Euroregion Bug

Location and natural environment
The area of the Euroregion BUG, which is located in central-east Europe, is quite unvarying with the majority of lowlands. The land formation is more varying only in the southern part (Roztocze, Wolyn Uplands). The Vistula River is the natural border of the Euroregion from the west. Large rivers such as Bug, Prypec and Muchawiec cut across ERB.
Agricultural areas constitute over 50% of the Euroregion’s area, forests – nearly 31%. Favourable climate and fertile soil encourage agricultural activity and vast areas of clean natural environment create great opportunities for recreation and tourism. There are four national parks in the Euroregion: Polesie National Park and Roztocze National Park (Lublin Voivodship), Bialowieza National Park (Brest District) and Szack National Park (Wolyn District). International Biosphere Reserve Polesie Zachodnie complies with the highest international standards as far as natural environment treatment and regional development planning are concerned. The reserve, which was created in 2002, includes the most precious areas of Polesie National Park (Lublin Voivodship) and of Szack National Park (Wolyn). It also includes landscape parks: Leczna Lake District, Polesie, Sobibor and Chelm. Other protected areas in Belarus will achieve international standards in the nearest future (so-called zapowiedniks) – Sporowskij, Wygonoszczanskoje, Leninskij and Pripiatskij.
Naturalists, geologists and geographers have worked out a project of another International Biosphere Reserve Roztocze in the Euroregion, which would include vast areas with the remains of beech and fir forest in Poland and Ukraine. Protection of the environment and planning social-economic development in accordance with natural environment are extremely essential in the Euroregion BUG, which is an area especially attractive for development of eco- and agrotourism. There are some of the most valuable and biggest forest complexes in Europe here (Bialowieza Forest in Brest District, Solski Forest and Janow Forest in Lublin Voivodship). The number of lakes is impressing (67 in Leczna-Wlodawa Lake District and 22 in Szack Lake District).
Except for its natural value, the Euroregion BUG is also an area rich in natural resources: hard coal, oil and natural gas, mineral water and stone resources (marl, chalk, lime, clay, gravel and sand).

Communication routes
Due to its location, the Euroregion BUG is of strategic importance for development of relations between people from the European Union and their eastern neighbours. The most important international communication routes run through the area of Lublin Voivodship, Brest and Luck districts. They connect Western Europe with: Minsk and Moscow (through Kukuryki/Kozlowicze and Terespol/Brest border crossings), Luck and Kiev (through Dorohusk/Jagodzin) and to Lvov and Odessa (through Hrebenne/Rawa Ruska).
Both road network and railway lines, including Broad-Gauge Metallurgy Line (LHS) which is becoming more and more important, are of international significance. This line, which runs through Ukraine and the southern part of Lublin Voivodship, is an essential part of the transcontinental resources and goods shipping route which connects Europe with Asia. It has been the easiest and ecologically clean means of regular transport of large containers, being an alternative for large numbers of HGVs, which pollute the environment and damage roads.
The cargo customs terminal in Koroszczyn (capable of clearing up to 1.400 HGVs a day) and the biggest in Europe dry road-rail reloading port in Malaszewicze also play an important role. Both these customs and freight forwarding centres are located near border crossings in Kukuryki and Terespol, which open the route from the European Union to Russian and Belarusian markets. The communication system in the Euroregion BUG may be improved in the future by airports planned to be built in Lublin Voivodship, which will cooperate with cheap regional airlines.

