MINISTRY OF REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION PILOT PROJECTS IMPLEMENDTED WITHIN THE SPATIAL PROJECT SYNTHESIS SUMMARY GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROJECT ....................................2 PILOT PROJECTS IMPLEMENTED WITHIN THE SPATIAL PROJECT ............3 REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT SCHEME OF DISTRICT PLEVEN ........................4 STRATEGIC CROSS BORDER CONCEPT FOR SPATIAL PLANNING IN THE AREA OF TRANSPORT CORRIDOR 9 AND IT’S IMMEDIAT HINTERLAND ........7 GROWTH ACROSS THE BORDERS ......................................12 ENHANCING SKILLS AND COMPETENCES THROUGH LINKING TRAINING AND BUSINESS .............................................................15 LAND IMPROVEMENT DATA MANAGEMENT IN THE CROSS BORDER AREA .......17 FEASIBILITY STUDY AND ANALYSIS OF THE DANUBE PANORAMIC ROAD ........17 CAPITALIZATION OF THE LANDSCAPES FROM THE CROSS BORDER AREA.......18 PRE-FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR THE INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE BUILDING THE THIRD BRIDGE OVER DANUBE BETWEEN ROMANIA AND BULGARIA .......19 GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROJECT Project title: „Common strategy for territorial development of the cross-border area Romania-Bulgaria ”, MIS-ETC 171 Financed by: Romania-Bulgaria Cross Border Cooperation Programme 2007-2013 Implementation period: February 2012-August 2015 Total budget: 4.151.147, 26 euro Main activities: territorial research, public policy Project partners: Ministry of Regional Development and Public Administration (RO) – lead partner From Romania: ARIES-Oltenia, National Agency for Land Improvement, Europroject From Bulgaria: Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works, Pleven District Administration, Veliko Tarnovo municipality, Human Rresources Development Agency –Ruse, Business Suport Center for Small and Medium Enterprises –Ruse, ASDE-Ecoregions, Bulgarian Association for Alternative Tourism, Association for Danube River municipalities. MAIN RESULTS OF THE PROJECT a common methodology for territorial planning; a common territorial database, a common set of indicators and cartographic fund. Hardware and software equipment’s for the local public authorities from eligible area; an analysis and territorial diagnosis of the current situation in the border area; a regional brand: The Eastern Danube Region. A gateway.An Odyssey, to promote the Romania-Bulgaria cross-border area at European level; Common strategy for territorial development of the cross-border area Romania- Bulgaria, as a base for future development strategic development and a framework that will better integrate the most important projects and joint initiatives; implementation of 2 integrated pilot projects: . Strategic cross-border Concept for Spatial plan . ning in the area of transport corridor no 9 and it’s immediate hinterland – Veliko Tarnovo Municipality; . Elaboration of the Regional spatial development scheme of District Pleven; Implementation of 5 thematic pilot projects: . Economic area: Growth across borders; . Human resources area: Enhancing skills and competences through linking training and business; . Land improvement area: Land improvement data base for the cross-border area; . Tourism area: Capitalization of the landscapes from the cross-border area; . Transport area: o Pre-feasibility study for the investment objective –Building the third bridge over Danube between Romania and Bulgaria; o Feasibility study and analysis of the Danube panoramic road. 2 2 PILOT PROJECTS IMPLEMENTED WITHIN THE SPATIAL PROJECT 3 3 REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT SCHEME OF DISTRICT PLEVEN The aim of the pilot project is to develop a Regional spatial development scheme of Pleven District, which will ensure the necessary plan basis for long-term, sustainable territorial development, based on objective facts and advantages of the territory, in accordance with the provisions of national strategic documents. The regional development scheme has been elaborated by Pleven District Administration. The scheme was developed in two phases: \ The Regional scheme for spatial development of Pleven District (Level 3) contains: • Functional-hierarchical structure of the network - urban centers (development centers), centers of municipalities and other settlements, established as centers; • Metropolitan formations and their spheres of impact; • Development axes with national, regional and local importance and connections to the development axes of neighboring districts; • Transport corridors and other infrastructure networks, including links to the neighbouring districts of NUTS 2 level and cross-border links; • Spatial structure - municipalities with a high rate of urbanization, rural municipalities with low rate of urbanization and a clear-cut urban center; • Functional