23 projects for nearly 20 million EUR under the Joint Operational Program “Black Sea Basin 2014-2020” will be implemented in Varna, Burgas and Stara Zagora.
The 2014-2020 Black Sea Basin Joint European Neighborhood Operational Program has a total budget of nearly EUR 54 million. Its territorial coverage includes the Northeastern and Southeastern regions of Bulgaria, Central Macedonia, Eastern Macedonia and Thrace in Greece, the southeastern region of Romania, Turkey with the cities, Istambul, Tekirdag, Edirne, Kirklareli, Kocaeli, Sakarya, Duzzhe, Bolu, Yalova, Zonguldak, Karabuk, Barton, Kastamonu, Chankyri, Sinop, Samsun, Tokat, Chorum, Amasia, Trabzon, Ordu, Giresun, Rise, Artvin, Gumyushane. Partner countries are Armenia, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine with Odessa, Nikolaev, Kherson, Zaporozhye and Donetsk, Crimea and Sevastopol.
The overall objective of the Black Sea Basin ENI CBC programme is “to improve the welfare of the people in the Black Sea Basin regions through sustainable growth and joint environmental protection”.
In doing so, the Programme will pursue two of the ENI CBC overarching strategic objectives:
- Promote economic and social development in regions on both sides of common borders
- Address common challenges in environment, public health, safety and security
Expected results:
- Stronger cross-border business opportunities in the tourism and cultural sectors in Black Sea Basin
- Increased cross-border links for trade and modernisation in the agricultural and connected sectors in Black Sea Basin
- Improved availability of cross-border compatible environmental monitoring data and information within Black Sea Basin
- Increased awareness on environmental challenges and good waste management practices related to river and marine litter within Black Sea Basin
The 23 projects were approved in the framework of the first call for project proposals and 20 Bulgarian partners were involved. The process of signing contracts for the approved project proposals is in progress, as soon as they start-up and their actual implementation are due. This was announced by the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works (MRDPW).
From Burgas District municipalities and non-governmental organizations participate in 6 projects under the Program, with the budget of the Bulgarian partners amounting to over 1.6 million EUR. Among them are the municipalities of Bourgas, Sozopol and Malko Tarnovo, Via Pontica Foundation, Association for Tourism Development in Nessebar Municipality, Green Strandzha Association and others.
“The project “Innovative Technologies and Methods for Reducing Marine Solid Waste along the Black Sea Coast”, priority 2.2. “Awareness Raising and Joint Actions for Reducing River and Marine Waste”, Joint Operational Program “Black Sea Basin 2014-2020” will be implemented jointly with partners from Romania (University of Constanta) and Georgia (Tbilisi State University), the leading partner is the Via Pontica Foundation”, Ina Agonfonova from Via Pontica Foundation announced.
The main objective of the project is to reduce pollution of the Black Sea basin by tracking and analyzing the main waste streams and carrying out pilot activities to clean pre-defined areas of solid marine waste.
For this purpose, the following main activities will be carried out:
- Exploring the current state of a defined target area on the Black Sea coast, collecting information on sources of pollution, quantity and composition of marine solid waste and monitoring.
2. Development of a manual for waste management in the marine environment.
3. Development of a methodology for the identification of so-called “hot spots” as sources of point and diffuse pollution.
4. Development of a project website.
5. Making a documentary for the purposes of the project.
6. Development and dissemination of project information materials.
The duration of the project is 30 months – from 01.09.2018 to 28.02.2021. The budget for the whole project is 100% EU grant financing.