Project ROBG00071 - A green region along the blue Danube”

Title: “A green region along the blue Danube”
Project ID: ROBG00071
Project acronym: GREEN-Hard
Programme priority: A greener region
Specific objective: S.O.2.7: Enhancing protection and preservation of nature, biodiversity and green infrastructure, including in urban areas, and reducing all forms of pollution
Funding institution: Interreg VI-A Romania-Bulgaria Programme, Priority: 2. A greener region, Specific objective: 2.7. Enhancing protection and preservation of nature, biodiversity and green infrastructure, including in urban areas, and reducing all forms of pollution
Duration: December 2025-December 2027
Lead beneficiary: University of Craiova
Partners: D. A. Tsenov Academy of Economics - Svishtov, Engage in Education Association
Total budget: 2.533.544,66 Euro
EU funding: 2.026.835,72 Euro
Budget for the D. A. Tsenov Academy of Economics: 603.669,66 Euro of which: EU funding – 482.935,72 Euro, national co-financing – 108.660,54 Euro, and 12.073,40 Euro own contribution.
Aim: Improving the protection and conservation of nature along the Danube, in the Romanian-Bulgarian cross-border area through complex actions:  The establishment of a university botanical garden by the University of Craiova; The green arrangement of the university campus D.A. Tsenov from Bulgaria; Establishing a complex, cross-border monitoring network of air, water and soil quality along the Danube; Promoting sustainable development and biodiversity.
Activities:
Work package 1:  The development of green infrastructure and the protection of nature by the partner universities
Activity 1.1. The establishment and arrangement of an Academic Botanical Garden for the University of Craiova
Activity 1.2. The green investments for the D. A. Tsenov Academy of Economics Svishtov
Work package 2: Creation of a complex system for monitoring air, water and soil quality along the Danube
Activity 2.1. Creation of a complex system for monitoring air, water and soil quality along the Danube

Work package 3: Promoting, facilitating and encouraging citizens engagement in protecting biodiversity
Activity 3.1. Promoting, facilitating and encouraging citizens engagement in protecting biodiversity
Results:

1. Population having access to new or improved green infrastructure - Students of the Faculty of Horticulture of the University of Craiova, who will do internships in a professional environment - 300 people / year; university students from Romania and Bulgaria who will organize joint activities in a green, friendly space - 50 students/year; the citizens of Romania and Bulgaria who will visit the Botanical Garden - 500 people/year 500 students of D. A. Tsenov Academy of Economics Svishtov which will benefit the green investments in the external spaces of D.A. Tsenov >Academy of Economics Svishtov.
2. Solutions taken up or up-scaled by organisations. 1.The creation of a non-formal environment for learning in the field of biodiversity and the promotion of environmental protection, such as the University Botanical Garden, can be followed by

other universities or organizations from Romania and Bulgaria. It facilitates communication and learning in a nonformal environment for students and can become a meeting point for citizens from Romania and Bulgaria. The established space can be an example for other universities or local public authorities. 2.For the first time, there will be a cooperation between two universities from Romania and Bulgaria for monitoring the environment along the Danube, in both countries. The example can be followed by other universities in the cross-border area (for example between the Ovidius University of Constanta and the University of Veliko Tarnovo).

1. Population living within the area covered by the tools implemented for mitigating pollution - The two partner universities, from Romania and Bulgaria, will jointly create a complex environmental monitoring system, with sensors for determining air, soil and water quality. The University of Craiova will manage a mobile sensor system that will be located on a ship that will sail along the Danube that will transmit data in real time to a data center established in Bulgaria by the partner university; will also manage a system of sensors located in 10 localities located in Romania; D. A. Tsenov Academy of Economics Svishtov will manage a sensor system located in 10 localities located in Bulgaria and process the data through a high-performance computing center dedicated to the processing of environmental villages. The NGO Engage in Education will send environmental quality reports to the general public, NGOs and local public authorities.
2. Organisations cooperating across borders after project completion -  Partnership Agreements signed between the partners will provide for the continuation of collaboration in the field of environmental protection and biodiversity conservation even after the completion of the project