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:
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
