PROGRAMME BG 11
"CAPACITY-BUILDING AND INSTITUTIONAL COOPERATION"

The second contract is also signed

The Ministry of regional development has received a grant of over 2 million BGN for the implementation of project within the Norwegian financial mechanism 2009-2014.

The project involves the development of a regional cross-border cooperation data centre

The Ministry of Regional Development (MRD) received a grant of 2 105 394.27 BGN for the implementation of the second project under program BG 11”Capacity-building and institutional Co-operation”, funded by the Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2009 – 2014. The program’s operator is “Operational program “Technical Assistance” Directorate at the Council of Ministers. The project itself is being executed by Directorate General “Territorial cooperation management” within MRD and involves the development of a regional cross-border cooperation data center thus promoting good neighbourly relations.

Project partner is the Norwegian Barents Secretariat and the locations where the project will take place are as follows: Bulgaria (Vidin, Montana, Pernik, Sofia, Sofia city, Kyustendil, Blagoevgrad, Haskovo, Yambol, Burgas), Serbia (Zajecar, Nisava, Bor, Pirot, Pcinja, Jablanica), Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (North-East Region, East Region, South-East Region), Turkey (Edrine, Kirklareli) and Norway (Oslo, Finnmark).

The project’s main objectives include bolstering the understanding of cross-border cooperation and promoting good neighbourly relations, fostering stability, security and prosperity in the mutual interest of all countries concerned, and encouraging their harmonious, balanced and sustainable development. The development of a cross-border cooperation (CBC) data base will encourage the regional cooperation, accelerate the integration of EU economic and political spaces and help attract qualified human resources and foreign investments.

The project’s expected outcomes include shared experience and best practices between organizations dealing with territorial cooperation; enhanced public awareness of the state of cross-border communities relations; established consolidated network of national statistic institutes.