1 SUCEAVA COUNTY COUNCIL Department of External Partnerships

Home , Dragomirna (Suceava), Izvoarele Sucevei, Moldova (river), Putna Monastery, Siret, Suceava

SUCEAVA COUNTY COUNCIL Department of external partnerships and diaspora

Chernivtsi region

The most important activities commonly developed, since the signing of the partnership between Suceava county and Chernivtsi region, in Ukraine, were as follows:

- twinning between schools and territorial-administrative units from Suceava county with similar ones from Chernivtsi region; - exchanges of experience between specialists from different fields of activity in the two regions; - participation, based on reciprocity, in rest camps, organized for children; - organizing, in common, folklore festivals, poetry contests, performances; - study trips; - sport competitions between students; - organizing conferences, symposiums, training activities with the participation of teachers, school inspectors and school directors from the two partner regions in order to conclude partnerships and to promote projects of common interest; - exchange of teaching materials, books; - providing school programs for the assimilation (familiarization with) of the mother tongue, knowledge of the history and traditions of minorities; - regular work meetings at the headquarters of the two administrative-territorial units, as well as at the PCTF Siret-Porubne and Porubne-Siret, with the participation of the administrative leaders of Suceava county and Chernivtsi region. In the field of culture, a series of activities of particular importance have been carried out, for the organization of which Suceava County Council, as well as the Cernăuţi Regional State Administration and Chernivtsi Regional Council have contributed, among which we mention: - the unveiling of the bust of the Ukrainian writer Olga Kobeleanskaia at Gura Humorului, of the national poet Taras Shevencenco at Negostina, of the statues of Mihai Eminescu at Chernivtsi; - organizing meetings in Suceava county on issues of Ukrainian minorities from Suceava county and Romanian minorities from Chernivtsi region; - participation at the cultural - artistic manifestations of minorities, which has become traditional, such as: "Convictions", "Martyrs", "Meetings in Bukovina, T.G. Shevchenko Days; - participation in the cultural events dedicated to the national holiday "Bucovina Day", the National Culture Day celebrations, the Days of Romanian Traditional Culture in Chernivtsi, as well as at the International Festival of Romanian Popular Music in the Garden with many flowers; - in July 2, 2017, a delegation from the Chernivtsi region, respectively representatives of the State Regional Administration and of the Regional Council, participated in the actions programmed within the Stefanian Program at Putna Monastery in Suceava county; - in July 28, 2017, a representative of Chernivtsi Regional Council participated in the actions organized in the framework of the XXVIII edition of the International Folklore Festival "Bucovinian Meetings", which took place in the municipality of Câmpulung Moldovenesc, Suceava county and in which Artistic ensembles from Poland, Ukraine, Romania and Hungary participated;

Other activities:

- Conducting 18 editions of the International Football Tournament for Junior "4 Regions for Europe", attended by juniors under 16 years old, from Chernivtsi - Ukraine, Schwaben - Germany, Suceava County - Romania and Mayenne Department in France, the last edition 1

