Category: Sin categoría

Hi there, my name is Sakina Belahcen, and I have been an IVY volunteer supporting the Managing Authority of the Romania-Bulgaria Interreg Programme for nearly three months. My role involves assisting with communication, event organization, and the Post 2027 citizen consultation. Interreg V-A Romania-Bulgaria Programme The Interreg VI-A Romania-Bulgaria Programme, funded by the European Regional Development Fund, aims to enhance the Romanian-Bulgarian cross-border area from 2021 to 2027. This EU cross-border cooperation programme addresses regional challenges and fosters projects that have a significant cross-border impact, benefiting residents, businesses, and institutions. Building on the successes of previous programmes, it invests in climate change, risk management, environmental protection, resource efficiency, sustainable transport, employment, and workforce mobility. The programme has a total budget of 207,457,162 euros, and its beneficiaries include public administrations, businesses, NGOs, universities, research institutions, civil society, and environmental and business support organizations. The funds are allocated across four priority axes: A well-connected region A green region An educated region An integrated region Eligible areas include seven Romanian counties (Mehedinti, Dolj, Olt, Teleorman, Giurgiu, Calarasi, Constanta) and eight Bulgarian districts (Vidin, Vratsa, Montana, Pleven, Veliko Tarnovo, Ruse, Silistra, Dobrich). The Managing Authority, where my IVY experience is taking place, is responsible for the programme’s overall administration and expenditure certification. Hosted by the Romanian Ministry of Public Works, Development, and Administration, I am working and learning about cohesion policy in the cross-border area along with six Romanian colleagues and one other IVY volunteer. My IVY Experience So Far Welcomed by the city of Bucharest, a vibrant metropolis known for its rich history, diverse architecture, and dynamic cultural scene, I was able to learn a lot about the work of Interreg in the Eastern European region. The Managing Authority is located right next to the Romanian Parliament, in the premises of the Ministry of Public Works, Development, and Administration. I also had the chance to discuss and connect with various professionals working in other Interreg bodies such as the Interreg NEXT Black Sea Basin Programme or the EU Strategy for the Danube Region, learning more about their work and impact in the region. Touching a bit on all the subjects covered by Interreg, I am able to expand my experience by discovering various projects in the field of education, sustainable tourism, connectivity, and more, taking place in the cross-border region. As soon as I arrived in Romania, I was directly involved in the programme activities, having the opportunity to intervene at Craiova Law University to not only present the impact of the programme for the cross-border region Romania-Bulgaria but also discuss the topic of youth involvement in the EU and share potential opportunities that young Europeans can take advantage of in the region, such as the IVY programme. We engaged in an active discussion with young Romanians. So far, my experience has granted me many opportunities to travel and gain knowledge on development in Eastern Europe. I also had the opportunity to participate in the kick-off meeting of the DISMAR project in the Bulgarian city of Ruse, discovering firsthand the achievements of projects under the Interreg programme and discussing with active beneficiaries. More generally, I am also greatly involved in communication campaigns on the programme website and social media channels, creating posts to promote the projects under the programme and encourage potential beneficiaries to apply to the new call for proposals. Last but not least, I am currently planning to organize a Citizen Engagement Activity in the region under the European Commission and the Association of European Border Regions on the theme of sustainable tourism and cohesion policy. So, stay tuned for more info! Overall, I would greatly encourage European youth to apply for an IVY experience. It is the perfect opportunity to develop your early career in European cooperation, discovering many fields of action and being able to discuss with professionals involved in various stages of European development, while experiencing a fulfilling multi-cultural experience. – Sakina, IVY Reporter for the Managing Authority Interreg Romania-Bulgaria Learn more about the Interreg Romania – Bulgaria Programme Click Here

