LOWER DANUBE EUROREGION (RO/UA/MD) Member of AEBR since 2001 Association of European Border Regions (AEBR) (Region 134 on the AEBR map Cross-Border Cooperation Areas 2011 ) FULL NAME LOWER DANUBE EUROREGION INFORMATION WHICH COUNTRIES/REGIONS/AREAS ARE COVERED LOWER DANUBE EUROREGION includes from Romania the counties of Galati, Braila and Tulcea from R. of Moldova the districts of Cahul and Cantemir from Ukraine the Region of Odessa SHORT DESCRIPTION OF MEMBERS Galati County having an area of 4.466,3 km 2, that represents 1,9% of Romania s total area, joins the category of peri Carpathian and Danubian counties, being situated quite close to the Black Sea, at the junction of three big running waters The Danube, Siret and Prut Rivers and at the crossroad of some very important commercial roads. Placed in the South East of the country, 45º25' 46º10' Northern latitude, 27º20' 28º10' Eastern longitude, it is enclosed in the North by Vaslui County and Vrancea County, in the South by Braila and Tulcea Counties, in the East by The Republic of Moldova and Ukraine and in the West by Vrancea County. EUGEN CHEBAC GALATI COUNTY COUNCIL 7 Eroilor Street, Galaţi city, 800119, Romania Tel: +40 236 411099 Fax: +40 236 470264 E-mail: conducere@cjgalati.ro Web: www.cjgalati.ro Presentation of Lower Danube Euroregion 1
Odessa Region lies in the South West Ukraine along the Black Sea coast and borders on the countries of Moldova and Romania. It is the largest in Ukraine, with a total area of 33,300 km2, which is about 5.5% of Ukraine s territory. At present, the population is 2.5 millions, 66% of which lives in the urban areas. Odessa Region consists of twenty-six districts, nineteen cities, thirty three towns and 1,138 villages. The Reni District is situated in the South Western Ukraine, in the region of Odessa, the population of the district is 41,000 inhabitants and it is well known especially due to the Reni Port. OLEG HRAPKO Head of General Department of Foreign Economic Activity and European Integration of Odessa Regional State Administration 4, Shevchenko ave, 65032, Odessa, Ukraine Phone: +38 048 718 9 533 Fax: +38 048 718 9 533/455 E-mail: int_dep@odessa.gov.ua Web: http://www.oda.odessa.gov.ua Situated in the South East of Romania, in the Romanian Field, Braila County lays on a 4.765,8 km 2 area. The capital of the county is Braila City one of the biggest Romanian harbours situated in the North Eastern part of Bucharest and at a distance of 200 km. Braila is placed at 45º15'47" Northern latitude and 27º58'9" Eastern longitude having as neighbours in the North Galati, in the North West Vrancea, in the West Buzau, in the South Ialomita, Constanța in the South East and Tulcea in the East. The most important hydrographical thoroughfare of the county is the Danube with its two main branches: Macin Branch (The Old Danube) towards Dobrogea and Cremenea Branch towards the Field of Braila that closes in the middle the ancient Puddle of Braila. Braila County contains one municipality, three cities and 40 communes that comprise 363.979 inhabitants. STANCU GHEORGHE BUNEA BRĂILA COUNTY COUNCIL 1 Independenţei sqr., Brăila City, 810210, Romania Tel: +40 239 619700 Fax: +40 239 611765 E-mail: programe@portal-braila.ro Web: www.cjbraila.ro Presentation of Lower Danube Euroregion 2
Tulcea County, a part of Dobrogea, is situated in South East of Romania. The county surface is 8.499 Km2, representing 3.5% of Romanian territory. The county is divided in 51 administrative territorial units, out of which Tulcea has a third of the county population, four cities and 46 communities. The county s characteristic is the geo physical variety. From the total area, 3,446 Km2 represent the humid area of the Danube Delta and the Razim Sinoe lagoon complex. In Tulcea County the number of inhabitants is of 256.491persons. VICTOR TARHON Tulcea County Council 20 Păcii street Tulcea City, Romania Tel: +40 240 511960 Fax : +40 240 513071 E-mail: office@cjtulcea.ro Web: www.cjtulcea.ro The District of Cahul is located in the South Eastern Moldova (45 o 50 Northern latitude and 28 o 11 Eastern longitude), on the Field of The Inferior Prut, to an altitude of 119 m over the sea level. The Western borders of the district are neighbours on the Prut River with Romania, in South with Ukraine, in North with Cantemir, in Northeast with TAU Găgăuzia and in East with The District of Taraclia. The total area is 1,545 km 2, which means 4.6% of the country s area. Population 120 000 inhabitants disposed in one city and 36 villages (communes) with 53 localities. GHEORGHE VASILACHI Cahul District Council 2 Independenţei sqr, Cahul, R.of Moldova Tel: +373 299 3-49-88 Fax: + 373 299 2-26-50 Web: www.consiliulraional.cahul.md Presentation of Lower Danube Euroregion 3
The District of Cantemir is located in South Western Moldova on the left bank of the Prut River. To the West it borders Romania, to the North Leova, to the East Gagauzia and to the South Cahul. The landscape is dominated by the extensive valley of the main river, Prut. The district of Cantemir has a total surface of 870 km 2 and a population of 60,000 inhabitants. The region is also known for its excellent vineyards, from which the recognised Moldovan wine is produced. ANDREI MALAŞEVSCHI Cantemir District Council 2 Trandafirilor Street Cantemir, R of Moldova Tel +373 273 22650 Fax: + 373 273 22650 E-mail: malasevschi88@yahoo.com YEAR OF FOUNDATION At the beginning of 1997, The of Romania, Mr. Emil Constantinescu, launched the Project of Cross border Cooperation among Romania, The Republic of Moldova and Ukraine; in July 1997 The Protocol of trilateral collaboration among Romania, The Republic of Moldova and Ukraine was signed at governmental