being organised in August 2019, in Suceava county; Thus, Suceava County hosted 120 people, representatives of the sports, cultural and administrative delegations from the Department of Mayenne - France, Schwaben - Germany and Chernivtsi - Ukraine. Starting with 2010, in addition to the boys' sporting event, cultural events were organized within the tournament, with girls from the 4 regions, aged 13-17. For the event of August 2019, Suceava County Council, as organizer, invited young people passionate about chamber music, 5 musicians from each region, who held a recital on the festive evening of the tour, interpreting representative pieces for the 4 regions. The tournament takes place, by rotation, in each partner region, Suceava County hosting for the fifth time this event, the previous editions being organized in Câmpulung Moldovenesc (2003), Suceava (2007, 2011) and Pojorâta (2015). The event is part of the cooperation partnerships that Suceava County has concluded with Schwaben, in Germany, Chernivtsi of Ukraine and the Mayenne Department of France, that started since 1997. The aim of the tour is to unite young people of different nationalities and cultures through sport and culture, facilitating bonding between pupils. - 3 joint meetings were held, at Chernivtsi Regional Council and at Suceava County Council (September 15, 2008, in Chernivtsi; 23.11.2012, respectively October 21, 2016, in Suceava). - Participation in various events organized by Chernivtsi Regional State Administration (November 7, 2008 - Bucovina CEI III Work Seminar "Trans Regional Trade - Technological Transfer - Challenges of the Three Millennium"; 25.02.2009 - Conference "Interaction of Local Public Administrations and NGOs for the development of the tourism field "; 30.11.-01.12.2010 - The International Conference on the topic" Clustering Capacity of Transit Points in Central and Eastern Europe "; 11.05.2011 – international conference Bukovina Dialogue - the cultural history of a region; November 1-2, 2016 - Ukrainian-Romanian-Moldovan business forum "Ukraine-Moldova-Romania: cross-border cooperation. Current status, trends and perspectives"); - 27-29.05.2013, the third edition of the Bukovina Dialogue event was organised in Suceava, with the support of the Austrian Embassy in Bucharest, in order to promote dialogue and economic exchanges in the historical area of Bucovina; - On August 2-4, 2013, at the Fair of Popular Craftsmen held in the Museum of the Bukovina Village, five folk craftsmen participated and also the folkloric ensemble "Ţărăncuţa" from Novoseliţa district, which supported a program of traditional Ukrainian songs and dances; - On 23-24 August 2013, in Hotin, an exhibition was opened with photographs taken from the plane, entitled "Moldavian Founders", with objectives from the UNESCO Patrimony of Romania, Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova; - On November 2, 2013, representatives of the Mountain Rescue Department within the county council participated in the Extreme Games event in Bukovina, organized by the Sports Tourism Federation from Chernivtsi region; - starting with 2014, Suceava County Council through "Bucovina" Cultural Centre has implemented the cultural project "Eminescian Traces" attended by students from classes V-XII, from schools in Chernivtsi region. On August 14, at Putna Monastery, the prizes of the Recital Competition of the Eminescian lyric "LA PUTNA" were held; - on July 31, 2016, the project August - Diaspora Month of the program Come to Bucovina was launched in Suceava! On this occasion, the inauguration of the Museum of Bukovina was held, which was reopened to the visiting public, after a pause of 2 and a half years, as long as the modernization works were carried out, within a project financed from structural funds. In this context Suceava County Council was the host of delegations from Ukraine (Chernivtsi Regional State Administration, Chernivtsi Regional Council, Chernivtsi City Hall). The program also included opening of the exhibition "Ie (traditional Romanian blouse) and shirts from

Bukovina", as well as other exhibitions with themes from Bucovina (photos, paintings), a visit to the 21st edition of the Fair of Popular Craftsmen, within the Museum of the Bukovina Village, an extraordinary concert of the band Sistem, opening for the first time of the permanent exhibition in the Fortress of Suceava and a concert held by the singer Nicu Alifantis;

- 30.09.2016, at the headquarters of the county council, a meeting of the businessmen from the Chernivtsi Region took place with counterparts from Suceava county, at this event also participating representatives of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Suceava;

- at the New Year's show of customs and traditions, organized in Suceava on December 27, 2016, during the Christmas program in Bukovina, two groups of dancers of winter customs from the Chernivtsi region took part, namely Malanca from Crasna and the popular amateur ensemble of “Ceremşina” dance of the Popular Art House in the city of Vășcăuţi. Malanca Bucovina was presented at the show, with bands from Suceava county and Chernivtsi region;

- at the Festival Malanca de Bucovina, organized in Chernivtsi, during January 13 to January 15, 2017, a delegation from Suceava county also participated, composed of representatives of the local public administration and of the folkloric groups in the county;

- January 15, 2017, on the Day of the Romanian National Culture, in Chernivtsi, the delegation of the county council participated in the cultural events, thus, celebrating the date of the birth of the national poet and depositing a wreath at the Monument of Mihai Eminescu, in the centre of Chernivtsi;