Hello! I am Emirjeta, an IVY Reporter for the Italian National Contact Point (NCP) of Interreg Euro-MED Programme in Florence. I started this journey in May, and from the very beginning it has been immensely enriching. It allowed me to dive into the intricacies of regional cooperation and the EU Cohesion Policy, while working closely with a dedicated and inspiring team. The colleagues at Regione Toscana have been exceptionally welcoming and supportive, which has made my transition into this role smooth and enjoyable.  The Interreg Euro-MED Programme The Interreg Euro-MED Programme is dedicated to fostering cross-border cooperation across the Mediterranean. Euro-MED brings together partners from 69 regions across 14 countries (10 EU Member States and 4 IPA countries) on the Northern Mediterranean shore, that have the same unified goal of creating a climate-neutral and resilient society that benefits all its citizens. The mission of the Euro-MED Programme is to build a lasting change in the Mediterranean by making the region smarter, greener, and enhancing governance among its stakeholders. The National Contact Point in Florence Regione Toscana is the Italian National Contact Point (NCP) for the Interreg Euro-MED Transnational Cooperation Program for the 2021-2027 programming period. The role of the NCP in Florence is pivotal in supporting the mission of the Programme, it provides essential information to national potential beneficiaries about the Programme, calls for projects, and the administrative requirements for submitting applications. The NCP also assists beneficiaries during project implementation, facilitating the communication and dissemination of knowledge, experiences, and project results.  My experience so far… In my role within the NCP, I have been involved in various activities that have allowed me to contribute meaningfully to the Programme. I am helping with the creation of the Italian website for the Euro-MED Programme, writing short articles on specific topics, and disseminating news on social media. Additionally, I am assisting with the newsletter that will be shared in the following weeks.  I have already participated in multiple meetings regarding the Programme and reported on them, gaining valuable insights into the workings of the Interreg Euro-MED. Notably, I have also taken part in very important and formative bilateral meetings organized by the NCP with beneficiaries and project partners. During these meetings, we provide assistance to those seeking help with creating and presenting their projects, as well as offering information and clarifications about the Programme and the various ways they can participate. These interactions have been instrumental in enhancing my understanding of project development and stakeholder engagement. Currently, the 5th call for project applications is open, and I am actively helping the NCP with the organization of the Italian Info day, an informative session for stakeholders and Programme beneficiaries. I am happy about my decision to become an IVY and am very grateful for this opportunity. I have been learning a lot so far, and I hope to continue in this direction. This role is not only enriching me professionally but it is also broadening my perspectives on international cooperation and sustainable development. I look forward to contributing further to the Programme and making a positive impact through my volunteering work. – Emirjeta Ibrahimi, IVY Reporter at the National Contact Point Italy, for the Interreg Programme Euro-MED Learn more about the Interreg Euro-MED Programme Click Here

Hi everyone! I’m Irene and I’m at the end of my IVY experience at Metropolitan City of Turin as IVY Project Partner. These months have been so full and important for my personal growth. I’m so grateful to my host organization and to my mentor who support and guide me in volunteering. Thanks to this experience I could know more how EU works with countries, in particular in border region and what kind of funds exist to develop vulnerable areas. Helping my mentor in the project activities’ I could know better the mountain area near Turin and know local people. In fact, we went sometimes to Ala di Stura and Balme, the 2 municipalities involved in the project, to engage stakeholders in spreading summer survey to turists and also to do a walk-through to discover cultural and historical attraction. It was an opportunity to understand how develop tourism not only based on snow but enhancing other attraction of the pilot area. Since the project ends in december 2026, Metropolitan City of Turin as partner of the Interreg project, is working to deploy a pilot action on the 2 municipalities. For that reason my host organization set up some meeting with local authorities and I had the opportunity to take part and participate to discussion about what it’s the better choice for a tourism development of the area. In the last month as IVY volunteer, I helped my mentor in writing a draft of the strategic plan for tourism development in the pilot area and it was really challenging but satysfing because I could understand how this process works. I’m so happy of my experience at Metropolitan City of Turin because it’s a welcoming workplace and I could learn lot of things about project and I had the chance to get involved in every activity! It was an interesting experience that helped me to better understand what I want to do in my future! – Irene Rigoletti, IVY Project Partner for the Interreg Alpine Space project “BeyondSnow” at “Metropolitan City of Turin”.