Genesis and the idea of cross-border cooperation
The beginning of regional activities which led to the creation of the Euroregion BUG was on 30th April 1992, when on the initiative of Governors of Biala Podlaska, Chelm and Lublin voivodships, the President of Lublin, the Ministry of Ownership Transformation and the Ministry of the Central Planning Bureau a regional agreement was signed and the Regional Consortium came into existence, whose role was to protect mutual financial activity. According to the agreement, its main aim was to develop and carry out restructuring and privatisation program in the region.
On 30th June 1992, only two months since the agreement was signed, the Co-ordination Committee of the Regional Consortium (enlarged with Tarnobrzeg Voivodship) signed a co-operation agreement with Wolyn District in Ukraine. It was mainly on the initiative of Chelm Voivodship, which had already widely cooperated with Wolyn District. The agreement was signed in Kowel by the Chairman of the Co-ordination Committee Jerzy Drygalski PhD on the Polish side and by the chief of presidential administration of Wolyn District and representative of the President of Ukraine in Wolyn Wlodzimierz J. Blazenczuk.
The aim of the agreement was development of neighbourly co-operation in the fields of: regional development, transport and communication, delivery of energy carriers and water, protection of nature and environment, industry, trade, agriculture and food processing, education and scientific research, health care, culture, art, tourism, recreation and mutual assistance as far as prevention and elimination of crime and natural disasters are concerned.
It is worth mentioning that cross-border cooperation at the time was encouraged by Poland’s opening on and stabilisation of international relations with the new countries across its eastern border, including ratification by Polish authorities of the European Outline Convention on the trans-frontier cooperation of authorities and territorial communities on 21st May 1980, signed in Madrid as well as the conclusion of neighbourhood programs (treaties) with Ukraine and the Republic of Belarus in Warsaw in May and June 1992.
The first models of cross-border cooperation also supported development of neighbourly contacts – the Euroregion Nysa came into existence in December 1991 on the Polish-Czech-German border areas. At present, there are already 15 such associations, which include Polish regions, and the Euroregion BUG is one of the largest.

First intentions of enhancing co-operation of Lublin Voivodship with its neighbours across the eastern border and creation of the Cross-Border Association Euroregion BUG appeared as early as in 1992. In June 1993 the Co-ordination Committee of the Regional Consortium prepared the concept of an Ordered Research Project (PBZ), which would apply to cross-border areas of voivodships - members of the agreement in the range of economic development. The project was to be realised in 1994-1996. It was accepted by State Committee for Scientific Research and received financial support. The project was realised by an intercollegiate research team from universities in Lublin and Warsaw under the direction of prof. Maciej Baltowski from Technical University in Lublin. The work of the research team resulted in publishing of multi-volume editions of scientific publications in 1996-1997 covering the matter of the Euroregion from many different perspectives .

Administration alterations
The Cross-Border Association Euroregion BUG, covering the areas located in the drainage area of the Bug River in Poland and Ukraine, was created in 1995 and it was enlarged three years later with the territory of Belarus. On the part of Poland the founders of the Euroregion were the Governors of Chelm, Lublin, Tarnobrzeg and Zamosc voivodships, joined later by the Governor of Biala Podlaska Voivodship. However, in accordance with the Act of 5th June 1998 on local governments of voivodships, the competencies related to foreign relations were handed over from central administration to a local one. Following that, an agreement was signed on 17th August 1999 between Lublin Voivodship Administration and the Governor of Lublin Voivodship on the succession of the rights of the Cross-Border Association Euroregion BUG. The agreement defined the composition of the Euroregion BUG Council of the Polish party. The Polish party of the Association consists of 10 people: 5 representatives of the local government of Lublin Voivodship, 2 representatives of the Governor of Lublin Voivodship and representatives of poviats’, gmina’s (parishes) and Lublin’s local governments (one representative from each of the local governments). As a result of administration reform introduced in Poland on 1st January 1999, the legal successor of the up-to-date Polish members of the Association: Biala Podlaska, Chelm, Lublin and Zamosc voivodships, was the newly formed Lublin Voivodship (covering the area of all four former voivodships). However, the former Tarnobrzeg Voivodship became a part of other Polish voivodships and as a result it does not belong to the Euroregion. It cooperates with its „next-door” neighbours within the frames of other cross-border associations (such as the Euroregion Karpaty).
The administration reform required alterations to be introduced into the agreement on establishing the Cross-Border Association Euroregion BUG. An amendment to the agreement was signed by the Polish, Belarusian and Ukrainian parties on 22nd September 1999, on the basis of which the Polish party in the Association is represented by: the Chancellor of Lublin Voivodship, the Chairman of Regional Parliament (Sejmik) of Lublin Voivodship and the Governor of Lublin Voivodship. From the administrative point of view the area of the Euroregion BUG includes three areas of regional character: Brest District with the office in Brest, Lublin Voivodship with the office in Lublin, Wolyn District with the office in Luck, two poviats from Lvov District and also 64 subregional units, including 52 country regions/poviats and 12 towns with the rights of regions/poviats.

