PROGRAMME BG 11
"CAPACITY-BUILDING AND INSTITUTIONAL COOPERATION"

INTEGRATED REGIONAL DATABASE MONITORING OF THE CROSS BORDER PROJECTS

INTEGRATED REGIONAL DATABASE, FINANCED BY NORWEGIAN FINANCIAL MECHANISM 2009-2014, CONTRIBUTES FOR MONITORING OF THE SUSTAINABILITY OF CROSS BORDER PROJECTS BETWEEN BULGARIA AND SERBIA, MACEDONIA AND TURKEY

Integrated database includes statistical data about border regions between Bulgaria and Serbia, Macedonia and Turkey. The software platform is equipped with tools for uploading new datasets and creating visual data displays according to specified needs.The cross border data will assist the monitoring of sustainability of the projects financed by European funds in the border areas. This platform was created within project “Bulgarian Border Dialogues. Developing a Regional CBC Data Center”. It is implemented by the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works of Bulgaria and the Norwegian Barents Secretariat.Estimated total eligible project costs are 2 105 394 leva, funded under BG 11: Programme “Capacity-building and Institutional Co-operation” with the financial contribution of the Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2009-2014

Areas covered within the project are: Bulgaria (Vidin, Montana, Pernik, Sofia, Sofia city, Kyustendil, Blagoevgrad, Haskovo, Yambol, Burgas), Serbia (Zajecar, Nisava, Bor, Pirot, Pcinja, Jablanica), Macedonia (North-East Region, East Region, South-East Region), Turkey (Edirne, Kirklareli) and Norway (Oslo, Finnmark).

Creation of integrated data base will facilitate regional cooperation and will accelerate integration of the partner countries in economic and political spaces of European Union, will help attract investments and qualified human resources. In the implementation of project are included Statistical institutes of Bulgaria and itsneighbor countries– Serbia, Macedonia and Turkey.Their experts participate in working groups on statistical cooperation. As a result of discussions and  exchange of good practices in the area of cross border cooperation and regional statistic was approved a list of 43 indicatorson regional level ondemographic, businessstatistics and environmentstatistics for the partner countries.

Threestatistical cooperation meetingswere heldinSofiatillnow – inJanuary, June and October 2014for the purposes of the project. Onestatistical cooperation meetingwasaccomplishedinNorwayinFebruary 2014.In April was conducted training and exchange of experiences betweenexperts from the MRDPW and the Joint Technical Secretariats under the cross border programs with the Norwegian Barents Secretariat and the Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities in Oslo and Kirkenes.The enhanced cooperation between involved institutions in the project is one of its main achievements as a result of its implementation.

Collected data from national statistical institutes was submitted to The Jefferson Institute, which is the responsible organization for the developing of the Data center.The open data platform will give information of citizens, institutions and business organizations.The users will be able to extract and visualize data in different ways according to their own interests and to supplement page with information, statistics, photos and materials related to the regions.There are forthcoming training course for journalists who will enhance the public awareness on the cross border relations and processes.

The project website is:www.bbdstats.org.