PROGRAMME BG 11
"CAPACITY-BUILDING AND INSTITUTIONAL COOPERATION"

FOURTH COOPERATION COMMITTEE OF BG11 PROGRAMME “CAPACITY-BUILDING AND INSTITUTIONAL CO-OPERATION”

The Fourth Cooperation Committee of BG11 Programme “Capacity-building and Institutional Co-operation”, funded under the Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2009-2014, took place on 10th April in Kirkenes, Norway.

The Fourth Cooperation Committee meeting was attended by the Head of the Programme Operator – Mrs. Irena Parvanova, representatives of the Programme Operator, the Norwegian partners -  the Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities and the Norwegian Barents Secretariat, the beneficiaries of the two predefined projects – the Ministry of Regional Development of Republic of Bulgaria and the National Association of Municipalities of Republic of Bulgaria (NAMRB) and an observer from the National Focal Point.

During the meeting the Programme Operator (PO) made a detailed presentation of the Annual Implementation report of BG11 Programme for 2013, outlining the main trends, relevant to BG11 Programme; the overall progress on the implementation of the set outputs/results; the challenges and risks identified by the Programme Operator; the achieved results in the management of the programme.

The Management and control system of BG 11 Programme, developed in 2013, was as well presented during the meeting. A particular attention was paid to the developed by the PO, in addition to the Management and control system, Guidelines for beneficiaries. The Guidelines will facilitate the project promoters and project partners with the implementation and reporting on their projects. Within the meeting were also presented sample forms for application and reporting on the implementation of measures under the Bilateral Fund, which have been developed by the PO and would be applicable for the Norwegian partners. The PO presented the stages and deadlines for reporting which have to be respected by the partners and beneficiaries of BG11 Programme.

Representatives of the beneficiaries - Ministry of Regional Development of Republic of Bulgaria and the National Association of Municipalities of Republic of Bulgaria (NAMRB), made brief presentations on the implementation progress of the two predefined projects up to now as well as the planed activities for second half of 2014:

• Project: „Improving the capacity of NAMRB and Bulgarian municipalities through cooperation with Norwegian local authorities“. Project beneficiary: NAMRB. Project partner: Norwegian Association of local and regional authorities.
• Project: "Bulgarian Border Dialogues. Developing a Regional CBC Data Center". Project beneficiary: Ministry of regional development. Project partner: Norwegian Barents Secretariat.

Within the meeting were also discussed two suggestions for initiatives under the Bilateral Fund, which could be funded by BG11 Programme in 2014:

• National Association of Municipalities of Republic of Bulgaria (NAMRB) and the Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities: In regard to the forthcoming administrative reform in Norway, which is in an initial stage and by which the number of municipalities will be reduced, NAMRB expressed its interest to take part in the discussions of the concrete steps in this regard, which will be undertaken in the next two years. Of particular interest to NAMRB is the exchange of experience, since the Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities represents all municipalities in Norway and has the difficult task to protect their interest during the reform process.
• The Norwegian Barents Secretariat and the Ministry of Regional development: the Norwegian Barents Secretariat announced its plans to organize a conference “The EEA Financial mechanism and the Norwegian financial mechanism – instruments for cross-border cooperation”. To take part in the conference will be invited mayors from cross-border regions, journalists, as well as non-governmental organizations from beneficiary-states, which have programmes for cross-border cooperation. The participation of Bulgarian institutions and organizations will be proposed to be financed under the Bilateral fund at programme level.