- February 16, 2017, in Suceava, an exchange of experience was organized between specialists from Chernivtsi and counterparts from Suceava county in the field of social and psychological rehabilitation of children with organic disorders of the nervous system. The delegation of Chernivtsi Region included: representatives of the Social Assistance Directorate of the Chernivtsi Regional State Administration, of Bucovina Regional Centre for the social rehabilitation of children with disabilities, of Chernivtsi Regional Council and a psychologist. During the discussions, several possibilities for collaboration were outlined and the Ukrainian delegation expressed its wish to use the Romanian experience in the field for preparing and submitting projects for non-reimbursable financing under the Romania-Ukraine Joint Operational Program 2014-2020;

- February 19-21, 2017, in Suceava an exchange of experience took place, between specialists from Suceava county and counterparts from Kelmenețchi rayon of Chernivtsi region, with the theme examples of good practices in education. In this action 10 specialists in education from Ukraine and 20 teachers from Romania participated;

- February 22, 2017, in Suceava, an exchange of experience was organized between specialists from Chernivtsi and counterparts from Suceava county in the health field. The Ukrainian delegation participated in a working meeting, organized in the headquarters of Public Health Directorate Suceava, where the health system in Romania compared to the one in Ukraine was analysed; the drugs used in the case of epidemics (influenza, measles) were discussed; influenza virus strains in circulation in the two countries; percentage of private and state pharmacies; access of the population to medicines; how medical services are provided to the population;

- May 11-13, 2017 a medical delegation from the Chernivtsi Region participated in the Conference "The Medical Days of Suceava" - VI edition, 2017, organized by the Suceava College of Physicians, the Academy of Medical Sciences, the University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Gr. T. Popa ”Iași, Order of the Medical Assistants Generalists, Certified Nurse Midwife and Medical Assistants of Romania - Suceava Branch, County Chamber of the Union of Doctors Suceava;

- May 23, 2017, at the Border Point (PCTF) Siret-Porubne a work meeting was held in which representatives of Suceava County Council, of Chernivtsi Regional State Administration, 3

Chernivtsi Regional Council, STC (BRCT) Suceava, attended, and where topics of common interest were addressed, the most important being: - modernization of the border points; - the situation of the projects in progress; - preparation of a joint meeting to be held in Chernivtsi; - attracting regions from Poland in the process of implementing an express road linking Warsaw to Bucharest, through Chernivtsi and Suceava.

- June 14, 2017, at the PCTF Siret-Porubne a work meeting was held, attended by the representatives of Suceava County Council, Chernivtsi Regional State Administration, Chernivtsi Regional Council, railway services in Romania and Ukraine. There were debates regarding the introduction of two Suceava- Chernivtsi rail trains and return. Subsequently, on June 21, 2017, at the train station in Vadul Siret, discussions continued, at the level of regional authorities and experts, in order to establish the technical solutions regarding the introduction of the two trains. The representatives of the railways have technically agreed, identifying a viable solution regarding the possibility of introducing the railways, respectively the transhipment on the platform of the railway station in Vadul Siret (considering the difference of gauge between the railways of the two countries);

- June 27, 2017, at the Border Point (PCTF) Siret-Porubne a new meeting was held in which representatives of Suceava County Council, Institution of the Prefect - Suceava County, Chernivtsi Regional Council, Chernivtsi Regional State Administration, customs authorities, border police and rail services participated, from the two administrative-territorial units. The meeting resumed the theme of introducing the two Suceava- Chernivtsi railways and return, for the relief of traffic through the Siret-Porubne area, in the context of the visa regime liberalization in the community space for Ukrainian citizens;

- September 19, 2017, at the Border Point (PCTF) Siret-Porubne a meeting was attended by representatives of Suceava County Council, of the Prefect Institution - Suceava County, Chernivtsi Regional Council, Chernivtsi Regional State Administration, customs authorities, border police and security services, railways in Ukraine and Romania. The purpose of the meeting was to establish the concrete steps for the operation of the two trains for transporting persons on the route Suceava- Chernivtsi and return. The Railsway transport (CFR) representatives submitted that they agree to operate with the two pairs of regio trains and to introduce them in the new train journey, but the final decision belongs to the Ministry of Transport;

