Bulgaria

• Conducting a study of potential application of art & culture tourist product and services in the CBC region;
• Close consultations with the key stakeholders in identifying particular artists, traditions and sites so that high-quality art & culture tourist product, services and animation can be delivered;
• Development of joint thematic art & culture tourist product with art animation and programme for its pilot implementation in the course of the project;
• Organizing 4 art & culture tourist events as plain-air festivals over three (3) days with the participation of artists (painters, dancers, singers, actors) who will make live presentations of their arts (2 in BG and 2 in RO) for pilot implementation of the thematic art & culture tourist product according to the elaborated programme;
• Analysis of the pilot implementation of the thematic art & culture tourist product and elaboration of 5-year programme for its implementation after the project completion;
• Development of promotional webpage of the newly created thematic art & culture tourist product and undertaking a wide promotional online and media campaign.

Programme outputs: a study of potential application of art & culture tourist product and services in the CBC region; one thematic art & culture events tourist product created with art animation and programme; 4 art & culture tourist events with animation (2 in BG and 2 in RO) organized as part of the thematic art & culture tourist product; 5-year programme developed for implementation of the thematic art & culture tourist product; promotional website of the thematic art & culture tourist product launched.

Programme results: increase of the number of overnights in the CBC area with 10.000

The project implementation was finalized.

The following results have been achieved:

- An analysis of information and study of the potential application of the tourist product "Art&Culture", was elaborated;

- The joint thematic art & culture tourist product with art animation and programme for its pilot implementation in the course of the project, were elaborated and reviewed by 2 external experts appointed by the LB in the period 14.01-13.02.2020. LB accepted the art & culture tourist product with a 5-year programme for its implementation on 13.02.2020;

- 4 art & culture tourist events such as: plain-air festivals over three (3) days with the participation of artists (painters, dancers, singers, actors) who made live presentations of their arts for pilot implementation of the thematic art & culture tourist product, were organized;

- 2 short promo videos (30” – 1’) and 2 professional videos (up to 10’) for the plain-air events organized in Bulgaria were produced by Mi Art Stream Ltd. and uploaded on the project website and Facebook page. The videos were finally accepted by the LB on 05.12.2019;

- The project Facebook page, available at the link https://www.facebook.com/Artour-110410830299202/ and the project website, available at the link https://artour-robg.eu, were developed;

- Evaluation of the pilot application of the art & culture tourist product was made in the period 30.10.19-30.12.2019 by KPM Consulting Ltd. appointed by the LB. The Analysis and evaluation report were accepted by the LB on 10.01.2020.

- Final conference was organized and held in Vidin on the 27th and 28^th of February 2020 for 30 participants from BG and RO.

To improve the infrastructure on the both sides of the Danube river in order to maintain the navigability on the Danube.

5,946,041.76 euro, out of which 5.054.135.48 euro ERDF

Lead Beneficiary (LB): Territorial Administrative Unit – Calarasi County

Beneficiary 2 (B2): Silistra Municipality

Beneficiary 3 (B3): Territorial Administrative Unit – Calarasi Town

Start date: 30.03.2019

End date: 15.10.2024 (since the beneficiaries needed additional time for the complete completion of the investment objective achieved by Beneficiary 3 in Borcea Arm and for the operationalization of the navigation system through the full use of the created infrastructure, the project was included on the list of non-functional projects, with a new deadline for completion on 15.10.2024).

Duration: 66 months and 16 days

Silistra in Bulgaria

Calarasi in Romania

• Strategies and action plans to improve the safety of the navigation on the Danube;
• Works in Calarasi County – to facilitate the direct access of the boat owners from one community to another, offering an open area of ​​navigation on the inside Borcea arm;
• Works in Silistra District – rehabilitation of Riverside fortification walls;
• Promotional activities focus on providing project information, transparency and effective communication with stakeholders, as well as presenting the results of project activities and target groups and local stakeholders working in the cross-border region;
• The transport waterway between Calarasi and Silistra will be improved by installing beacons on 5 km inland waterway on the Borcea – secondary arm of Danube. Two river station will be developed, one for each side of the Danube. Two river buses of medium size will be purchase for passengers transportation.

Programme outputs: Total length of new and improved inland waterway – 11 km;

Programme results: 2.34 % of the RO-BG CBC Danube length and Black Sea where safety of the navigation have been improved.

The project implementation period was completed on 31.12.2023, but due to the fact that, the investment works were not completed, the project was included on the list of non-functional projects, with a new completion date of 15.10.2024.

The following results have been reported so far:

LB – The contract for the technical design was signed (investments for Borcea arm). The Start Order for elaboration of the Technical Project was issued in the middle of November 2020. The development of the Technical Project together with all obtained permits was completed in the end of March 2021. In addition, contract for the purchase of an Amphibious was signed and the respective equipment was officially receipted and tested by the LB in the end of November 2023, still being in process of registration under Romanian flag and for obtaining the Registration certificate.

B2 – Based on the received permission for construction, B2 started the works execution in Port of Silistra in the end of May 2023 and finalize it in the end of December 2023. Furthermore, B2 succeed to sign also a contract for delivery of a Catamaran for 28 passengers, which was officially delivered and tested from B2 in the middle of November 2023 and is also in regime of testing along the Danube waters. The final reception of the works execution in Port Silistra took place on 31.07.2024.

B3 - LB has started the procedures to clear the land of the investment, demolishing the existing constructions on site. A contract for execution of the construction works in Borcea arm was signed in November 2021 and the Start Order for works execution was issued in the middle of December 2021. So far, the works execution level as a percentage has reached approximate 92%.

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.