Basic objectives and financing
According to the Articles of the Association the Euroregion BUG was created for the purpose of development of co-operation between border areas in the following fields:

• spatial planning;
• communication and transport
• education, health care, culture, sports and tourism;
• protection and improvement of the condition of natural environment ;
• elimination of hazards and the effects of natural disasters;
• developing relations among the inhabitants of cross-border areas, cooperation among institutions and businesses.

On 3rd April 2000, Euroregion BUG Local Governments Association (SSERB) was registered, which is responsible for financing the activity of the Euroregion BUG on the Polish side.

On the basis of the Articles of the Association, the purpose of the Association is: inspiring, supporting and coordinating cross-border cooperation of local governments, local communities and administrative authorities in border areas along the border on the Bug River. Funds for activity of SSERB come from membership fees of associated local governments and supporting local governments (there are 91 of them), while all prodevelopment cross-border projects in the area of the Euroregion are realised with the aid of European funds, including: Small Projects Fund within National Program PHARE – Polish Eastern Border and Neighbourhood Program Poland-Belarus-Ukraine INTERREG III/TACIS CBC.

Small Projects Fund PHARE
Small Projects Fund, administered by the Euroregion BUG, was created in 1998 within the first edition of the Integrated Program for Polish Eastern Border. The Euroregion had subsidies of 120.000 EUR at the time.
Since 2000 Euroregion BUG Local Governments Association (SSERB) has managed the Fund on the Polish-Ukrainian and Polish-Belarusian borders on the territory of the Euroregion BUG.
The total amount of funds for the realisation of Small Projects Fund within National Program PHARE 2000 – Polish Eastern Border was 1.000.000 EUR, of which the Association was granted 250.000 EUR. As the result of two approaches to the present edition of the Fund the Euroregion BUG allocated 80.83% of the total amount, which is 492.584.46 EUR.
The total amount of funds for the realisation of Small Projects Fund within National Program for Poland 2001 – Polish Eastern Border was 2.000.000 EUR, including 500.000 EUR for the Euroregion BUG, of which 98.51% (that is 492.584.46 EUR) was allocated. More funds – 499.999.14 EUR (out of 500.000 EUR) was allocated in the edition of Small Projects Fund within National Program for Poland PHARE 2002. From the perspective of a few years of realisation of projects, it can be easily seen that PHARE funds were of great importance for the beneficiaries, coming mostly from local governments of Lublin Voivodship and their smaller units with their own budgets being too small. It was even more difficult in the case of foreign partners, none of which declared its own financial involvement. Nevertheless, each of them realised the tasks entrusted to them within the projects. In most cases it was content-related and administrative aid, although sometimes the partner had to cover the costs, which did not qualify for refund (e.g. transport of participants, advertising events in the media, preparation of materials for conferences and seminars). The realisation of Small Projects Fund brings permanent effects in many fields of euroregional co-operation, enabling exchange of experience and limiting prejudice. It has stimulated the process of arising new social and economic relations; it has also strengthened the already existing relations.