- December 5, 2017, representatives of Regional Association of the Red Cross from Chernivtsi paid a visit to Suceava County, to start the collaboration with the National Red Cross Society of Romania - Suceava Branch;

- November 28, 2017, on the occasion of the 99th anniversary of the Union of Bucovina with Romania, Suceava County Council organized a series of actions, involving several public institutions. This event was attended by doctors from Chernivtsi city, representatives of the locality of Mahala, as well as representatives of Soroca District Council of the Republic of Moldova;

- December 5, 2017, Suceava County received the visit of a delegation led by Mr. Ivan Muntean, the president of Chernivtsi Regional Council. During the work meeting, Mr. Andrei Gordiciuk, the founder of COK / FNAC, the first national agricultural cooperative in Ukraine announced his intention to establish collaborative relations with economic agents from Suceava county, who are active in the agricultural field, in order to process raw materials from Ukraine. Starting from these premises, on December 18, 2017, at the PCTF Siret-Porubne, another work meeting was organized, attended by representatives of Chernivtsi Regional Council, Chernivtsi Regional State Administration, the General Consulate of Romania in Chernivtsi, and of the two Regional Development Agencies in Chernivtsi and Piatra Neamț, some representatives of

institutions / organizations that support the development of the business environment and the activity of companies and representatives of companies / producer associations that are active in the field of processing agricultural products for discussions, in order to materialize a cooperation in this area. During the same meeting, other topics were addressed, respectively: the prospects for the development of small and medium-sized businesses in Suceava county and Chernivtsi region, the continuation of the cooperation between the two Chambers of Commerce and Industry and the intensification of the commercial exchanges between the economic agents of the two administrative-territorial units;

- on December 27, 2017, at the International Festival of New Year's Customs and Habits "Following the Old Habits" organized in Suceava, groups from Ukraine (Bands from Oprișeni and Mihoreni) and Republic of Moldova (Ensemble "Ciobănaș de la Mioare") participated.

- at the invitation of Chernivtsi Regional Council, a delegation of Suceava County Council participated on January 11, 2018, at the inauguration of the School with teaching in Romanian language, in Iordănești, Chernivtsi region.

- between 14 and 15 January 2018, a delegation of Suceava County Council participated in the "Malanca" Festival, organized by Chernivtsi Regional Council.

- Between March 8 and 9, 2018, Suceava County received the visit of a delegation from Ukraine led by the presidents of Chernivtsi and Lviv Regional Councils, in order to discuss cross-border issues of common interest. On this occasion, the issue of Ukrainian ethnicities from Suceava county and Romanians from Ukraine was also addressed, the president of Lviv Regional Council proposing to organize, in Suceava, a summer school for children of Ukrainian ethnicity in Suceava county, with the involvement of Lviv Regional Council. On May 30, 2018, Suceava County Council adopted the Decision no. 84 regarding the approval of a Collaboration Agreement between Suceava County through Suceava County Council and Lviv Region through Lviv Regional Council, Suceava County School Inspectorate, the Ukrainian Union of Romania-Suceava Branch and Bălcăuţi Commune through Bălcăuți Local Council for the organization and development of the 1st edition of Summer camp for children of Ukrainian ethnicity from Suceava county. Subsequently, the partners signed a collaboration agreement, the Summer School took place on July 16-20, 2018, in the locality of Bălcăuți, where the largest community of Ukrainian ethnicities in the county lives, the number of children participating in this action was over 100.

- On March 20, April 3 and 19, 2018, at the PCTF Siret-Porubne, work meetings were organised, with guests from Chernivtsi Region, to discuss issues regarding the preparation of cross-border projects that were promoted for funding under the Joint Operational Program Romania-Ukraine 2014-2020.

- The representatives of Chernivtsi Regional State Administration organized, on April 12, 2018, the regional festival "Flourish decorated egg" (“Înflorește ou încondeiat”) in which a delegation from Suceava county participated.

