December 6 (SeeNews) - The European Commission approved a cross-border cooperation programme between Bulgaria and Romania, unlocking a total of 207.45 million euro ($217.9 million) in financing for regions on either side of the border during the new 2021-2027 programming period, the regional development ministry said on Tuesday.
The VI-A Romania Bulgaria Programme will provide funds for the development of eight Bulgarian regions in the north of the country, namely Vidin, Vratsa, Montana, Veliko Tarnovo, Pleven, Ruse, Dobrich and Silistra, the ministry said in a statement.
On the Romanian side, the regions that will benefit from the fresh funds are Mehedinti, Dolj, Olt, Teleorman, Giurgiu, Calarasi and Constanta.
EU-backed grants make up 80% of the funding, with the balance of 20% to be ensured via co-financing from the two countries' respective state budgets.
The focus will be on projects in the field of mobility and connectivity, nature protection and biodiversity, risk prevention and climate change adaptation, education, tourism and culture. There will be measures to strengthen the cross-border region's economy and to provide a sustainable transport corridor between populated areas on the Danube river.
The programme will also prioritise the development of the cycling route Eurovelo Route 6 so as to further boost tourist and cultural activities.
There are some 120,000 active companies in the cross-border area, relatively evenly distributed on both sides. They represent around 11% and 14.5% of all active companies in Romania and Bulgaria respectively, according to the programme documents.
The number of companies in the cross-border area has risen by an average of 6.1% since 2013, with a stronger growth of 9.1% on
the Romanian side and by 3.2% in the Bulgarian regions, according to national statistical data. The density of small and mid-sized enterprises (SMEs), however, is still well below the EU average.
($ = 0.9519 euro)