site.btaBulgaria and Romania Prepare Joint Project to Improve Navigation on the Danube

Bulgaria and Romania have prepared a joint project to improve navigation on the Danube, the Transport Ministry said here on Tuesday. The FAST Danube 2 Project, which was submitted earlier in the day for funding from the Connecting Europe Facility, envisages the implementation of engineering measures in the common stretch of the river that will improve navigation conditions and traffic safety.

"In just a few months, we have started real action on two key projects with Romania, which for years have only been wishful thinking," Minister Georgi Gvozdeikov stressed during the signing of the documents. In his words, thanks to the strong political will and dialogue between the governments of Bulgaria and Romania, the two countries are actively working to improve transport connectivity in the Danube region. "This investment is important because it will make the river navigable 340 days a year, instead of the current 280, and this is of great benefit to business," Minister Gvozdeikov emphasised.

 The Ministry of Transport and Communications of Bulgaria and the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure of Romania have submitted a joint application form to the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency.  The indicative value of the project is EUR 230 million, with a grant of up to 85%. The results of the project appraisal are expected in July 2024.

The coordinator on the Romanian side is the Lower Danube River Administration, while on the Bulgarian side, the partner is the Executive Agency for Exploration and Maintenance of the Danube River.