EnviroConnect: Synergizing Green Resilience Efforts in Ivanovo and Piatra Olt

EnviroConnect is a cross-border project aimed at synergizing green resilience efforts in the regions of Ivanovo - Bulgaria and Piatra Olt - Romania. These regions, although located in different countries, share common environmental challenges, making collaboration essential to address these issues effectively. The project brings together various stakeholders to tackle these challenges and promote sustainable environmental practices. It is dedicated to enhancing the protection and preservation of nature, biodiversity, and green infrastructure within the program area. This project operates under Priority SO 2.7 , A Greener Region, with a specific objective to enhance environmental sustainability. The common challenge faced by the programme area in Ivanovo (located in BG) and Piatra Olt (located in RO) is the degradation of natural ecosystems and the associated impacts on biodiversity, water resources and overall environmental quality.In Ivanovo, Bulgaria, the project aims to enhance and improve the green infrastructure in four specific areas: South Park - Shtraklevo, Ecopark - Shtraklevo, Memorial Park - Shtraklevo, and Pirgovo Park. These green spaces are vital for the well-being of the community and the environment in the project area. The Interreg EnviroConnect project focuses on upgrading and developing these parks to promote sustainability, biodiversity, and community engagement. In Piatra-Olt, Romania, there are 2 land plots where the development of green infrastructure is proposed: one in Bistrita Noua and one in Enosesti. With the view to avoid degradation of the land and the risk of being filled by invasive species, and foreseeing making good use of these natural sites, the Interreg EnviroConnect project foresees the development of 2 green modern eco-parks in the mentioned areas. Overall objective: Enhancing the environmental resilience and sustainability in Ivanovo (BG) and Piatra Olt (RO) regions by developing 6 green infrastructure areas.The project seeks to make a substantial change in the current situation by acquiring the following achievements: 1. Enhanced Environmental Quality: The project will lead to improved green infrastructure, including increased tree cover, reduced pollution and better water management. 2. Improved Community Well-being: By creating attractive and accessible green spaces, the project will provide opportunities for relaxation, recreation, social interaction, games and practicing sports and exercises. 3. Increased Education and Awareness: Educational activities and signage within the parks will inform visitors about the importance of green infrastructure and environmental conservation, aiming to create new habits for respecting and protecting nature, while fostering a sense of stewardship. The project will produce the following Outputs: 1. Tools implemented for mitigating pollution - Within the SOFT Measures, the project foresees Educational Activities. 2. Pilot actions developed jointly and implemented in projects Pilot actions developed jointly and implemented in projects Organizations cooperating across borders - One of the main achievements of the project is the connection that is created between the 2 regions, Ivanovo and Piatra Olt. Cross-Border Coordination Mechanisms have been initiated, communication channels and protocols for the cooperation have been established between the 2 regions, the national border becoming insignificant. The project beneficiaries are: the population from the 2 regions, Ivanovo and Piatra Olt for the general enhancement of the well being, the part of population that participates to project activites for the educational benefit, the local authorities for learning environmental practices, the 2 states of Romania and Bulgaria and of course, the environment itself. 1. Cross border approach is essential when taking into consideration the holistic overview of the shared ecosystem, when the resource sharing and environmental learning are a must for obtaining the best results, when increasing tourism potential and environmental resilience depends on the best collaboration. 2. Shared Ecosystems: The parks share ecosystems that extend across borders. 3. Resource Sharing: Sharing knowledge, expertise, and resources across borders is needed in order to make the project more efficient and cost-effective. 4. Tourism Potential: Collaboration between the 2 regions is needed in order to facilitate the promotion of tourism between the regions, and to attract visitors from neighboring areas in the well-maintained, modern parks. This holistic, cross-border, and community-centered approach makes EnviroConnect an innovative and impactful initiative in the realm of environmental conservation and resilience. Non-eligable for partner 2: 358 062.20 euro.

