The Management Authority within the Ministry of Development, Public Works, and Administration, together with the Joint Technical Secretariat from Suceava, organized the closing conference of the Romania-Ukraine cross-border cooperation program.

The conference brought together the structures that managed the program from both participating states, as well as the funding beneficiaries from Romania and Ukraine. The authorities responsible for implementing the program discussed the challenges encountered during the 8 years of implementation and the measures taken during this period to successfully complete the projects.

From the digitization of the entire process (contract signing, report preparation, conducting events in online or hybrid formats) to supplementing project budgets affected by material price increases, to extending the implementation period due to pandemic restrictions and Russia's aggression against Ukraine, the program was successfully concluded, and European funds were spent for the benefit of border communities.

"We are talking about a program that unfolded during a period of huge challenges, which we wouldn't have imagined a few years ago: the COVID-19 pandemic, Russia's aggression against Ukraine. All the more reason to appreciate the extraordinary effort made by all those involved to successfully complete the initiated projects, the flexibility shown by everyone to adapt to the new context," said Aurel-Dragoș Drăghescu, State Secretary in the Ministry of Development, Public Works, and Administration.

Partners from over 25 projects funded by the program addressed the audience in Suceava and talked about the needs that led to the implementation of the projects, the challenges, and the satisfactions of making investments on both sides of the Romania-Ukraine border.

Additionally, the partnerships already established will be leveraged to access new funds available through the Interreg NEXT Romania-Ukraine Program.

Approximately 250 participants attended the event, representing the structures that managed the program from the two participating states, namely the Ministry of Development, Public Works, and Administration of Romania and the Secretariat of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, representatives of the European Commission, the Consulate General of Romania in Chernivtsi, and the Embassy of Ukraine in Bucharest, as well as numerous Romanian and Ukrainian beneficiaries of European funds.

On April 18, representatives of the European Commission, together with the program's Management Authority and the National Authority of Ukraine, visited the projects funded in Suceava and Botoșani.

The training ground in Siret for emergency interventions, the modernized school in Bălcăuți equipped with IT equipment and interactive boards, and the underground museum built in the historic center of Botoșani are projects that have benefited from cooperation funds and were visited by the delegation present in Suceava.

The Joint Operational Program Romania-Ukraine 2014-2020, funded by the European Union, supported 66 projects, with a total value of 66 million euros.

Investments aimed at rehabilitating transport infrastructure, modernizing and equipping medical facilities, schools, and universities, restoring tourist attractions in the border area, preparing authorities and the population for emergencies. The program targets the counties of Satu Mare, Maramureş, Botosani, Suceava, Tulcea, in Romania, and the oblasts of Ivano-Frankivsk, Zakarpattia, Chernivtsi, Odesa, in Ukraine.

All information regarding the Joint Operational Program Romania-Ukraine 2014-2020 can be found on the dedicated website, www.ro-ua.net.