EUR 5.2 million for equipment and trainings to protect the border region of Bulgaria and Turkey from fires and disasters

MRDPW supports with EUR 18 million the modernization of fire services and the preparation of volunteers for crisis response in border regions

Nearly EUR 5.2 million will be invested in the provision of modern equipment and trainings for protection against fires and natural disasters on the border region between Bulgaria and Turkey. The funds are provided under the Bulgaria-Turkey Cross-Border Cooperation Programme 2021-2027 managed by the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works (MRDPW). The FLAMESHIELD project ‘Increasing capacity for disaster prevention and response in the cross-border region of Bulgaria and Turkey’ is implemented by the General Directorate for Fire Safety and Population Protection (GDPBZN), in partnership with national, regional and local authorities from Turkey and the municipalities of Svilengrad, Topolovgrad and Bolyarovo. Desislava Georgieva, Director of the Territorial Cooperation Management Directorate at the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works, handed the performance contract to Chief Commissioner Aleksandar Dzhartov today in the presence of the mayors of the three municipalities of Atanas Karchev, Bozhin Bozhinov and Hristo Hristov.

‘The Directorate-General for Fire Safety and Civil Protection is the most active beneficiary of our cross-border programmes. We are currently implementing 4 key contracts under 4 programmes for a total amount of EUR 18 million. They are all part of our joint efforts with our neighbours to respond purposefully to one of the most serious challenges in the Balkans in recent years – forest fires and natural disasters, which are spreading over more territories and causing more and more damage,” said Desislava Georgieva. She stressed that the projects will help preserve the rich nature and infrastructure in the region. "The project with Turkey is yet another example of how European territorial cooperation provides solutions to our common problems. Particularly valuable is the integrated approach, which combines the purchase of modern equipment with joint exercises and trainings of volunteers and professionals. Our experience shows that the combination of these activities gives maximum effect in the control of the natural elements, especially in hard-to-reach areas", said Desislava Georgieva. She stressed that after the implementation of the project, the rescue services will have the opportunity to anticipate the events, as priority is given to prevention and surveillance with the most modern equipment. "Over three hundred thousand people from the border region will feel even more protected and better prepared thanks to our investment," she said. According to her, involving municipalities in the project will provide a faster response in case of fires and disasters, because local authorities are always on the front line.

Georgieva also noted that this is the last contract under the current cooperation programme with Turkey. It brings the total amount contracted under the programme to €29 million, or 98% of its budget. They are invested in various initiatives such as competitiveness development, green transition, tackling illegal migration, tourism development, etc., which have a great effect on the population in the cross-border region.

For his part, Chief Commissioner Alexander Jartov noted that in recent years, our country has been increasingly confronted with disasters such as fires and floods. "The challenges that climate change will intensify require us to have a coordinated effort on how to do better. The project will enable us to build a culture of prevention, including among children. We will also have the option of additional equipment to provide a safer environment," he said.

The FLAMESHIELD project aims to strengthen cross-border disaster preparedness and response capacity by improving coordination between Bulgaria and Turkey. It focuses on developing joint operational frameworks, enhancing institutional and community capacity and ensuring a more effective and timely response to forest fires. It will develop joint Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and cross-border response plans, fire risk analyses and maps of vulnerable areas, including in 30 border villages. 120 volunteers and first aid teams will be trained and local firefighting teams of around 200 people will be set up. The tracking system for volunteers will also be modernised for better coordination.

Under the project, services and municipalities will buy new specialized firefighting equipment. The fire station will be equipped with three heavy chainsaws for firebreaks and open roads in hard-to-reach forest areas. For protection and logistics, the volunteers will be provided with 325 sets of protective equipment for forest fires, 30 water tankers (4 tons) for 30 villages, two tracked tractors with two trailers for transporting heavy equipment, as well as radio communication systems. The municipalities of Svilengrad, Topolovgrad and Bolyarovo will purchase one off-road specialized car with one fire extinguishing module and protective equipment kits.

Turkish project partners will also buy protective equipment for volunteers in forest fires, water tankers, tracked tractors and radio communication systems, aerial surveillance drone, specialized equipment for search and rescue intervention, off-road 4x4 car, logistics van and IT equipment to support data analysis and disaster management, GPS and leveling kit for terrain mapping, etc. The aim is to strengthen operational preparedness, mobility, the safety of staff and volunteers and the possibility of a faster, safer and more effective disaster response in the cross-border area.

The project is expected to provide protection from forest fires on 588,200 hectares of common territory between Bulgaria and Turkey and increased safety for approximately 290,000 people in the cross-border region.