PHARE 2000
Within Small Projects Fund for National Program PHARE 2000 – Polish Eastern Border in the area of the Euroregion BUG 16 projects were realised (including one SSERB’s own project) of the total value of 226.232,63 EUR. The amount of 155.037,43 EUR ( 68.53% of the total value of projects) was granted by PHARE, beneficiaries’ own funds amounted to 71.195,20 EUR (31.47% of the total value).
In PHARE 2000 edition the majority of the projects concerned cultural activity (7). Among them there were: a folk fair, town partnership days, museum publications, an archaeological exhibition and a youth exchange between schools. Local self-governments, museums, sports association and the Euroregion were the beneficiaries of these projects.
The second major group, as far as the number of projects is concerned, includes planning and development studies (4 projects). They were research projects in the field of culture and linguistics, research projects of universities, a conference concerning Polish-Belarusian border infrastructure, local government seminars. Local government associations and local governments were the main beneficiaries of these projects.
The third major group of projects (3) concerned economic development. Their main purpose was to integrate business environments in the area of the Euroregion BUG. Thus, the main events were: economic conferences and seminars, eastern markets service centres and economic catalogues. Among the beneficiaries were: a business club and a regional development association. The fourth group consisted of 2 projects in the field of local democracy. They were meetings of local governments and non-profit organisations in the form of “round table meetings” or study trips, organised by local government associations and local authorities.

PHARE 2001
31 projects, of the total value of 566.035,63 EUR, were realised within Small Projects Fund for National Polish Program 2001 – Polish Eastern Border in the area of the Euroregion BUG. PHARE granted 411.668,63 EUR (72.72% of the total value of the projects), beneficiaries’ own funds amounted to 154.367 EUR (27.27% of the total value).
In this edition the majority of the projects also concerned cultural activity (18). Among them there were: artistic open airs, town partnership days, a folk art fair, a scientific conference, an exhibition and various educational programs. Local governments, museums and a sports association were the beneficiaries of the projects.
The second group consisted of projects concerning tourism development (5 projects) with the aim of promoting touristy values of border regions, marking touristy routes and preparing guidebooks.
New economic development projects (3) concerned: agrotourism development, organisation of meetings and conferences for businesspeople and creation of trade and economic information centres. Local governments were the main beneficiaries of these projects.
The fourth group consisted of local democracy projects (4). Local governments’ and non-governmental organisations’ projects aimed at: organisation of local governments meetings, creation of an information/consulting centre and organisation of a series of trainings and consulting services in order to increase European funds absorption.
Furthermore, a non-governmental organisation prepared a strategic study concerning flood control of the Bug River in this edition of Phare.

PHARE 2002
Beneficiaries have been in the course of realisation of their projects since September 2004 and the last projects will be realised in September 2005. Mostly non-governmental organisations are the authors of projects (12). Seven projects are being realised by local government institutions (museums, sports and recreation centres, community centres), five projects – by cities and three projects – by smaller urban and rural gminas. Only one project realised by a university reveals little interest of academic environment in this form of financial support.
Cultural (11 projects) and sports events (5 projects) are of greatest interest among the beneficiaries. Other fields are: tourism (two projects), economy (three), scientific research (one), conferences and exhibitions (two), supporting local democracy development (two), natural environment protection (one), education (one).

PHARE 2003
In 2005, the jubilee year for the Euroregion BUG, in the last edition of Small Projects Fund within National Program for Poland 2003, 49 projects were allocated of the total value nearly twice as big as in the previous editions.
The majority of the applicants that received grants are territorial local government units and institutions under their direction (community centres and museums). Non-governmental organisations are also numerous. The effects of the 49 projects can be evaluated as early as at the end of 2006.
What is more, from the Business Related Infrastructure Projects Fund within National Program for Poland 2003 Budget Line (PL2003/005–710.06.01) six beneficiaries received grants of the total value of 1.000.000 EUR. Infrastructure Projects – six beneficiaries received funds of the total amount of 950.000 EUR

