1st call for proposals "where the story begins"

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THE PROGRAMME HANDBOOK NO. 3

1st Call for Proposals „Where the story begins”

European Union Cross-border Cooperation ProgrammePoland - Belarus - Ukraine 2007-2013

1st Call for Proposals „Where the story begins”

THE PROGRAMME HANDBOOK NO. 3

4

CONTENT

The first call for proposals within the CBC Programme Poland-Belarus-

Ukraine 2007-2013 was the first big challenge for everyone involved in

the Programme implementation. Compared to the 2nd Call allocation, it was

opened for a relatively small amount of funds. Yet it illustrated how much this

kind of opportunity is needed. The amount of received projects surpassed

expectations and became unquestionable proof of high motivation and crea-

tivity of Programme area communities. Three hundred proposals submitted

equals to three hundred common dreams and visions looking for opportunity to

be brought to life. Three hundred shaken hands over the border, distance and

language barriers. Three hundred steps forward to a better neighbourhood.

PREPARATIONS ____________________________ 5

LET’S GET STARTED _______________________ 5

STATISTICS FOR 307 PROJECTS SUBMITTED WITHIN THE 1ST CALL _______ 8

SELECTION _________________________________ 10

AND THE WINNERS ARE... ________________ 11

23 IMPLEMENTED PROJECTS ____________ 12

IMPACT OF 23 IMPLEMENTED PROJECTS 13

PROJECTS

Development of Co-operation in Order to Improve Histopathological Diagnostics of Breast Cancer and Colorectal Cancer in the Polish-BelarusianBorderland ____________________________________ 14

Developing a cross-border system for natural hazards management at the Polish-Ukrainian border ________________________________________ 16

“Communication without limits” – creating a cross-border network of tourist information ____ 18

Development of Alternative Pre-school Education Sys-tem in Rural Communities ___________________ 20

Stimulation of the Tourism Development in the Carpathian Region by Tourist’s Service and Security Improvement ________________________________ 22

Photograph on cover: Shutterstock.com

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PREPARATIONS

For any long journey that is decided to be undertaken, preparations are the crucial moment and might decide of the possible success. The first step in preparations of the 1st Call for Proposals in the Cross-border Cooperation Programme Poland-Belarus-Ukraine 2007-2013 was the establishment of the group of people respon-sible for setting up the pack of documents for the Call. During the meeting in Lublin (Poland) on the 18th of March 2009 the Joint Monitoring Committee (JMC) of the Programme chose repre-sentatives of each participating country to compose the Joint Task Force (JTF) to prepare the Application pack. It was discussed dur-ing two JTF meetings: on the 12th of June and 8th-9th of July 2009 in Warsaw (Poland). The final version of documents was approved by the JMC via the written procedure on the 30th of October 2009.

The final version of documents was approved by the JMC via

the written procedure

LET’S GET STARTED!

The 1st Call of Proposals was launched on the 2nd of November 2009 for the total allocation of EUR 16 126 091!

It was open to all three Measures of Priority 1. Increasing competi-tiveness of the border area: 1.1. Better conditions for entrepreneur-ship, 1.2. Tourism development, 1.3. Improving access to the region, one measure of Priority 2. Improving the quality of life: 2.1. Natural environment protection in the borderland and one of Priority 3. Net-working and people-to-people cooperation: 3.1. Regional and local cross-border cooperation capacity building of the Programme. The 1st Call for Proposals was opened until the 1st of March 2010.

Total allocation

16 126 091

200910 /30 /

200911 /02 /

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All the documents concerning the Call have been published on the website of the Pro-gramme. The frequently asked questions by potential applicants, as well as answers to these questions had also been regularly published on the website.

In order to reach each potential interested party, the JTS published advertisements con-cerning the launch of the 1st Call in Polish, Ukrainian and Belarusian newspapers. In Poland, the advertisements were published in five newspapers including their regional supple-ments, in seven newspapers in Ukraine and four in Belarus. The information on the launch of the Call for Proposals was also publicised on the website of Europe. Aid, and on various national websites.

