Regional Development Agency of Rodopi S.A. - ANRO S.A.
The Regional Development Agency of Rodopi S.A. (ANRO) was established in April 1992 aiming at the integrated development of the area of Rodopi and the wider region. Since then, ANRO has been creating, supporting, coordinating, implementing and managing local development initiatives that meet the needs of the public and private institutions of the Rodopi area and of the wider region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace.
Local Authorities and other Collective Bodies of the wider region participate in ANRO.
ANRO has a wide experience in implementing projects; through the operational projects of the 3rd Community Support Framework, the Framework for Cohesion Policy 2007-2013, the Partnership Agreement for the Development Framework 2014-2020 and other national and European projects. Through an upgraded human potential and with the use of new technologies, modern tools, ANRO is offering innovative solutions and practices, creating or adapting know-how, participating in networks aiming at the transfer of experiences. The areas of intervention of ANRO are the rural tourism – ecotourism, the protection of the environment, the promotion of local rural products, the development of human resources, the planning and administration services concerning the above mentioned sectors. Furthermore, ANRO has important previous experience in projects of the social sector, in the remote areas of the Eastern Macedonia and Thrace Region. ANRO has a key role in the support, co-ordination and implementation of development projects and initiatives in the whole Region of East Macedonia and Thrace.
ANRO has also a wide experience in the management and implementation of projects under the framework of the INTERREG and various more programmes either as a LP or as a partner.
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki - Special Account for Research Funds - Department of Economics
The Aristotle University of Thessaloniki or Aristotelian University or University of Thessaloniki is the sixth oldest and among the most highly ranked tertiary education institutions in Greece.
Named after the philosopher Aristotle, who was born in Stageira, about 55 km (34 miles) east of Thessaloniki, it is the largest university in Greece and in the Balkans and its campus covers 230,000 square metres in the centre of Thessaloniki, with additional educational and administrative facilities elsewhere.
As of 2014, there is a student population of approximately 40,000 active students enrolled at the university (31,000 at the undergraduate level and 9,000 in postgraduate programmes of which 3,952 at Doctoral level) and 2,366 faculty members. There are additionally 248 members of the Special Laboratory Teaching Personnel, 213 members of the Special Technical Laboratory Personnel. The administrative staff consists of 400 permanent employees and 528 subcontractor employees that are contracted by the university.
The language of instruction is Greek, although there are programs in foreign languages and courses for international students, which are carried out in English, French, German, and Italian.
The Department of Economics of the School of Economics and Political Sciences of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, is one of the oldest departments of the Universityand has been operating continuously since 1928, incorporated in the School of Legal Economics and Political Sciences. It is one of the largest departments of AUTH in terms of number of students. Graduates of the Department have staffed the Public Sector, the Private Sector, academic positions and also are active in politics. The institutional has significant Educational and research work and participates in many European programs and in many bilateral cooperation projects with Universities of the European Union.
Municipality of Arriana
The Municipality of Arriana is located at the northeastern edge of Regional Unity (ROP) of Rodopi in the Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace. The main town of the Municipality is Fillyra. The Municipality has a picturesque profile with untouched nature, full of green landscapes and dense vegetation. It covers the greater part of the mountainous area of Rodopi.
The population of the Municipality is 16,577 inhabitants according to the census of 2011. Almost the entire population are Muslims, which makes the Municipality an area with peculiar cultural elements.
Most activities of the municipality's residents are concentrated in agriculture.
Many initiatives and actions are active for the development of the region, in order to improve the quality of life of the residents. The Municipality is participate as partner in many projects as well as in programmes that focus on exchange of experience and know-how.
Municipality of Iasmos
Iasmos is a town and a municipality in the Rhodope regional unit of Thrace, Greece. It is built on the side of the Rhodope Mountains. Although references about the village date back to the 16th Century, it is likely that those references are about the old location of the village, a few kilometres west of the current position. The actual date that the inhabitants settled in the current place is between the late 18th century and 1814 (the latter date is inscribed on the wall of the oldest church in the village).