INTERREG IIIA/TACIS CBC

Objectives and participants
The purpose of Neighbourhood Program Poland-Belarus-Ukraine INTERREG IIIA/TACIS CBC is supporting cross-border co-operation at the eastern border of Poland, which is at the same time the external border of the European Union (EU). The co-operation aims at raising the living standards of the inhabitants and social-economic integration of border regions.
On the Polish side the program includes eight subregions: Biala Podlaska, Bialystok - Suwalki, Chelm - Zamosc, Krosno – Przemysl, Lomza and Ostroleka – Siedlce. The jurisdiction of the program also includes Lublin and Rzeszow – Tarnobrzeg subregions, where the allocation of funds may amount to 20% of the program’s budget. From the Belarusian side Grodno and Brest districts as well as the western part of Minsk District may take part in the program. From the Ukrainian side Wolyn, Lvov and Zakarpacki districts may participate in the program.

Priorities and financing
Neighbourhood Program Poland-Belarus-Ukraine INTERREG IIIA/TACIS CBC will be co-financed from two budget lines: by the European Regional Development Fund (EFRR) on the Polish side, and from the funds of TACIS CBC (community aid program for former soviet republics and Mongolia – with the exclusion of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, which belong to the EU) on the Belarusian and Ukrainian side. In 2004-2006 Poland will spend 37.8 million EUR from EFRR funds on Neighbourhood Program Poland –Belarus-Ukraine. Simultaneously, the allocation of TACIS CBC funds for Belarus and Ukraine will amount to eight million EUR. The Euroregion BUG received 1.380.000 EUR for its beneficiaries (only for action 2.2) for 2005-2006 period. Applications can be submitted since the beginning of September 2005.

Advice for beneficiaries of EFRR funds:
- Polish partners may receive a grant amounting to 75% of qualified costs of a project, and EFRR funds are received in the form of refunds;
- beneficiaries are obliged to provide their own funds amounting to at least 25% of qualified costs of a project;
- co-operation must be based on cross-border partnership, and a project must involve cross-border effects;
- projects must not be financed by any other aid program of the EU;
- applications must be submitted in the Polish language.

Priorities of Neighbourhood Program Poland-Belarus-Ukraine:
Priority 1: Increase of competitiveness of border regions through modernisation and development of cross-border infrastructure;
Action 1.1: Modernisation and development of the existing transport systems aiming at improvement of accessibility of the region;
Action 1.2: Development of mutual cross-border natural environment protection system;
Action 1.3: Development of business related and touristy infrastructure.
Priority 2: Development of human resources capital and institutional forms of cross-border co-operation as well as improvement of safety of the borders of the European Union;
Action 2.1: Strengthening of institutional cross-border co-operation and improvement of the quality of the human resources capital;
Action 2.2: Support of initiatives of local communities (Microprojects Fund administered by Euroregion BUG).

Microprojects Fund
The main objective of its activity is development of co-operation between local and regional organisations in the fields of culture, education, tourism, economy, including creation of he basis for economically stable cross-border co-operation. Prioritised projects will be those, which involve creation of conditions for social-economic development of border areas as well as development of trade and business related co-operation, increase of the number and importance of organisations involved in such co-operation, and also improving co-operation at microprojects level.

Beneficiaries of the projects realised within Microprojects Fund may be:
- territorial local government units of any status;
- organizations created by territorial local government units with the purpose of providing particular public services;
- legal entities acting with involvement of local government units or on its own; - regional and local representatives of state administration responsible for performing actions at regional/local level;
- state organisations responsible on behalf of regional/local units for performing public actions at regional/local level;
- non-profit non-governmental organisations;
- associations and foundations; national and landscape parks;
- Administration of State Forests;
- economic chambers;
- schools, universities and educational institutions;
- job centres;
- touristy organisations;
- scientific-research and cultural institutions;
- churches and religious associations;
- Public Roads Administration;
- Border Crossings Administration;
- emergency services.