To provide a platform for finding partners ready to realise a common idea for the project, on the 26th of January 2010 the JTS, with the support of the Regional Capacity Building Initiative (RCBI), organised the first Partner Search Forum in Lviv, which attracted 221 par-ticipants.

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POLAND

RZESZÓW

RIVNE TERNOPIL

BIAŁYSTOK

SIEDLCE

LVIV UZHGOROD

LUBLIN

LUTSK IVANO-FRANKIVSK

18.12.2009

21.01.2010 05.02.2010

18.12.2009

17.12.2009

19.01.2010 02.02.2010

17.12.2009

20.01.2010 04.02.2010

94

49 45

90

68

115 48

275

94 34

participants

participants participants

participants

participants


participants


BELARUS

MINSK05.02.2010

81participants

UKRAINE

The next step done by the JTS in order to assist applicants in preparing the proposals was providing them with more information and practical advice during the trainings. Between December 2009 and February 2010 there were 11 trainings conducted in Poland, Belarus and Ukraine altogether with the participation of almost 1000 people!

12 1214 82 h 3855 kmEVENTS PARTICIPANTS OF TRAINING OF ROAD COVERED

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All promotional activities resulted in an enormous number of applications submitted to the JTS: 307! Considering that the applications could be submitted within the period of five months, it means that on average the JTS was receiving two applications per day during the whole period of five months of the Call. The total amount of requested funding was equal to EUR 187 000 000 which was over 11 times the possible allocation for this Call.

All documents were registered and stored in a safe place until the moment of the Opening Session. Opening all those boxes, bags, envelopes etc. and placing them in labelled folders took the JTS three full days.

STATISTICS FOR 307 PROJECTS SUBMITTED WITHIN THE 1ST CALL FOR PROPOSALS

PROJECTS BY PRIORITY

307 PROJECTS RECIEVED BY

PRIORITY

1 PriorityIncreasing competitiveness of the border area 151 projects

50%

Priority 2Improving the

quality of life59 projects

19%

Priority 3Networking and people-

to-people cooperation93 projects

30%

Measure 1.139 projects



Not defined 4 projects

660 900,00 €

1%

17,56 M €

42,67 M €

45,95 M €

41,54 M €

38,88 M €

Photographs: Joint Technical Secretariat

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PROJECTS BY LOCATION OF THE LEAD PARTNER

PROJECTS PARTNERSHIP

PL BY UA

192 22 93

COUNTRY OF THE LEAD PARTNER

PL BY

PL UA

PL BYUA

10INELIGIBLE [UA-UA, UA-BY, PL-PL]

63

187

47

83

5

6

11

2

7

3236

90

3416

50

2

PodlaskieVoivodeship

MazowieckieVoivodeship

LubelskieVoivodeship

MałopolskieVoivodeship

PodkarpackieVoivodeship

BrestRegion

GomelRegion

HrodnaRegion

MinskRegion

Lviv Region Kyiv Region

Ivano-Frankivsk Region

Zakarpattya Region Rivne Region

Volyn Region

5

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SELECTION

The selection process as described in the Guidelines for grant applicants was composed of several steps. The first step was an administrative and eligibility check, which was carried out by the Joint Technical Secretariat. The applicants had one chance to submit clarifications or complete the pack with missing documents, upon the request from the JTS. The results of this verification were approved by the Evaluation Committee during its meet-ing on the 4th of August 2010. Projects which successfully passed this step were further assessed by external and internal (JTS) assessors. This step, i.e. the quality check, finished with the approval of its results by the Evalua-tion Committee in October 2010. Finally, projects recommended by the Committee were awarded a grant by the decision of the Joint Monitoring Committee during its meeting in Białowieża (Poland) held on 23-24 November 2010. Thus, 21 projects received a grant and another 40 were placed on the reserve list.

Priority 1

151

Priority 1

Priority 1

88Priority 1

43Priority 2

59

Priority 2

Priority 2

31Priority 2

16Priority 3

93

Priority 3

Priority 3

45Priority 3

16

SUBMITTED: 307

WINNERS 21

POSITIVE ADMINISTRATIVE CHECK: 164

POSITIVE QUALITY CHECK: 75

9 5 7

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AND THE WINNERS ARE...

