It all started in November 2007 and now, close to 4 years after, we are at the final conclusion of the Norwegian Cooperation Programme. But what has actually started? The Norwegian Cooperation Programme took a leap of faith in Romania and Bulgaria announcing one of the few grant schemes existent in the EU non-reimbursable projects market.
23/06/2011
::
December 31st 2008 the call of proposal was closed in both countries. In Romania 182 project ideas were received totaling close to EUR 142 mln in submitted applications, twice as much as actually allocated to the country, EUR 48 mln. In Bulgaria 95 applications were received that went up to EUR 57 mln and yet again twice as much as actually allocated through the programme, EUR 20 mln.
A quick and intensive projects start was given end April 2009 when the deadline for grant awards expired. Out of all applications submitted 22 individual projects in Bulgaria and 29 in Romania received the green light to put their ideas into practice. They had until April 2011 to step on the gas pedal and create changes with their project ideas.
Bulgaria, 31st of May.
The time for the final conclusion has arrived when the final programme conferences took place in both countries: 31st of May 2011 in Sofia and 7th of June 2011 in Bucharest. Speeches were given, key important persons talked about them and their projects, more have participated and all did listen, others presented what they did with what has been achieved through the grants, more will use the lessons learnt through the programme and others have the chance to still tailor around what they created through their projects.
Here are a few of the things that took place in some project life span of 24 months. In Bulgaria: 1 solar park has been established in south-west Bulgaria, 1 educational organic farm for children has been set up, street lightening system has been installed in Topolovgrad municipality, a production line for fire extinguishers has been put into operation, etc. In Romania: 1 induction technology heating center constructed and equipped (incl R&D), 1 new bio-compound (waste-water sludge and marine biomass) developed and patented, research (including satellite-tagging) completed into the sociology and biology of the beluga sturgeon, 8 milk collection center up and running, 2 centers for integrated health services built, home-care service for the elderly established, vehicles purchased for health-related mobility, etc.
And they all walked the talk!
Bucharest, 7th of June
For more project results, please take a look at the other news articles on this web-site.