PRESS RELEASE - Important decisions for the Romanian-Bulgarian border at the second meeting of the Joint Working Group

The Managing Authority (MA) for the Interreg V-A Romania-Bulgaria Programme – the Romanian Ministry of Public Works, Development and Administration (MPWDA), the National Authority (NA) – the Bulgarian Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works (MRDPW) and the Joint Secretariat (JS) of the Programme, organized today, September 16, 2020, online, the second meeting of The Joint Working Group for The Romania-Bulgaria Cross-border Cooperation Programme 2021-2027.

Following the discussions at the meeting, it was decided by consensus to maintain the current structures of the Programme, taking into account the results obtained especially in the current programming period, their experience, as well as the constraints of the proposed regulations, which do not allow delays in implementation. The Ministry of Public Works, Development and Administration, Romania, retains its role of Managing Authority, and the Regional Office for Cross-Border Cooperation Calarasi that of Joint Secretariat. The role of National Authority belongs to the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works, Bulgaria.

Another important decision on today’s agenda is the selection of policy objectives to be funded, namely PO3 – A more connected Europe and PO5 – A Europe closer to citizens. PO3 will have a strategic approach that seeks to identify solutions to improve connectivity in the region, and PO5 comes closer to the needs of the territory, through an integrated approach and active involvement of relevant local actors. The selection decision, also taken by consensus, was made based on the analysis of the needs and the development potential of the area, a detailed description of them being included in the Territorial Analysis of the Romania-Bulgaria border area, a document available on the website launched today, dedicated to the future Programme: www.interregviarobg.eu