After JMC’s decision on co-financing 21 projects, the contracting procedure was begun. Information on the results of the first Call for Proposals and contracting procedures along with the content of the grant contract and its annexes were presented during three trainings on contracting for the beneficiaries of approved projects, which were organised by the JTS in December 2010. The final number of projects that are being implemented from the 1st Call is 23 (two projects from the reserve list were contracted thanks to additional available funds).

More efficient mountain rescue assistance to tourists, adjusted to

EU standards requirements – faster arrival to the place of

accident

Area of Natura 2000 sites more efficiently protected thanks to the support of the ecological safety

system provided by one project: 21 693,8 ha

Area covered by the cross-border natural

hazard management system created within one project:

9216,91 km²

Increased number of diagnosed cancers in its early stage, which

leads to increased number of completely recovered patients

Reduction by 2% of the time of toxic substances emission to atmosphere during chemical-

ecological incidents

Established alternative system for education of children of

pre-school age in 48 rural communities in Ukraine

PLEASE HAVE A LOOK AT THE WAY THE AWARDED CO-FINANCING IS BEING TURNED INTO PROGRAMME AREA IMPROVEMENT

(SELECTED EXAMPLES OF PARTICULAR PROJECTS’ OBJECTIVES):

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23 implemented projects

Priority 1

€ 5 923 160,40

€ 4 743 521,91

€ 4 921 224,29

Priority 2

Priority 310

5 18

29

24

15

4

1

8

Nationality of Lead Partner

Partnership

Nationality of all partners

PL

UA

BY

PL

UA

BY

PL

PL

PL

BY

BY UA

UA

8

13

2

first pre-financing

payment

second pre-financing payment

third pre-financing payment

balance payment

reimbursement (3rd payment option)

15,6 M €

Total amount of funds

11,5 M €

Total amount of paid co-financing

7,1 M €

Projects to be finalised in 2014

(11 projects)

8,5 M €

Finalised projects (12 projects)

4,8 M €

Including projects after final settlement (8 projects)

all amounts in EUR of ENPI co-financing

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Impact of 23 implemented projects

86%

185

OF ACHIEVEMENTPLANNED

Cross-border meetings/conferences/working groups/trainings/seminars

EVENTS SO FAR

215EVENTS PLANNED

85%

3 626


PARTICIPANTS SO FAR

4 265PARTICIPANTS PLANNED

71%

1 933


Participants trained

PARTICIPANTS SO FAR

2 711PARTICIPANTS PLANNED

73%

330


New entrepreneurs/companies, registered due

to support within the projects

450

76%

747


Training certificates issued

DOCUMENTSSO FAR

981DOCUMENTSPLANNED

135%

50


Festivals and other public events

EVENTSSO FAR

37EVENTSPLANNED

100%

21 234


PARTICIPANTSSO FAR

21 234PARTICIPANTSPLANNED

20

tourism information centres/points created

CENTRES/POINTS

13 000

new tourists attracted

NEW TOURISTS

95%

114


medical equipment

SETSSO FAR

120SETSPLANNED

127%

949


medical examinations/tests/treatments

PATIENTSSO FAR

750PATIENTSPLANNED

Investment in People Relations

Investment in Enterpreneurship

Investment in Tourism Investment in Healthcare

ENTREPRENEURS/ COMPANIES

SO FAR PLANNED

100%

50


New workplaces created (after end of project)

WORKPLACESSO FAR

50WORKPLACESPLANNED

76%

390


Entrepreneurs/companies serviced within

the projects

ENTREPRENEURS/ COMPANIES

510

SO FAR PLANNED

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IPBU.03.01.00-20-103/10

Development of Co-operation in Order to Improve Histopathological Diagnostics of Breast Cancer and Colorectal Cancer in the Polish-Belarusian Borderland

