In her speech here on Tuesday, Aphroditi Lioliou from the Managing Authority of Greece's European Territorial Cooperation Programmes spoke about the results and best practices achieved under the programmes within European territorial cooperation in the 2014-2020 period. She was speaking at the 5th Bulgaria-Greece cross-border conference, held as part of BTA's project "Europe in the Balkans: A Common Future". The conference is held simultaneously in Thessaloniki and Blagoevgrad.
Lioliou commented that eleven investment priorities were set for the past, fifth programming period (2014-2020). Top among these priorities were: research, technological development and innovation; improving access to and quality of information and communication technologies; enhancing the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs); supporting the transition to a low-carbon economy in all sectors; and promoting climate change adaptation, prevention and risk management.
She also listed indicative projects implemented in relation to the priority of building a sustainable and climate adaptive cross-border area. She gave as example the over EUR 11.5 million approved for flood prevention. This sum has been allocated under the strategic project Flood Protection, the main objective of which is to increase the level of flood protection in the Greece-Bulgaria cross-border area , especially in areas with a high probability of flooding, such as the Struma/Strimon and Evros/Maritsa basins.
Lioliou also mentioned the HealthCare Centre project, under which investment has been made in health infrastructure to improve the delivery of emergency health services. The project was also aimed at promoting cooperation between regional, local and cross-border health authorities and organisations.
She also presented the opportunities for the sixth programming period (2021-2027). In her words, the new programmes, using the experience gained, aim to further strengthen development efforts in the region, focusing on the specificities of the programme areas: a smarter Europe through innovation, digitisation, economic transformation and support for SMEs; a greener, decarbonised Europe, implementing the Paris Climate Agreement and investing in the energy transition, renewables and the fight against climate change; a more connected Europe with strategic transport and digital networks; a more social Europe, delivering on the European Pillar of Social Rights and supporting quality employment, education, skills, social inclusion and equal access to healthcare; a Europe closer to citizens, underpinned by EU strategies for local development and sustainable urban development.
/RY/
news.modal.text