- On April 27, 2018, at the University of "Stefan cel Mare" Suceava, a conference was dedicated to the Centenary of the Great Union, with the theme: 100 years of Romanian Administration in Bucovina - 100 ARB, Suceava County Council being co-organizer of the event. The event was also attended by representatives from Chernivtsi region, respectively from the town halls of Jordan and Mahala.

- On the same day, in the town of Boian, Noua Sulița district, Chernivtsi region, the meeting of Prut de Sus Euroregion Council took place, during which several decisions and resolutions were adopted. The main purpose of the meeting was the transfer of the Presidium of the Upper Prut Euroregion from Balti municipality to Chernivtsi region, meaning decisions and resolutions

were adopted regarding the establishment of the new leadership, the Working Commissions, the Secretary and the Activity Plan, for the year 2018. According to the provisions of the Statute of the Upper Prut Euroregion, the presidency of this body is held, for a period of 1 year, by rotation, by all its members.

- On June 2, 2018, at "Olimpia" Sports and Recreation Centre, in the city of Chernivtsi, a mini- football match has held, between the Traffic Police (patrol) teams from the Chernivtsi region and the similar team from Suceava county. The purpose of this action was to strengthen the traditional relations of friendship, good neighbourliness and to establish a collaboration between specialists from the traffic police area in Chernivtsi -Suceava cross-border area.

- On June 21-23, 2018, a delegation of Suceava County Council participated in the third edition of the Local Development Forum "A new dimension of regional and local development", which took place in the city of Truskaveț in Lviv Region and organized by Lviv Regional Council of Ukraine. On the second day of the forum, the representatives of Suceava County Council participated actively in the plenary discussions on "Development of tourism and related infrastructure". The event was also attended by representatives of two partner regions of Suceava County, respectively Chernivtsi from Ukraine and Podkarpackie from Poland.

- During August, 5 and 12, 2018, Suceava County Council, in collaboration with Chernivtsi Regional Council, Stefan cel Mare University in Suceava, Bucovina Museum, Bucovina Cultural Centre, IG Sbiera Suceava Library and Suceava County School Inspectorate, implemented the 1st edition of the project Summer Camp in Suceava county for Romanian children from Chernivtsi region. As part of the project, Suceava County hosted 34 Romanian pupils from Chernivtsi region, with outstanding results in school, as well as for 6 Romanian teachers, who visited Suceava County, in order to familiarize themselves with local traditions and customs. The creation camp in Suceava county for Romanian children from Chernivtsi region was held in three creation workshops, respectively painting (managed by Mr. Pânzaru Mihai, representative of Bucovina Cultural Centre), crafts (managed by Mrs. Rusu Eutasia Geta, ethnographic responsible expert at Bucovina Cultural Centre, respectively Mrs. Cristea Carmen, popular master, responsible for the ceramic workshop and Nistor Iuliana-Celica, popular master, responsible for egg decorating workshop) and literature (managed by Mr. Vintilă Alexandru-Ovidiu, representative of the IG Sbiera Library of Bukovina”). The workshops were held in spaces provided by the Museum of Bucovina, respectively at the Museum of the Village of Bucovina. In addition to these workshops, there were organised visits to some tourist and cultural objectives in the county, as well as meetings with personalities from the academic, cultural, administrative environment. Thus, guests had the opportunity to visit the Fortress of Suceava, the History Museum, the Museum of Natural Sciences, Ion Irimescu Museum, Dragomirna and Putna Monasteries, Betty Ice Suceava Ice Cream Factory, the Black Ceramics Workshops in Marginea locality. Also, they visited IG Sbiera Library in Suceava, where the Book Battle project was discussed (implementation ways, results, sustainability), the idea was to undertake the best practices implemented in Suceava and put them into practice in schools in Chernivtsi, where the camp participants study. The program of the camp also included visiting Stefan cel Mare University in Suceava and presenting the opportunities offered by the higher education institution to future students. Accommodation of the guests was provided by the university, and the transport from Chernivtsi to Suceava and return, including travel in the county, to participate in the activities within the camp, was provided by Bucovina Cultural Centre. Bucovina Library I.G. Sbiera Suceava offered prizes (books) to the students from the literary section, the representative of Bucovina Cultural Centre made portraits for all the participants at the camp, and the folk craftsmen offered souvenirs.