Achievements of the LP: 1. A PIU under the project ROBG00146 has been established by order No. RD-09-887/31.12.2024. Individual orders have been issued for each of the team members with their specific duties. 2. A meeting for creation of Project Steering Group (PSG) was held via Skype on 30.12.2024 . A memo from the meeting is attached to this project report. 3. Regarding the pre application activities, the following contract has been concluded and the respective payments have been executed: Contract No. D-233#2/27.07.2023 for consulting services and assistance in connection with the implementation of an application procedure worth 16,624.55 BGN. The service was performed by "GVS Coach and Consulting" Ltd. and following payments have been executed: - Advance payment - 8312.27 BGN; - Final payment - 8312.27 BGN. 4. According to the Application Form and the Work Plan adopted with it under Work Package 1 "Design, Planning and Preparation of Infrastructure", the following activities have been carried out and the corresponding costs have been paid: 1. Contract No. D-235/08.08.2023 with "Dunav Invest Project" EOOD was concluded for the preparation of a Conceptual Design for the amount of BGN 35,760 including VAT. The contract was implemented by and payment was made, as follows: - Advance payment - 17,880.00 BGN including VAT; - Final payment - 17,880.00 BGN including VAT. 5. A procedure was carried out under Chapter 26 of the Public Procurement Act (PPA) through an invitation to certain persons, as a result of which Contract No. D-47/25.02.2025 with "Dunav Invest Project" EOOD was concluded for the preparation of a technical investment project for the four properties (four parks) and the implementation of author's supervision during the construction of the four sites. A payment was made according to the terms of the contract as follows: - Advance payment in the amount of 30,104.14 BGN including VAT. 6. Regarding the visualization and publicity activities the following results took place: Deliverable 1.2.4: Facebook page of the project has been created. Deliverable 1.2.3: Information about the project has been uploaded to the Ivanovo Municipality website. Achievements of the PP2: 1. Participation to the first online meeting in order to set up the PSG. 2. Transmission of information and documents to the Lead Partner in order to be inserted in Jems. 3. Uploading in Jems of the cofinancing contract of PP2 4. Transmission to the LP of the information related to the payment of the lump sum for the preparation costs for PP2, respectively the bank account, the Partner Details. 5. Elaboration and transmission to the LP of the financial forecast for the first 3 months. 6. Preparation and upload in JEMS of the Request for the Advance Payment for the project 7. Elaboration and transmission to the LP of the estimated contracts to be signed in 2025 8. Elaboration and transmission to the LP of the financial forecast for the 2nd trimester. 9. Preparation of the Partner Report for Period 1 Regarding the WP1- Preparation and improvement of cooperation between partners, the following activities were executed within Activity A1.2 Communication : - A dedicated section for the project was created on Piatra Olt’s Town Hall website. The result of this activity is the Deliverable D.1.2.5 - We have supported the Lead Partner in creating a Facebook page for the project. The result of this activity is the Deliverable D.1.2.4 The cost for these activities are comprised in the Staff costs, Administrative costs, Consultancy, No payments were yet made for these activities. Related to the Activity A1.3 - Project Management, the PIU for PP2 Piatra Olt was set up within the pre-contracting period. Within the Activity A1.5 - Project preparation for PiatraOlt, all the sub-activities related to the preparation of the Financing Application (prior to the project implementation period) are included: Contracting services for consultancy for preparation of the Project, Contracting services for the elaboration of the Feasibility studies (During the pre-contracting period The Feasibility studies, for each location of implementation, were revised according to the requirements), all activities for Issuance of necessary compliance assessments, permits and environmental statements, Collecting offers to justify the costs included in the project budget, Translation. The following services were contracted in accordance with the Financing Application: Consultancy for project management in implementation, Services for Design of the works -the Technical Project for the 2 location of the infrastructure. The results of activity A1.5 within the reported period are the Deliverables D.1.5.1 Feasibility study and D.1.5.2 Environmental statements. In relation to these activities, payments were made for the Preparation of the Financing Application (lump sum of 27500 lei - 5500 eur) and the elaboration of the Feasibility Study (275485 lei – 