Greetings, Interreg community! ✨ My name is Kyriakos Kourtidis. I am a recent Master’s graduate in International and European Studies from Thessaloniki, Greece, and currently, I act as an Interreg IVY Reporter for the INTERREG Programme VI-A Romania-Bulgaria, based in Bucharest. My education has provided me with a solid theoretical understanding of the EU’s Economic, Social, and Territorial Cohesion Policy. Within this framework, having the intention to deepen my understanding and gain more experience in European Territorial Cooperation, I decided to join an Interreg Programme as an IVY Reporter. About the Programme The Interreg VI-A Romania-Bulgaria Programme supports the development of the cross-border areas, in Romania and Bulgaria by financing joint projects. What is the Programme’s main goal? The programme aims to enhance the cooperation between the two bordering countries, Romania and Bulgaria, with the goal to help the border areas overcome their similar development challenges. Who benefits from it? Under the Interreg Programme, people living in the border area between Romania and Bulgaria benefit from enhanced cross-border cooperation by working together on common challenges. This includes effective information exchange, improved accessibility across the frontier, flood prevention measures, risk management plans, preservation of natural assets 🌿, and tourism promotion, among other initiatives. My activities as an IVY As an Interreg IVY Reporter, I am hosted by the Managing Authority of the Interreg Romania-Bulgaria Programme together with another IVY, with whom we are based in the Ministry of Development, Public Works and Administration, in Bucharest. As an IVY, my activities include: (1) Designing creative campaigns on social media in order to improve the Programme’s visibility and to increase stakeholder’s engagement. Notably, we launched a communication campaign with weekly Facebook posts, aiming to inspire interested parties to send their project proposals under the “Call for Proposals – An Educated Region”. 🎓 (2) Writing articles for the website/social media related to the programme’s and projects events, as well as communicating other aspects of the programme implementation. 💻 (3) Supporting the preparation, organization and communication of the public consultations on the future of Cohesion Policy for Interreg Programmes, post 2027. One notable mention of such an activity would be the consultation session with students at the Law Faculty of Craiova ⚖. Our team comprising of two Managing Authority representatives and the two of us IVYs Reporters presented to the students the Interreg Programme, informed them about the cross-border area and collected their views for the future development of the border area. Last but not least, taking the opportunity of this event, we the IVYs presented the IVY initiative, shared our experience with the young students 👨🏻‍👩🏻‍ and encouraged them to similarly embrace the Interreg Volunteer Youth initiative. (4) Taking part and supporting the Programme’s events. One very recent and relevant example of such an event was the kick-off meeting of the DISMAR project that took place in Ruse, Bulgaria. The DISMAR project is one of the strategic projects of the programme, which aims to enhance the safety of navigation and efficiency on the common Romanian-Bulgarian sector of the Danube River. 🌊 🚢 Don’t hesitate to follow the updates of the programme on Facebook, LinkedIn and the website. My two months experience as an IVY was complimented by my participation to the EUs Macro-Regional & Sea Basin Strategies Days, 2024, which took place in Brussels. In this event, I and other IVYs, acting as representatives of the initiative, presented to relevant stakeholders the possibility for them to host Interreg volunteers, as well. Most importantly, Interreg IVY offered me the opportunity to gain ownership of EU policies and contribute to EU cooperation. In conclusion, if I may paraphrase the final remark of Commissioner Elisa Ferreira during the Macro-Regional Strategy Days: we, the European youth, adhering to the value of cooperation – Europe’s birth certificate – should be proud of this, do it well, and make it visible! – Kyriakos, IVY Reporter for the Managing Authority Interreg Romania-Bulgaria Learn more about the Interreg Romania – Bulgaria Programme Click Here

My name is Jip. I’m a 25-years-old IVY volunteer at the Interreg Flanders-the Netherlands programme. I have started in May, and now I am about a third into my IVY experience. Here, I see first-hand how interregional cooperation works and what it can do! Flanders and the Netherlands share not only a language but are also very alike in culture, and they share similar contemporary challenges and opportunities. It makes sense, therefore, that they work together to address these challenges. Over the past two months, I have been visiting the various Interreg projects that try to do so. These projects cover a whole range of topics. As an IVY, I assist with the public consultations and I visit projects and write articles about. Visiting these projects has been even more fun and interesting than I had thought they would be beforehand. This is mostly because of the enthusiasm of the project managers and the interesting topics they address. Among others, I have visited a project that is trying to reintroduce otters to Flanders and the Netherlands; a project that is trying to facilitate sustainable tourism right in a park right on the border between the two countries; and a project that trains health-care workers to become innovators at their