- Regional Centre for Continuous Training and Improvement of the Officials of the State Bodies of the Local Public Administrations, of the Enterprises, Institutions and Organizations of

Chernivtsi State, organized a meeting on 24.08.2018, at the Administrative Palace of Suceava, within the project Effective communication of public administrations and civil society institutions: mechanisms, best practices and experience of implementation. The delegation of Chernivtsi region included representatives of the public administration and representatives of the university environment, civil society and media. During the meeting, there were discussions with representatives responsible with public relationships, afterwards a round table was organised with civil society representatives and an exchange of experience regarding the interaction with the authorities.

- Chernivtsi Regional State Administration organized, on September 30, 2018, in the village of Revakivți, Kitsman district, the regional agro-industrial fair "Bucovina Autumn 2018", in which a delegation of Suceava County Council also participated.

- On April 4-5, 2019, at "St. John the New" Emergency County Hospital in Suceava, a multidisciplinary regional symposium for endovascular and neurovascular therapies was held, which gathered neurologists, radiologists and interventionalists from all over the country. This event was also attended by doctors from Chernivtsi Region.

- On April 19, 2019, at "Stefan cel Mare" University of Suceava, a round table for discussions was held on the topic of augmenting "Prutul de Sus" Euroregion in the convergence phenomenon of the border territories attended by representatives of Suceava and Botosani County Councils, as well as some of the institutions from Chernivtsi, respectively Chernivtsi Regional State Administration, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Institute of Trade and Economy, Bucovina Centre for Regional Development and the Association "Tourist Bucovina". The event was organized in the form of a scientific debate on problems of the evolution of the Euroregion, and some proposals were developed suitable for the meeting of the Euroregion Council, in the context of the phenomenon of convergence of cross-border regions and the acceleration of the processes of European integration.

- On May 12, 2019, the General Consulate of Romania in Chernivtsi organized a public diplomacy event dedicated to the Presidency of Romania at the Council of the European Union, respectively a parade of the Romanian folk costume, entitled Unity through diversity, in which artistic collectives took part, from all Romanian villages from Chernivtsi region. The event was attended by representatives of Suceava County. Flowers were presented at Mihai Eminescu Monument and at the Statue of Taras Tchenchenko.

- By the Decision no. 30 of February 28, 2019, Suceava County Council approved the project "Trails of Stefan cel Mare voivode in the Upper Country of Moldova (Romania)", which was promoted for funding under the Culture Program - "Constantin Brâncuși", carried out by the Ministry for Romanians Everywhere (MPRP). In this context, after the approval of the financing by the ministry, Suceava County Council, in partnership with Museum of Bucovina, the Technical College "Petru Muşat" Suceava, Chernivtsi Regional Council, Soroca Rayon Council and the City Hall of Cricova, implemented this project, respectively in May. - August 2019. The general objective of the project was to preserve, develop and affirm the ethnic, cultural, religious identity and promote multiculturalism in the historical communities of Bukovina and Bessarabia. The project responded to the needs identified among the beneficiaries, aiming to educate the young generation in the spirit of knowing and respecting the history of Romania, with an emphasis on one of the most beloved symbols of Romanian history - Stefan cel Mare (Stephan the great) voivode. According to the program developed during the event, the arrival of the guests took place on the evening of June 28, 2019. On Saturday, June 29, 2019, the 36 participants took part in a few visits to tourist objectives, namely Voronet Monastery, Putna Monastery, Centre of Black Ceramic Marginea, as well as Sucevița Monastery. On Sunday, 30.06.2019, the 30 secondary school students and the 6 accompanying teachers participated in two workshops on acquainting Romanian history and culture, with an emphasis on knowledge development about Stefan cel Mare. The students were informed about the role and influence of the voivode personality in the development and affirmation of the

Romanian culture, in the context of European humanism. These workshops were held at the History Museum in Suceava, under the coordination of two museographers. In the afternoon of 30.06.2019, participants visited the Fortress of Suceava and the Village Museum. The visits to tourist objectives, some of them founded by the great voivode, was an important element of the project, which left the participants impressed, most of them visiting Suceava for the first time.

