Romania's Galati County Council and the Hincesti District Council of the Republic of Moldova on Tuesday launched the Disaster Prevention cross-border project, with a total eligible value of more than EUR 1.5 million, which provides for the acquisition of emergency response vehicles and the installation of monitoring and early warning systems.

According to a press release from the Galati County Council, the project is financed under the INTERREG NEXT Romania-Republic of Moldova 2021-2027 Programme and aims to strengthen the capacity of authorities and communities in Galati County and Hincesti District to prevent and manage the effects of climate-related events and emergency situations.

'The initiative's main objective is to enhance the capacity of authorities and communities in Galati County and Hincesti District to prevent and manage the effects of climate-related events and emergency situations through investments in infrastructure and equipment, monitoring and early warning systems, as well as planning measures and cross-border cooperation. Representatives of the Galati County Council, the Hincesti District Council and institutions responsible for disaster prevention and environmental protection attended the launch event,' the press release said.

The project has a total eligible value of EUR 1,522,725.99, of which EUR 1,370,453.39 represents non-repayable funding and EUR 152,272.60 co-financing.

The eligible budget of the Galati County Council amounts to EUR 1,147,885.20, including a grant of EUR 1,033,096.68 and eligible co-financing of EUR 114,788.52.

Under the project, Galati County will acquire a multifunctional intervention vehicle for use on county roads and install two monitoring and early warning systems on the DJ242D Baneasa-Rogojeni and DJ242E Baneasa-Oancea county roads. The value of these investments is EUR 1.0356 million. Hincesti District will purchase a specialised emergency response vehicle worth approximately EUR 300,000.

The project also includes a planning and cross-border cooperation component comprising six climate risk assessments, six local climate adaptation plans for the 2027-2032 period and a joint cross-border action plan on climate change adaptation.

In addition, local workshops, a joint webinar and activities aimed at exchanging information and experience between specialists from the two regions will be organised.

According to the Galati County Council, cooperation with the Hincesti District Council began in 2018 under a memorandum of understanding signed on April 25.

Under the Romania-Republic of Moldova Joint Operational Programme 2014-2020, the two administrations implemented the Health in Good Hands project, worth EUR 1,488,164.34, which included the construction and equipping of a new wing at the paediatrics department of the Targu Bujor Town Hospital and the rehabilitation of the Hincesti Health Centre, including the installation of an X-ray unit.

Another project, The Past Has a New Future, worth EUR 1,576,906.09, included the construction and equipping of a performance hall at the Dunarea de Jos Cultural Centre in Galati and the restoration of the steam mill in Mereseni, Hincesti District.

The Disaster Prevention project is being implemented by the Galati County Council, as the Romanian partner, and the Hincesti District Council, with support from the Galati County Public Service for the Administration of Public and Private Property and the Hincesti Emergency Situations Directorate. AGERPRES/(RO - writing by: Ecaterina Ignat; EN - writing by: Simona Iacob)