55097 eur). Within the implementation period the following activities have been carried out : -Contract No. D-47/25.02.2025 with Dunav Invest Proekt Ltd., Ruse, was concluded for preparation of an investment project at the “technical design” stage. -Contract No. D-128/04.07.2025 with Nakisa Consult Ltd., Burgas, was concluded for preparation of a Compliance Assessment Report of the investment project with the essential requirements for construction works. -Contract No. D-156/01.08.2025 was concluded with SIP-2000 Ltd., Ruse for the preparation of tender procedures under PPA. The respective incurred expenditures under the mentioned contracts are attched for verification to the current report. On 22.07.2025, the following CPs were issued: CP No. 54/22.07.2025 – construction of a green zone South Park with an area of 11,964 sq.m.” The permit entered into force on 08.08.2025; CP No. 55/22.07.2025 – construction of a green zone Eco Park with an area of 10,802 sq.m.” The permit entered into force on 08.08.2025; CP No. 56/22.07.2025 – construction of a green zone Memorial Park with an area of 7,282 sq.m.” The permit entered into force on 08.08.2025; CP No. 57/22.07.2025 – construction of a green zone Pirgovo Park with an area of 5,101 sq.m.” The permit entered into force on 08.08.2025. Regarding the communication the following activities have been implemented: - 08.05.2025, at 12:00 p.m. an opening conference was held under the Project. - The Communication plan of the Project has been developed, attched to the current report. Within the reported period, PP2 alongisde the LP, has finalized the activities and accomplished the 2 Deliverables that were due in Period 1: “D.1.2.2 - Organization of joint opening conference” and “D.1.2.1- Communication plan”. During the reference period, the 2 partners have worked together and have finalized the Communication Plan of the project, as set out in the Application Form. In the beginning of month 5, a clarification request regarding the Partner Report for Period 1 (P1) was addressed to PP2 by the JS Calarasi. Within the Financing Application, some expenses were wrongly framed as Infrastructure expenses instead of External Services. Thus, the expenses with the Feasibility Study paid during P1 could be validated only after they were correctly framed as External services. This modification could be done only by an Addendum to the Contract and implicitly to the Financing Application. Within the addendum, together with the expenses for the Feasibility Study some other expenses were requested to be framed correctly as External services (and not Infrastructure works), namely, the expenses for the Technical Project, Consultancy for Project Management and Audit, while some other expenses were to be correctly framed as Equipment. The value of all expenses taken out from Infrastructure and moved to External services and Equipment was of 187.804,33 Eur. While analysing the Addendum, JS Calarasi has requested in month 6 a clarification regarding the Consultancy and Audit expenses, to which PP2 has answered in time, by presenting the Terms of Reference and explanations regarding the 2 activities. In month 7, the Addendum was signed by the MA and PP2, the Application Form was corrected with regards to framing the expenses and PP2 was able to correctly frame the expenses for the Feasability Study within the Partner Report for Period 1. Following another request from the JS and answered by PP2 by submitting the Job Description and proof of employment of 1 member of the PIU, in month 7 of implementation, the Partner Report for P1 was certified by JS Calarasi. PP2 has sent to the LP and to JS Calarasi the financial forecast for the months July-September 2025 regarding the amounts to be requested for Natinal Control and the status of the contracts within the project (signed / under procurement procedure). In month 6, PP2 has submitted to the JS the technical documents (the Technical Project – TP/PT) in order to be reviewed. Following the review, PP2 was requested to submit also the declaration signed by the legal representative of PP2 in case there are no technical modifications compared to the FS approved within the Financing Application and also the construction Permit and all other necessary permits connected to the future works described in the TP. The documents were submitted and a new clarification request was issued by the JS regarding some inconsistencies within the TP and some differences of the TP compared to the FS. The detailed answer to the technical clarification was uploaded in JEMS. Within Period 2 of the project implementation, JS Calarasi has designated a new Project Manager for our project, ROBG00146 – EnviroConnect, PP2 has been informed and has studied the Instruction no.1/01.08.2025 issued by the Managing Authority regarding the possibility to report for reimbursement, as soon as they occur, payments within the project, bigger than 10.000 Eur.