level, aiming to achieve several actions in the political and economic-financial field. On the occasion of the high level meeting on July 3 rd, 1997 in Izmail, the s of the three states signed The Declaration Concerning the Trilateral Collaboration ; in this respect, the document that represents the legal basis of this meeting, was declared The Treaty Regarding the Relations of Good Neighbourhood and Collaboration between Romania and Ukraine. In this context, with the support of The Council of Europe, on February 24 25 th, 1998, the reunion from Izmail took place, when it was decided to sign The Declaration Regarding the Promotion of the Cross-border Cooperation among the Local and Regional Authorities from Romania, The Republic of Moldova and Ukraine. The final step was the signing on August 14 th, 1998, The Agreement on the Creation of the Lower Danube Euroregion, the ceremony taking place at the Galati County Council s headquarters and reuniting the local authorities from the counties of Galati, Braila and Tulcea from Romania, Odessa Region and Reni District from Ukraine as well as the districts of Cahul and Vulcanesti from The Republic of Moldova YEAR OF JOINING AEBR Lower Danube Euroregion joined AEBR in 2001 Presentation of Lower Danube Euroregion 4
DESCRIPTION OF MAIN ACHIEVEMENTS UP TO NOW Among the main achievements recorded in the 12 years of cross border cooperation in the Lower Danube we can mention: Strengthening of the cross border cooperation in the Lower Danube area during the 12 years of existence of the Euroregion; Numerous common cultural, educational and sportive activities, such as folk festivals, ethnic minorities Festivals, sports conquests, children song festivals, etc; Numerous European financing projects commonly implemented in the fields of infrastructure, environment protection, economic and social development, tourism, cross border cooperation, etc; The creation of the Association for Cross border Cooperation Lower Danube Euroregion. The Founding Members of the Association are the members of the Euroregion: from Romania: Galati County Council, Braila County Council, Tulcea County Council, from the Republic of Moldova: Cahul District Council, Cantemir District Council and from Ukraine: Odessa Regional Council, Odessa State Regional Administration and Reni District Council. As recognition of the importance of a common management structure for the Lower Danube Euroregion, on December 9 th, 2008, during an international conference held in Galati, the documents attesting the establishment of the Association for Cross border Cooperation Lower Danube Euroregion were signed. The juridical registration of the Association was made on March 20 th, 2009 in Galati, as a legal Romanian person without patrimonial purpose, of private law, headquartered in Galati County. PLANNED ACTIVITIES FOR THE FUTURE Increase the amount of the external funding attracted in the member regions through the implementation of European projects within the territorial Cooperation Programmes, especially within the Commune Operational Programme Romania Ukraine Republic of Moldova; Consolidate the good neighbourhood relations between the member regions; Activities aiming territorial and cultural promotion of the Euroregion members; Improve the transport infrastructure in the border areas; Initiate new interregional cooperation relations with other similar structures from Europe or world wide; Active involvement in the activity of the international organisations the Euroregion is part of. YEARLY MAIN EVENTS Euroregion Council Meeting twice a year in the region holding the Presidency; General Assembly of the Association for Cross border Cooperation Lower Danube Euroregion twice a year in the region holding the Presidency; The Meetings of the Specialty Commissions twice a year in the region holding the Presidency of the Commissions; Interethnic Festival once every two years in the region holding the Presidency. Presentation of Lower Danube Euroregion 5
NAME OF PRESIDENT/VICE-PRESIDENT/SECRETARY GENERAL Comparative Structure: Lower Danube Euroregion Association for Cross-border Cooperation Lower Danube Euroregion : Mr. Eugen CHEBAC of the Galati County Council, Romania Vice-s: Mr. Andrei MALASEVSCHI of the Cantemir District Council, Republic of Moldova Mr. Eduard MATVIYCHUK Governor of Odessa Regional Council, Ukraine; Speciality Commissions (9 fields of activity) 3 for each country - Managing Board Mr. Eugen CHEBAC of the Galati County Council, Romania Coordination Center Coordination Centre Chief Aurelia Domniteanu Deputy Executive Director Department for Regional Development Galati County Council Secretariat Director of the Secretariat of the Association: Natalia BUDESCU CONTACT DETAILS Presidency: Galati County Council 7 Eroilor Street 800119, Galati, Romania Tel: +40 236 470009 Fax: +40 236 470264 e-mail: conducere@cjgalati.ro Secretariat: 64 Eroilor Street 800119, Galati County, Romania Tel: 0040 236 411 022 Fax: 0040 236 411 022 Email: actedj@gmail.com Presentation of Lower Danube Euroregion 6
PHOTOS ON SPECIAL PLACES IN THE REGION (BORDER CROSSINGS ETC.) International Folk Festival of the Euroregion, Mr. Eugen Chebac Village Museum created through a common European Project Interethnic Festival The ceremony of signing the Statute of the Association Presentation of Lower Danube Euroregion Conference within a European Project Meeting of the Euroregion Council The Common Declaration on the future of cooperation signed in February 2009 in the framework of the Euroregion 7
MAP OF LOWER DANUBE EUROREGION LINK(S) TO INTERESTING PROJECTS http://www.cjgalati.ro/images/stories/euroregiune/ghidulcooperariitransfrontaliere.pdf Presentation of Lower Danube Euroregion 8