own organization. Moreover, I have gone to castles and robotics fairs and I have been on boats and on peatery excursions. During these visits, I have spend a surprising amount of time outside in nature. The themes have been far and wide, and I have spoken with intriguing people and learned a great deal at each of these events. This experience has shown me how diverse, fun and important these Interreg projects and the programme are. Interreg facilitates important opportunities for cooperation that might otherwise have been overlooked. Moreover, I am directly witnessing the positive influence that the projects have on their environment. This has made the experience so far quite special. I still have four more months to go, and I am looking forward to more fun outings that are sure to follow! – Jip, IVY Reporter at the Joint Secretariat of Interreg Belgium-The Netherlands (Vlaanderen-Nederland) Programme. Learn more about the Interreg Belgium-The Netherlands Click Here

The AZA4ICE project is dedicated to promoting sustainable and circular aquaculture practices that protect ecosystems and preserve aquatic resources, with innovative approaches to identify and manage suitable aquaculture areas in close-to-coast and inland waters, considering conservation, environmental, social, and economic aspects. By fostering multi-stakeholder participatory environments and utilizing aquaculture spatial planning through Allocated Zones for Circular Aquaculture (C-AZA), it aims to enhance sustainable water management and build resilience and competitiveness in the sector. AZA4ICE has its focus split between the AZA4ICE Methodology and the LiRRIEs (Living Responsible Research and Innovation Ecosystems). The Methodology is concerned with the aforementioned C-AZA where weather and climate data of the region is collected, specifically targeting close-to-coast and inland waters, in order to produce results regarding a species analysis, with which it is analyzed which fish species can thrive under the specific conditions of the area, and circular economy practices, where waste product from the farms is reused through the developing IMTA technology. All of this is done in order to create efficient aquaculture farms that do not affect the local population, because they can prosper in areas that do not intervene with tourism and the local economy. On the other hand, LiRRIEs is concerned with engaging stakeholders in the AZA4ICE collaborative process through events and communication in order to get opinions and feedback from them and with that, develop Action Plans that support sustainable aquaculture and foster economic growth in long term preserving environment and improving quality of life. The role Dynamic Vision has in is managing the communications and exposure of the project and as an IVY Volunteer I have worked on the visual identity of the project and the creation of its new website, as well as its social media channels. We have tried to showcase the identity of the project by designing the logo, getting photos that express the core idea of the project and creating brochures. We had to create a new template for the website to make it more usable and easily understandable for everyone. While, also, through the social media channels we have tried to provide updates on the project and the events that members have organized and attended. In short, we have tried to get more attention towards the project and engagement from stakeholders. Aquaculture is characterized by EU Green Deal as a “low-carbon food system”. This project can be beneficial for people living in close-to-coast and inland waters across the Euro-Mediterranean region because through it aquaculture will be further improved, producing less waste and transforming the sector to a clean industry that does not affect the local ecosystems. The project’s Action Plans are designed for adoption by public authorities, which in turn can improve economic development of the area. AZA4ICE’s efforts benefit all the countries in the region but go beyond that to benefit society as a whole as it introduces an innovative way to reinforce aquaculture adopting circular economy practices. Communication between partners is coordinated by Dynamic Vision so we have to communicate and disseminate the project’s achievements to maximize their visibility while also sharing its results. To ensure communication between all partners, in this semester we are currently developing a Communication Plan which means we are defining the role other partners have and the tasks that have to be done in communication, activities objectives, common branding, stakeholders’ mapping method, guidelines for green dissemination products or events, communication channels and providing a time plan. To do this we are using a Communication 3-Level approach which ensures effective results transfer and inclusive communication, considering accessibility and inclusiveness. Level 1 is “Map and Reach” where the objective is to identify and reach relevant stakeholders, Level 2 is “Involve & Engage” where the objective is to actively involve and engage stakeholders in project activities and Level 3 is “Adopt & Commit” where the objective is to maximize project impact and ensure long-term commitment. By following this approach, the project ensures that all voices are heard and informed, enhancing the overall impact and sustainability of AZA4ICE. – Dimitris, IVY Project Partner for Interreg Euro-MED project “AZA4ICE” at the Dynamic Vision P. C. Learn more about the AZA4ICE project Click Here Discover more about the host organisation Click Here