KEY FIGURES

SUMMARY

[ Budget ] 1 477 244.08 EUR

[ EU co-financing ] 1 329 519.67 EUR

[ Beneficiary ] M. Skłodowska-Curie Białystok Oncology Centre (PL)

[ Partner ] Hrodna Regional Clinical Hospital (BY)

[ Priority 3. ] Networking and people-to-people cooperation;

Measure 3.1 Regional and local cross-border cooperation capacity building

[ Current state of project ] finalised project

[ Number of examined patients ] 649

The overall objective of the project was to establish a stable form of cross-border cooperation between the health service institu-tions on the Poland-Belarus borderline in order to improve the diagnosis and the quality of treatment of breast cancer and colo-rectal cancers. The objective was achieved through the purchase of specialist examination equipment that was used to examine 649 patients from Poland and Belarus. The results of the examina-tion were used to create an efficient patients database, biobank of new cancer forms, and a set for telepathology was implemented. Organised seminars and trainings helped to familiarise the oncolo-gists of both hospitals with the examination methods, and breast and colorectal cancer diagnosing. The project’s final beneficiaries include mainly the inhabitants of Polish-Belarusian borderland suffering from neoplasm diseases, and especially those suffering from breast cancer and colorectal cancer and qualified for the pro-ject’s research programmes. The other group of final beneficiaries are the M. Skłodowska-Curie Białystok Oncology Center (BOC) and Hrodna Regional Clinical Hospital (GRCH) doctors participating in project conferences and seminar-workshop meetings, which pro-vided a platform for the exchange of knowledge and experience among medical staff.

“The objective was achieved through the

purchase of specialist examination equipment

that was used to examine 649 patients from

Poland and Belarus”

KEY INDICATOR

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Interview with Aleh Kuzniatsou, Doctor, Docent of Hrodna State Medical University, coordinator of the Belarusian part of the project

Have you already noticed the changes which are the consequence of the actions and achievements of the project?

We are very happy to say that we have already noticed some changes that are the result of the execution of the project. The number of patients who seek medical care for early detection of cancer have increased significantly. The biggest achievement of the project was organization of tests that focused on the problem of identification of tumors among patients. These tests, as well as opening of the histopathology laboratory, have contributed to the improvement of the situation in the region, since up until now we did not have the means to perform these types of tests in Hrodna. Early detection of tumors is a very sig-nificant progress for us in terms of providing healthcare. The strategy of treatment and recognition of early detected tumors increases the chance for recovery, use of less aggres-sive treatment, as well as avoidance of undesirable side effects related to this disease.

What was the biggest positive surprise during the implementation of the project?

The most pleasant surprise were positive opinions of the patients, which is the proof that the project produced the expected result. The conferences organized as part of the project are also a very nice memory, since each meeting with our partners allowed us to exchange experiences and get to know each other better.

“The strategy

of treatment

and recogni-

tion of early

detected

tumors

increases the

chance for

recovery (...)”

Photographs: M. Skłodowska-Curie Białystok Oncology Centre

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IPBU.02.01.00-06-081/10

Developing a cross-border system for natural hazards management at the Polish-Ukrainian border

KEY FIGURES

SUMMARY

[ Budget ] 1 523 089.70 EUR

[ EU co-financing ] 1 370 780.67 EUR

[ Beneficiary ] The State Fire Service, Voivodeship Headquarters in Lublin (PL)

[ Partners ] The State Fire Service, Voivodeship Headquarters in Rzeszów (PL); The Executive Board of the Ministry of Emergency Situations and Population Protection Against Chernobyl Accident Consequences in the Lviv Oblast (UA)

[ Priority 2. ] Improving the quality of life;

Measure 2.1. Natural environment protection in the borderland


[ Number of trained fire fighters and rescuers ] 563

The project aimed at enhancing the efficiency of actions for the protection of the natural environment in the Polish-Ukrainian bor-derland through the development of the cross-border natural haz-ard management system.