- On July 12, 2019, representatives of Chernivtsi Regional Council organized a series of actions in several localities in the region (meeting with the business environment and representatives of Chernivtsi Regional Development Agency, meeting with the new rector "Iurii Fedkovici" of the National University in Chernivtsi, the inauguration of an ambulatory, visit of a children's sanatorium and the opening of the fifteenth edition of the festival "From the garden with many flowers"), attended by the president of Suceava County Council.

- Between August 25-30, 2019, Suceava County hosted a delegation from Vienna (which also included doctors from the Vienna University Clinic for Surgery - Clinical Department for Vascular Surgery), who exchanged experiences in the medical field, both with specialists from the County Emergency Hospital ”Sf. Ioan cel Nou” Suceava, as well as with doctors from Chernivtsi region. During this activity, a visit to Chernivtsi was planned, between August 27- 28, 2019, the program comprising a visit to Chernivtsi Regional Council headquarters and discussions with doctors at the State Medicine University of Bucovina, respectively at Chernivtsi Regional Clinical Hospital.

- Between August 26 and 31, 2019, Suceava County Council, in collaboration with Chernivtsi Regional Council, Stefan cel Mare University of Suceava, Bucovina Museum, Bucovina Cultural Centre, I.G. Sbiera Suceava Library and Suceava County School Inspectorate, implemented the 2nd edition of the project Creation Camp in Suceava county for Romanian students from Chernivtsi region. As part of the project, Suceava County was host for 34 Romanian students from Chernivtsi region, with outstanding results in school, as well as for 6 Romanian teachers, who visited Suceava County, in order to familiarize themselves with local traditions and customs. The creation camp in Suceava county for Romanian students from Chernivtsi region was held in three creative workshops, organized with the support of specialists from Bucovina Cultural Centre, respectively painting on glass-iconography, decorating eggs and ceramics. The workshops were held in spaces provided by the Museum of Bucovina, respectively at the Village Museum of Bucovina. In addition to these specific workshops, in which students worked in groups, there were also activities like visits to tourist and cultural objectives in the county. Thus, the participants had the opportunity to visit the Fortress of Suceava, the History Museum, Natural Sciences Museum, Voronet and Sucevita Monasteries, Betty Ice Suceava - Ice Cream Factory, the Black Ceramics Workshops in Marginea. The accommodation of the guests was ensured by "Stefan cel Mare" University of Suceava, and the transportation from Chernivtsi to Suceava and return, including in the county, for the activities within the camp, were provided by Bucovina Cultural Centre. Bucovina Library I.G. Sbiera Suceava offered books to the students, the representative of Bucovina Cultural Centre made portraits for all the participants at the camp and the popular craftsmen and offered them souvenirs.

Suceava County Council also collaborated with Chernivtsi region in the cross-border projects financed under the Romania-Ukraine Neighbourhood Program 2004-2006 and the Joint Operational Program Romania-Ukraine-Republic of Moldova 2007-2013, as follows:

