Innovative practices in Bulgaria
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Transfrontier Cooperation with the Municipality of Oltenitsa,
Romania
Municipality of Tutrakan
Background
The spirit of friendship and cooperation between the Municipality of Tutrakan and the Municipality of Oltenitsa dates a long time back, but during the last few years it is getting stronger and more profound. The so called "small traffic" between the two cities is established in 1971 with the Agreement for Transfrontier Cooperation, signed between Bulgaria and Romania. But since the volume of the traffic increases, Regional Administration- Rousse assists the Municipality of Tutrakan to open up a Customs Station, so that Bulgarian citizens from other regions as well as foreigners can now also benefit from the priorities of the Agreement. This makes it possible to increase the number of traveling people and to stabilize the contacts between businessmen and companies from both cities.
The spirit of friendship and cooperation between the Municipality of Tutrakan and the Municipality of Oltenitsa dates a long time back, but during the last few years it is getting stronger and more profound. The so called "small traffic" between the two cities is established in 1971 with the Agreement for Transfrontier Cooperation, signed between Bulgaria and Romania. But since the volume of the traffic increases, Regional Administration- Rousse assists the Municipality of Tutrakan to open up a Customs Station, so that Bulgarian citizens from other regions as well as foreigners can now also benefit from the priorities of the Agreement. This makes it possible to increase the number of traveling people and to stabilize the contacts between businessmen and companies from both cities.
Practice
As a consequence of the increased number of travelers and the increased number of contacts between Bulgarian and Romanian companies, the Municipality of Tutrakan and the Municipality of Oltenitsa decide to enlarge their cooperation dating from more than 30 years back. A Mutual Agreement for Cooperation and Assistance is signed between the two municipal councils and administrations. There are constant contacts with the Romanian party and participation in sessions of the two Municipal Councils. Museum visits, exchanges of exhibitions, concerts of folkgroups from the Community Center and the Youth Centers, football, volleyball and chess meetings, etc. take place in both municipalities. Contacts between the Pensioners Clubsof the two towns are also established.
Two seminars on the problems of ecology were held, although there is no air pollution in the two cities. The seminars are initiated by "Policonsult-Eco"-Sofia with the special participation of and support by the Municipality of Tutrakan and the NGO "Sustainable Development"-Tutrakan. Specialists from different spheres from both municipalities take part in these seminars. The first one is held in the town of Balchik and the second one in Oltenitsa. As a result of these seminars, the Municipal Ecology Problems Program is adopted and enacted.
One of the major goals to be achieved in the near future is the construction of a ferryboat connection between Titrakan and Oltenitsa. Contracts for cooperative construction between "Tutrakan ferryboat complex" Ltd. and "Construction and transport" Ltd.-Oltenitsa are signed. The construction process is supposed to start in the beginning of June, 1999. It is planned that the ferryboat should start functioning until the beginning of the fall.
As a consequence of the increased number of travelers and the increased number of contacts between Bulgarian and Romanian companies, the Municipality of Tutrakan and the Municipality of Oltenitsa decide to enlarge their cooperation dating from more than 30 years back. A Mutual Agreement for Cooperation and Assistance is signed between the two municipal councils and administrations. There are constant contacts with the Romanian party and participation in sessions of the two Municipal Councils. Museum visits, exchanges of exhibitions, concerts of folkgroups from the Community Center and the Youth Centers, football, volleyball and chess meetings, etc. take place in both municipalities. Contacts between the Pensioners Clubsof the two towns are also established.
Two seminars on the problems of ecology were held, although there is no air pollution in the two cities. The seminars are initiated by "Policonsult-Eco"-Sofia with the special participation of and support by the Municipality of Tutrakan and the NGO "Sustainable Development"-Tutrakan. Specialists from different spheres from both municipalities take part in these seminars. The first one is held in the town of Balchik and the second one in Oltenitsa. As a result of these seminars, the Municipal Ecology Problems Program is adopted and enacted.
One of the major goals to be achieved in the near future is the construction of a ferryboat connection between Titrakan and Oltenitsa. Contracts for cooperative construction between "Tutrakan ferryboat complex" Ltd. and "Construction and transport" Ltd.-Oltenitsa are signed. The construction process is supposed to start in the beginning of June, 1999. It is planned that the ferryboat should start functioning until the beginning of the fall.
Results
An especially important result is the reaching of the agreement for the building of a ferryboat connection between Tutrakan and Oltenitsa. Mutual programs in the fields of economy and infrastructure are approved; a decisions is taken for exchange of municipal specialists and municipal councilors between the two municipalities. The management of the two municipalities is optimistic about the further successful development of transfrontier cooperation.
Long-term relationships between the Municipality of Tutracan and the Municipality of Oltenitsa are pointed out as an example for successful transfrontier cooperation by the Association of the Danube Municipalities, which encourages its members to strengthen their transfrontier contacts or initiate such activities.
An especially important result is the reaching of the agreement for the building of a ferryboat connection between Tutrakan and Oltenitsa. Mutual programs in the fields of economy and infrastructure are approved; a decisions is taken for exchange of municipal specialists and municipal councilors between the two municipalities. The management of the two municipalities is optimistic about the further successful development of transfrontier cooperation.
Long-term relationships between the Municipality of Tutracan and the Municipality of Oltenitsa are pointed out as an example for successful transfrontier cooperation by the Association of the Danube Municipalities, which encourages its members to strengthen their transfrontier contacts or initiate such activities.
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