The Interreg programmes are part of the EU's Cohesion Policy and represent an important financing tool of the EU, which aims to boost cooperation between regions and Member States, said Simona Vatafu, Interreg Programme Communications Officer at the Romanian Ministry of Regional Development and Public Administration, at the closing conference of the Europe in the Balkans: A Common Future project in the Bulgarian seaside resort of Albena on Saturday.
Vatafu emphasized that through the Europe in the Balkans: A Common Future project, the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) has managed to bring European values closer to the citizens, so that they become better acquainted with the impact of EU-funded projects in their regions.
She noted the successful cooperation between Romania and Bulgaria under the Interreg VI-A Romania-Bulgaria Programme, which started during the 2007-2013 programming period and continues in the 2021-2027 programming period. "Over the past 17 years, we have financed investments worth some EUR 700 million, including contracts for over 300 projects in sectors such as transport, accessibility, environment, emergencies, health, education, employment, tourism and culture," she said.
Vatafu said that it is necessary to think about the next Interreg VI-A Romania-Bulgaria Programme, which will begin after 2027, adding that the European Commission has launched for the first time a broad consultation process aimed at citizens from cross-border regions to collect their ideas and visions for the future. "As a positive response and reaction to this EU initiative, we launched our own consultation process and received very good feedback from the Romanian citizens," Vatafu said. She expressed hope that this will be an opportunity for the beneficiaries to directly engage in the design of the new Interreg programme and to contribute to new European regulations.
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