zoning of the area - industrial and business zone, tourism and recreation zones of regional and local importance, protected areas; MAIN STATEGIC ADVANTAGES OF PLEVEN • Strategic geographic location of Pleven in Northern Bulgaria; • Wide access to the Danube; • Existence of a clear-cut urban center of second level - Pleven; • Relief favoring the development of intensive agriculture, transport and communication links within the district and neighboring areas; • Availability of adequate territorial coverage of industrial zones- need to be transformed; 4 4 • Unique university within the Northwest region; • Balanced spatial structure of the District with secondary support centers; • Significant protected areas, which are a prerequisite for recreational interest; • The rich history, combined with traditions of agriculture, unique natural resources – representing a good basis for the development of integrated tourist product; CROSS – BORDER CONNECTIVITY OF PLEVEN DISTRICT • At present, the territory of Pleven District is connected with Romania mainly through two ferry complex. The one of which is located within the District in Nikopol. The other one is situated in Oryahovo, District Vratsa. Both complex are not enough exploited and have yet untapped potential. • In view of the future cross-border cooperation and development, it should be expected increased exploitation of these facilities. There is also a new concept for new bridge near to Nikopol. • The ports in Nikopol and Somovit village have a potential to improve cross-border connectivity. Also, it could be developed a complex with local importance in village of Baikal situated in Dolna Mitropolya Municipality. MAIN PROBLEMS OF THE DISTRICT • Existence of imbalances and problems “center-periphery”; • Reduction of the population of the District and the main city - Pleven; • Migration of young and educated people, mainly to Sofia; • Dissolution of the key regional economy enterprises; • Amortized industrial areas; • Isolation of the District from other districts situated in the Northwest planning region; • Pleven is significantly behind as the development of other major cities in the country, according to the ESPON, Pleven is defined as “Center in Transformation”; • Insufficient quality of infrastructure; • Non updated spatial plans of the territory; • Low purchasing power of the population due to the average salaries in economic sectors, significantly below the national average; STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES OF THE SCHEME The strategic framework of RSDS is defined by three strategic objectives (SO): • Strategic Objective 1: Achieving a sustainable and balanced development of the district through the implementation of an integrated overall approach in the development and structure of the district territory; • Strategic Objective 2: Achieving a positive socio-economic development of the effective capitalization of local comparative advantages, resources and potentials of Pleven; • Strategic Objective 3: Improving the internal regional integration and mitigating disparities regarding standards and conditions for life and business in the District; VISION OF REGIONAL SPATIAL DEVELOPMENT SCHEME OF PLEVEN DISTRICT • To the horizon of the action of RSDS (2028), Pleven District will develop as a balanced and sustainable structural unit of the national space in which should be created optimal conditions for efficient use of existing resources, potentials and comparative advantages. On this basis, we should create adequate conditions for sustainable development of the territory, reducing inter-districts disparities and increasing the investment attractiveness and living conditions. 5 5 6 6 STRATEGIC CROSS BORDER CONCEPT FOR SPATIAL PLANNING IN THE AREA OF TRANSPORT CORRIDOR 9 AND IT’S IMMEDIAT HINTERLAND This Strategic cross-border concept for spatial planning in the area of Transport Corridor No. 9 and its immediate hinterland – Veliko Tarnovo municipality is a medium-term strategic document on spatial planning, which provides guidelines for planning, management and conservation of the territory and creates prerequisites for conditions for spatial orientation and coordination of sectorial policies has been developed in accordance of integrated pilot project. The strategic concept has been elaborated by the Veliko Tarnovo Municipality. The development of the Strategic Cross- Border Concept for Spatial Planning (SCBC-VT) in the area of Transport Corridor No. 9 and its immediate hinterland has, as ultimate goal, to improve the economic and social development in the cross-border region Romania-Bulgaria aimed to achieve a sustainable spatial planning and effective use of territories, subject matter of this elaboration. Unlike the Master Plans, the SCBC-VT does not impose norms or regulations. The SCBC-VT coordinates and consults. Its guidelines lead to conflict-free