In order to execute this premise within the scope of the pro-ject, specialist fire trucks on both Polish and Ukrainian side were bought, in total amount of 7 vehicles: 2 heavy duty fire trucks, as well as 3 SHD high altitude rescue trucks for the Polish side and 2 heavy duty fire trucks with equipment for the Ukrainian side. The next action within the project were joint cross-border firefighting and rescue training exercises (simulation) checking the function-ing of the permanent cooperation platform for implementation of cross-border system of public safety management, the premises for which were developed within the framework of the project. The objective of the exercises was to train the participants of the pro-ject (firefighters and rescuers from Poland and Ukraine) within the scope of functioning of the implemented system and usage of the vehicles purchased as part of the project.

“The project aimed at enhancing the efficiency

of actions for the protection of the natural

environment in the Polish-Ukrainian borderland”

KEY INDICATOR

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Sr. Capt. Agnieszka Głos, head of division in the Department of Logistics at Provincial Headquarters of State Fire Service in Lublin

The key to success in the implementation of cross-border initiatives is the develop-ment of partnership and joint drive of the partners towards the set goals and not giving up, even if the difficulties appear. Our project was finished successfully and an especially significant moment was handing over the equipment to the selected fire brigades during the conference in Podkarpackie Voivodeship.

Photograph: The State Fire Service, Voivodeship Headquarters in Lublin

Photograph: Sergiy Neupokoev

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IPBU.03.01.00-20-170/10

“Communication without limits” – creating a cross-border network of tourist information

KEY FIGURES

SUMMARY

[ Budget ] 306 064.52 EUR

[ EU co-financing ] 275 458.07 EUR

[ Beneficiary ] Suwałki Chamber of Agriculture and Tourism (PL)

[ Partners ] Social Organisation ”State Union of Tourism and Sport” Hrodna Department (BY); District Executive Committee of Hrodna (BY)

[ Priority 3. ] Networking and people-to-people cooperation; Measure 3.1 Regional and local cross-border cooperation capacity building


13 tourist information points equipped in modern tools from the Polish-Belarusian border area cooperating as an international network

Within the framework of the project, a series of trainings, workshops, practical classes and study visits were organized for the representa-tives of the target groups from Hrodna District and Suwałki Region related to the tourism industry: employees of Tourist Information Points/Centers, people running agrotourism business, organizers of active tourism and employees of travel agencies, representatives of the authorities and local media. The abovementioned actions were conducted in mixed, Polish-Belarusian groups, thanks to which 5 cross-borders partnerships were established in the following sec-tors: tourist information, agrotourism, active tourism, local authori-ties and local media. Moreover, a cross-border network of 13 tourist information points was created. Seven new tourist information points in the most interesting places of Hrodna District, as well as one floating point in Poland, on the lakes of Wigry National Park, were opened. The floating point bearing a pleasant name “Bóbr” (“Beaver”) which is able to sail between various bodies of water is especially popular among the tourists. The canoeists, sailors and other fans of aquatics can now receive tourist information on the Wigry National Park, tourist attractions in the region, purchase of entrance cards, maps, etc., without the need to reach the shore. A vital part of the project was a purchase of 4 innovative tourist meters enabling to perform accurate numerical measurement of the tourist movement on both sides of the border.

We are waiting impatiently for another

PL-BY-UA programme and the possibility

to continue the actions.

- Renata Zakrzewska

KEY INDICATOR

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It is estimated that in 2013 season approx. 1300 people, mostly the canoeists, used the platform.

Fot. Paulina Pajer-Giełażys

Renata Zakrzewska,coordinator of the project, head of the Suwałki Chamber

of Agriculture and Tourism Bureau

The Suwałki Chamber of Agriculture and Tourism has been implementing pro-jects with partners from Belarus since 2006 and we can say that just as the Hro-dna District is transforming in front of us, the cooperation between our regions is evolving in a similar manner. During these years, we have made a great leap in Polish-Belarusian interpersonal relations, we have established cooperation on many surfaces and we are still learning about each other and from each other. The stereotypes are broken thanks to projects like that. Many Poles got to know the Hrodna District and many Belarusians got to know the Suwałki Region, as well as good practices in agrotourism, promotion, creating tourism product, joint offer, etc. There is a need to continue the started actions and provide further instru-ments and further trainings aimed at the Tourist Information Center’s employees and self-government, as well as assistance in creation of tourism offer, organiza-tion of trips, etc. That is why we and our Partners on the Belarusian side are wait-ing impatiently for another PL-BY-UA programme and possibility to continue the actions as well as complete, step by step, our premise that we have been imple-menting for several years.