Projects implemented within the RO-UA Neighbourhood Program 2004-2006

1. Regional Economic Forum of Bucovina, worth 61,580 Euro. The project provided an impetus to cross-border economic cooperation by capitalizing the common heritage, identifying and promoting tools to support the business environment in the historical region of Bukovina and stimulating economic exchanges between economic agents in Suceava County and Chernivtsi Region. 2. Development of an alternative cross-border transport network between Romania and Ukraine, worth 286,334 Euros. The project implied the Feasibility Study for modernization of county roads DJ 209 G Ulma - Ukraine border, DJ 175 Izvoarele Sucevei - border Ukraine and DJ 291 A Muşeniţa - Vicşani". 3. The festival of traditional Bucovinean dances and songs, worth 48,855 Euros. Through this project, the Ukrainian communities from Suceava county, respectively the Romanian ones from Chernivtsi region benefited from the presentation of shows, meant to increase the degree of knowledge of the traditions and customs of Bucovina. 4. "Exchange of experience between representatives of the local public administration from Suceava county and Chernivtsi region", worth EUR 48,410. The project was a tool for cross-border cooperation, through which training and debating sessions of the Operational Program for Cross- Border Cooperation 2007-2013 RO-UA-MOL were held, the foundation of the "Cross-border Cooperation Strategy 2007-2013", as well as the development and finalization of the projects portfolio for the period 2007-2013, emphasizing on the cross-border cooperation projects between Suceava and Chernivtsi. 5. Rehabilitation of the old transport corridors in the historical region of Bucovina: DJ 175 Benea - Moldova Suliţa, worth 711,849.44 EUR, through which a 3.5 km section of this county road has been rehabilitated. 6. „Transboundary transport infrastructure between Suceava county and Chernivtsi region: Modernization of DJ 291 A Siret - Frătăuţii Noi", worth 661,505.63 euros and rehabilitating a section of 1,450 km of road from DJ A Siret - Fratăuţi Noi and a reinforced concrete bridge, 16 m long. 7. „Cross-border training centre for business", amounting to 211,086 Euro, which aimed at improving cross-border economic links and training the business environment for sustainable economic development.

Projects implemented within the Joint Operational Programme (in Romanian: POC) RO-UA- MOL 2007-2013

1. Modernization of County road 175, Km 30 + 800- 30 + 900, 31 + 090-32 + 625, 35 + 900-39 + 000, Pojorâta - Izvoarele Suceavei, Suceava County financed within the POC Romania - Ukraine - Moldova, Priority 1 - Towards a more competitive economy of the border area, in a total value of 2,631.457.03 euros, its purpose was to rehabilitate / modernize 3 km of county border roads. The financing contract was signed on 02.03.2012, the implementation period was until 02.12.2013; 2. "Folklore monography of Ukrainians from Suceava county and Romanians from Chernivtsi region", funded within the POC Romania - Ukraine - Moldova, priority 3 - Promotion of People to people projects, total budget 118,154 euros. The financing contract was signed on 29.03.2011 and had an implementation period of 16 months; 3. "Promoting Ukrainian folklore in Suceava county and the Romanian one in Chernivtsi region", financed within the POC Romania - Ukraine - Moldova, Priority 3 - Promotion of People to people projects, total budget of 113,966.22 euros, was signed on 29.03.2011 and had an implementation period of 9 months, respectively until 29.12.2011; 4. "Common traditional heritage - element of European promotion", financed within the POC Romania - Ukraine - Moldova, priority 3 - Promotion of People to people projects, worth 150,000 euros. The financing contract was signed on 07.04.2011 and had an implementation period of 18 months. The project was implemented by the Museum of Bucovina, Suceava County Council having the quality of partner, and also provided the co-financing part; 5. "Libraries - Open gates for knowledge", financed within POC Romania - Ukraine - Moldova, priority 3 - Promotion of People to people projects, worth 97,000 euros. The financing contract was

9 signed on 29.03.2011 and the project was implemented by the I.G Sbiera Library of Bukovina, Suceava County Council having the quality of partner, and also provided the co-financing part. 6. Transboundary safe tourism in the Bucovina mountains financed under the Joint Operational Program Romania-Ukraine-Republic of Moldova 2007-2013, Priority 1 "Towards a more competitive border economy", Measure 1.1 "Improving the productivity and competitiveness of the urban and rural areas of the region through cross-border cooperation”, amounting to 337,174.88 Euro. The financing contract was signed on 21.10.2013, the implementation duration was 21 months; 7. "Improving the ecological situation of Prut and Dniester basins, by improving the wastewater treatment systems in Chernivtsi and Drochia", MIS code ETC 1535, implemented by Chernivtsi Local Council, having Suceava County Council as partner. 8. „Use of European experience in combating soil erosion", MIS code 1591, implemented by Kitsman District Administration, having Suceava County Council as partner.

- // -