Commissioner Cretu approves EUR 258 million cross-border investment program for Romania and Bulgaria

European Commissioner for Regional Policy Corina Cretu adopted on Friday the new “Interreg” cross-border program for Romania and Bulgaria. The total investment in the program amounts to over EUR 258 million with a contribution of almost EUR 216 million from the European Union, more exactly from the European Regional Development Fund.

The program is meant to help improve life, study and work conditions in 15 border regions in Romania and Bulgaria and increase their attractiveness for tourists and investors.

“The inhabitants of these border regions in Romania and Bulgaria will benefit directly from the program that we have adopted today. These regions are a part of a European area where the good cooperation and the attempt to solve common problems are essential. The area also offers considerable opportunities due to its proximity to the Danube and to the Black Sea. The program and related projects will help local communities to exploit those opportunities,” stated in a release Corina Cretu.

Among the results forecasted for this program there is the navigability improvement on the Danube and the Black Sea in the border area, creating a new model of sustainable use of natural and cultural heritage in the border area, the improvement of joint management and protection of Natura 2000 sites and enhancing prevention and disaster risk management in the border area.

The 15 regions covered by the Interreg program are: in Romania – Constanta, Calarasi, Giurgiu, Teleorman, Dolj, Mehedinti and Olt and in Bulgaria -Vidin, Montana, Vratsa, Pleven, Veliko Tarnovo, Ruse, Silistra and Dobrich.

The fifth Interreg programming period 2014-2020 has a budget of EUR 10.1 billion, representing investments in more than 100 programs of cooperation between regions and territorial, social and economic partners.

Andreea Marinas