Photograph: By Polimerek (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

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IPBU.03.01.00-76-257/10

Development of Alternative Pre-school Education System in Rural Communities

KEY FIGURES

SUMMARY

[ Budget ] 316 871.00 EUR


[ Beneficiary ] Charity organisation Educational Initiatives Centre (UA)

[ Partners ] Public-educational Society for Disadvantages and Disabled “Edukator” (PL); Charity Foundation Centre of Civic Initiatives (UA); Agency for Development of Radekhiv Region (UA); West Ukrainian Regional Non-profit Public organisation Volyn Resource Centre (UA)

[ Priority 3. ] Networking and people-to-people cooperation, [ Measure 3.1 ] Regional and local cross-border cooperation capacity building

[ Current state of project ] project ends in October 2014

1000 children from 48 rural communities of Ukraine will receive access to pre-school education

The project refers to the problem of lowest chances for education for children from rural districts. In Ukraine, pre-school education refers to the local self-government, which has to deal with the situation of lack-ing resources for administrating pre-school education, and the need for new solutions to provide space for the socialization of children and their personal development. A similar situation is typical for Poland; however, there is already access to pre-school education thanks to activities encouraging local communities in these issues. Thanks to the realisation of the project, 48 pre-schools will be organised and able to host the children from rural communities in 8 West-Ukrainian dis-tricts. Moreover, working groups, study visits, conferences and public campaigns will be conducted to share experience in local partnership building for the sustainable development of rural areas. Additionally, local government servants will take part in workshops raising their skills and competences in the sphere of alternative pre-school educa-tion, teachers will participate in trainings on working with pre-school multi-aged children groups in target districts, and Methodological rec-ommendations will be elaborated.

By planning the adoption of new local Programmes on pre-school education in the targeted districts, the project may be a first step to the future development of Ukrainian legislation on alternative pre-school education by emulating the Polish example. – from European Commission Result Oriented Monitoring report.

Eyes of rural children who passed through the

pre-school door for the first time will be my best

memory from the project realisation.

- Olena Shynarovska

KEY INDICATOR

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Interview with Olena Shynarovska, project’s coordinator

What changes do you expect the project will bring? Did any already be observed?

Ukrainian communities, by studying Polish experience and reaching a better standard in pre-school education, will be able to realize symmetrical projects in the future and develop cooperation in other fields. We are convinced that achieving our goals will contribute to sustainable development of selected rural communities through establish-ing and functioning local partnerships in the pre-school education field. We have actually observed some changes already: people in targeted local communities are proud of the Campaign and are ready to make an input – for example, in some villages parents proposed to collect didactic materials on their own.

Did you achieve as much as you wished?

We achieved even more than we expected. The increased number of experts, who are ready to work on mechanisms of establishing the pre-school educational system in rural areas shows that people in local communities understand the importance of pre-school education and are ready to sacrifice their free time and do a lot for the community when they know what results they want to achieve. Public administration representatives in the project area are motivated to establish the system of pre-school education in their regions. They understood their responsibility towards the local communities.

