The Managing Authority within the Ministry of Development, Public Works and Administration organized, together with the Joint Technical Secretariat in Suceava, on April 17, the closing conference of the Romania-Ukraine cross-border cooperation programme 2014-2020.
The conference brought together the structures that managed the programme, from both participating states, and the beneficiaries of funding from Romania and Ukraine. The authorities responsible for carrying out the programme spoke about the difficulties encountered during the 8 years of implementation and about the measures adopted during this period to complete the projects. From digitizing the entire process (signing contracts, preparing reports, conducting events in online or hybrid format), to supplementing the budgets of projects affected by the increase in material prices, to extending their implementation time because of pandemic restrictions and Russia's aggression on Ukraine, the programme could be successfully concluded and European funds were spent for the benefit of the border communities.
"We are talking about a programme that took place in a period of huge challenges, which we would not have thought of a few years ago: the COVID-19 pandemic, Russia's aggression on Ukraine. All the more appreciated is the extraordinary effort made by all those involved to complete the initiated projects, the flexibility shown by everyone to adapt to the new context", said Aurel-Dragoș Drăghescu, Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of Development, Public Works and Administration.
The partners from over 25 projects financed by the programme came in front of the audience present in Suceava and talked about the need that led to the materialization of the projects, about the challenges and satisfactions of making investments on both sides of the border between Romania and Ukraine. Also, the partnerships already created will be used to access new funds, available through the Interreg NEXT Romania-Ukraine Programme.
The event was attended by approximately 250 participants, representatives of the structures that managed the programme in the two participating states, namely the Ministry of Development, Public Works and Administration of Romania and the Secretariat of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, representatives of the European Commission, of the Consulate General of Romania in Cernivtsi and of the Embassy of Ukraine in Bucharest, as well as numerous Romanian and Ukrainian beneficiaries of European funds.
On April 18, representatives of the European Commission participated, together with the Managing Authority of the Programme and the National Authority of Ukraine, in a tour of the projects funded in Suceava and Botosani. The training facility in Siret for interventions in emergency situations, the school in Balcauti modernized and equipped with IT equipment and interactive boards, the underground museum built in the historical center of Botosani are projects that benefited from the cooperation funds and received the visit of the delegation present in Suceava.
The Joint Operational Programme Romania-Ukraine 2014-2020, funded by the European Union, supported 66 projects, with a total value of 66 million euro. The investments aimed at rehabilitating the transport infrastructure, modernizing and equipping medical units, schools and universities, restoring tourist attractions in the border area, preparing authorities and population for emergency situations. The programme addresses the counties of Satu Mare, Maramureş, Botosani, Suceava, Tulcea, in Romania and the Ivano-Frankivsk, Zakarpattya, Cernivtsi, Odesa oblasts in Ukraine.