Model events realised within Microprojects Fund are the following: organisation of a fair or other trade events, sports competitions, concerts, festivals, workshops, panels, seminars, sculpture and painting open airs; mutual environment protection and spatial planning actions, supporting mutual actions aiming at preserving identity and traditions of the region (publications, promotion, websites etc); development of institutional partnership as far as exchange of information and experience is concerned; co-operation among associations which represent women, the disabled, national minorities; creation centres/offices of cross-border co-operation; actions aiming at gaining potential partners.

Microprojects or actions taken within them, co-financed from EFRR funds, may be financially supported by the Fund up to 75% of qualified costs. The minimum limit of co-financing of a project from EFRR funds amounts to 5.000 EUR, and maximum 50.000 EUR.
The remaining 25% of qualified costs and non-qualified costs come from national sources (mostly local and regional). EFRR funds are given as refunds. In addition, Polish partners participating in microprojects may apply, through their Euroregion, for co-financing from the state budget up to 10% of the total qualified costs of a project. Microprojects or actions taken within them, co-financed from TACIS funds, may receive financial support from the Fund of up to 95% of the costs suffered. The minimum limit of co-financing a project from TACIS CBC funds is 5.000 EUR, and maximum 50.000 EUR.

CALENDER

29th September 1995
Governors of Chelm, Lublin, Tarnobrzeg and Zamosc voivodships and the President of Wolyn District Council, and at the same time the President of Wolyn State Administration, sign an agreement on the creation of the Cross-Border Association Euroregion BUG (ERB).

27th November 1995
Session of signatories of the Euroregion BUG in Chelm. Election of ERB Council.

27th November 1995
1st session of ERB Council in Chelm. Election of the Presidium and the Chairman of the Council, Appeal Committee, Secretariat, creation of five working groups for taking actions according to the Articles of the Association.

13th June 1996
ERB becomes a member of European Cross-Border Regions Association (ECBRA) with the office in Gronau (Germany).

15th May 1998
Session of signatories of ERB in Brest, Belarus. Brest District and Biala Podlaska Voivodship become members of ERB. Creation of National Office in Brest.

17th November 1998
Session of ERB Council – Polish party in Chelm. Acceptance of the report on functioning of ERB after state administration reform alterations.

23rd – 24th November 1998
Plenary Assembly of European Cross-Border Regions Association in Nicea . Representative of the Euroregion BUG is elected a member of ECBRA Council.

26th April 1999
Local government of Lublin Voivodship joins the Cross-Border Association Euroregion BUG according to the resolution during the ninth session of Regional Parliament of Lublin Voivodship.

17th August 1999
Governor of Lublin Voivodship and Chancellor of Regional Parliament of Lublin Voivodship sign an agreement on handing over competencies concerning the Euroregion BUG in connection with the administration reform in Poland. Agreement on the composition of ERB Council and principles of functioning of ERB National Office in Chelm.

22nd September 1999
An amendment to the agreement on creation of the Cross-Border Association Euroregion BUG is oficially signed in Lublin castle by Polish, Ukrainian and Belarusian parties. 1st International Economic Forum takes place at the same time.

18th November 1999
Session of ERB Council in Brest.

3rd April 2000
Euroregion Bug Local Governments Association (SSERB) is registered by District Court in Lublin.

12th May 2000
Session of ERB Council in Luck. Two regions – Sokal and Zolkiew, which belong to Lvov District, become members of the Euroregion BUG.

May 2003
Session of Euroregion BUG Council in Luck. Acceptance of presidency by the Polish party.

16th June 2004
Session of Euroregion BUG Council in Biala Podlaska. Acceptance of presidency by the Belarusian party.

16th February 2005
Plenary Assembly of Members of Euroregion BUG Local Governments Association gave the title of Honorary Member of the Association to three districts from Ukraine: Lvov, Odessa and Lugan.