Project title: Cross-Border Cooperation in Forest Fire Fighting

The main activities of the project will include:

1. Press conference for introducing the public from the Municipalities of Southwestern Bulgaria to the project;

2. Press conference for introducing the public from the Southeast planning region in Macedonia to the project;

3. Creating a cross-border network for prevention and response to natural and environmental dangers;

4. Carrying out an information campaign to promote volunteering;

5. Conducting an information campaign for the prevention of forest fires;

6. Conducting specialized training for representatives of municipal territorial fire units and voluntary formations - members of the cross-border network for prevention and response to natural and environmental hazards (3 trainings in MK and 3 trainings in BG);

7. Supply of personal protective equipment, protective clothing and other fire-fighting equipment and gear;

8. Closing conference on the project in Bulgaria.

The following results will be attained through the implementation of the project:

1. Established Crossborder partner network of a permanent nature for prevention and response to natural and  environmental hazards.

2. Increased public awareness of the benefits of volunteering;

3. Increased public awareness for prevention of forest fires;

4. The increased capacity, the equipment and the fixings of the fire departments and the voluntary formations concern the population of the whole cross-border region;

5. Improved qualification of the representatives of fire departments and voluntary formations.

The following target groups and communities will benefit of the project results and outputs:

1. The municipalities from Southwest Bulgaria and Southeast Macedonia – Bansko, Belitsa, Blagoevgrad, Boboshevo, Gotse Delchev, Garmen, Kocherinovo, Kresna, Petrich, Razlog, Rila, Sandanski, Satovcha, Simitli, Strumyani, Treklyano, Hadjidimovo, Valandovo, Gevgeliya, Doyran, Bogdantsi, Radovish, Konche, Strumitsa, Vasilevo, Novo selo, Bosilovo;

2. Territorial fire-fighting units – Valandovo, Gevgelija, Radovish, Strumica;

3. Volunteers – members of voluntary fire brigades; 4. Inhabitants of the Municipalities of Southwestern Bulgaria and South-East planning region in Macedonia.

Donor: INTERREG-IPA Bulgaria – Republic of North Macedonia 2014-2020 is a CBC programme financed by the European Union funds under the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance.

Specific objective: 1.2 Prevention and mitigation of consequences of natural and man-caused disasters of cross-border dimension and impact

Project value: 395 361.14 EUR

Period: 18.02.2021 – 17.02.2023