“I feel that I am ready to go to work in a kindergarten”

“Thank you for creative inspiration to work”Feedback from teachers, participants

of project’s activities

Photograph: Sergiy Neupokoev

Photograph of O. Shynarovska: Charity organisation Educational Initiatives Centre

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[ Budget ] 297 438.79 EUR


[ Beneficiary ] Mountains Guides Association “ROVIN” (UA)

[ Partners ] Lviv Oblast Control-Rescue Service of the Ukrainian Tourist and Sport Union (UA); Polish Tourist Association of Country Lovers, Depart-ment named after M. Orłowicz in Przemyśl (PL); Association “Lviv Tourist Board” (UA); Bieszczadzka Mountains Voluntary Rescue Group (PL)

[ Priority 1. ] . Increasing competitiveness of the border area, Measure 1.2. Tourism development

[ Current state of project ] project ends in December 2014

Arrival time of rescuers to the place of accident from the moment of alarm shortened to 20 minutes

IPBU.01.02.00-76-044/10

Stimulation of the Tourism Development in the Carpathian Region by Tourist’s Service and Security Improvement

KEY FIGURES

KEY INDICATOR

SUMMARY

Within the frame of this project the partners planned to open the Training Centre for the mountain guides and rescuers and equipping two Public Search-Rescue Points in Ukraine. A variety of information and training events already took place or will be conducted in Poland and Ukraine: trainings for workers of Rescue Points and mountain guides, training camps for rescuers, seminars and conferences on the issue of tourist safety in the Carpathians. Additionally, 10 tourist-information signs along the tourist routes with information about operating Public Search-Rescue Points serving the territory and contacts of rescuers were installed to help tourists to find the place of their own location and proper direc-tion on the route. Partners also ensured an informational campaign in the media and through elaborated publications on the tourist potential of the Carpathian region.

“Partners planned to open the Training

Centre for the mountain guides and rescuers

and equipping two Public Search-Rescue Points

in Ukraine.”

Photographs: Sergiy Neupokoev

Interview with Ivan Gorbatso, project’s coordinator

Can you already observe changes brought by the project activities / achievements?

Certainly. We are already seeing a continuation of lively dialogue between the participants of joint Ukrainian-Polish events that took place last year within the framework of the pro-ject. Exchange of ideas, knowledge, methods made it possible to establish communication at the level of ordinary people living in geographical proximity to each other and working in the tourism industry.

Did you achieve (so far) as much as you wished?

There is an assertion that no limits for perfection exist for a genuine Galician. And there is still much to do to achieve the desired result. But thanks to the Program, the Project Part-ners have reached a qualitatively new and higher level, offering new horizons. We can state the fact that we have created a reliable foundation for future cooperation.

What is the biggest contribution of your project in improvement of situation in the border areas?

Thanks to our project professionals in tourism (guides, interpreters guides, mountain guides) were trained, who will be and already are servicing cross-border tourist routes. Safety of tourists who come to rest in a mountain area in the Ukrainian-Polish borderlands was largely improved. Knowledge of the methods and capabilities possessed by the col-leagues from the mountain rescue service on the other side of the EU border will be crucial in assisting in the event of any emergency. Our problems are quite similar, and therefore solving them requires an integrated approach, cautious planning and shared solutions. The things, made by joint efforts are mostly appreciated, easily perceived and remaining for a long time.

Thanks to participation in the project I was able to better understand tourism develop-ment trends in other countries and see more opportunities for tourism development in Ukraine. The existence of such projects shows that Ukraine is interesting to others. It is interesting for me to understand the differences of Ukraine from the European countries. It is necessary to preserve our own identity using the experience of others.

“Thanks to

our project

profession-

als in tourism

were trained,

who will be

and already

are servicing

cross-border

tourist

routes. ”

Friedrich Yefymovsky, participant of the training course for mountain guides organised within the project

Photograph of I. Gorbatso: Mountains Guides Association “ROVIN”

The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of the Joint Technical Secretariatof the Cross-border Cooperation Programme Poland - Belarus - Ukraine 2007-2013

and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union.

Joint Technical Secretariat39a Domaniewska St., 02-672 Warsaw, Polandtel: +48 22 378 31 00e-mail: [email protected]

Branch Office of the Joint Technical Secretariat in Lviv5 Tyktora St., 79007 Lviv, Ukrainetel./fax: +380 322 61 02 59e-mail: [email protected]

Branch Office of the Joint Technical Secretariat in Brest46 Sovetskaya St., 224005 Brest, Belarustel: +375 162 53 15 83e-mail: [email protected]

1st call for proposals "where the story begins"

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