The municipality Iasmos was formed at the 2011 local government reform by the merger of the following 3 former municipalities, that became municipal units:
- Amaxades
- Iasmos
- Sostis
The municipality has an area of 485.285 km2, the municipal unit 221.795 km2.
Agency for Transnational Training and Development - Transcoop
Agency for Transnational Training and Development - TRANSCOOP, is a non-profit organization established in January 1994 in Athens by Greek and German partners as a result of their long successful previous cooperation in the context of bilateral (GR – D) initiatives in the local development and human resources development sector.
The scope for establishing TRANSCOOP was to valorize the opportunities deriving from the European unification as a lever to obtaining economic development and prosperity in less favored European areas. In this context the scope of TRANSOOP was to help strengthening the transnational cooperation among the European member states and regions, in terms of enhancing partnerships, facilitating transfer of know - how and exchange of experience, supporting common undertakings at transnational and national level.
After almost 18 years of continuous operation in Athens, TRANSCOOP moved in 2012 to Thessaloniki.
TRANSCOOP is specialized in project design and management with particular focus on territorial development and development of human resources at both national and transnational level. The subject of the Agency for Transnational Development and Training concerns program and project planning and monitoring of their application in the context of EU and national policies, along with the implementation of associated to them activities, as e.g. elaboration of studies, design of policies, planning and carrying out training measures, organization of seminars and events, preparation of publicity actions, development of ICT tools.
Regional Health Inspectorate
The Regional Health Inspectorate Hascovo, as administrative structure of the Ministry of Health in Bulgaria, implements the state policy for public health care and the state health control on the territory of 11 municipalities in Haskovo region. It implements the following activities: 1) state health control; 2) control of the registration and healthcare activities provided by the medical establishments and health offices; 3) planning, organization and supervision of the medical expert activities; 4) health promotion and integrated disease prevention; 5) collection, registration, processing, storage, analysis and provision of health information for the needs of the national healthcare system; 6)introduction of information technologies in the field of healthcare; 7) laboratory control of the environmental factors, analysis and assessment of their impact on the health of citizens; 8) analysis, evaluation and forecasts of the health - demographic processes; 9) laboratory analyzes and tests; 10) development, implementation and coordination of regional and national programmes and projects in the field of the protection of public health; 11) planning and organization of healthcare activities in the event of natural calamities, accidents or disasters; 12) methodological, advisory and expert assistance in the field of the protection of public health; 13) monitoring, assessment and control of noise in urban territories and public buildings, of pollutants in foods, and of drinking water. The institution closely works with the regional and district administration of Haskovo region and the Water and Sewage companies.
RHI is situated in 7 buildings, regarding the different sectors of intervention. The organization has all the necessary staff and equipment for its activities.
The institution has implemented various projects, financed under various EU and national programmes.
Association of Rhodope Municipalities
The Association of Rhodope Municipalities (ARM) was established in 1992. ARM is a non-profit organization for public benefit, consisting of 19 member municipalities, located in 4 administrative districts of Bulgaria: Smolyan, Kardzhali, Plovdiv, Pazardzhik. The total number of population living in the 19 municipalities of these districts is 341 963 inhabitants (2014), which is approx. 5% of Bulgaria’s population.
ARM plays an important role in assisting, coordinating and supporting its members in the cross border cooperation. Furthermore, ARM works in cooperation with other similar organizations and supports its member municipalities in establishing and cooperating with organizations in other countries.
The General Assembly (GA) is the supreme body of ARM. Members of the GA are the mayors of the municipalities (ARM’s members) and delegates selected by the respective Municipal Council. Members of ARM’s Board are all mayors of municipalities (ARM’s members).
Over the years ARM has gained important experience in project management through the coordination of EU funded projects such as EVROS-SMOLYAN ROAD OF CULTURE, GREEN TWINNING, Design Thinking in Tourism, Business Activities in the Rhodopes and Aegean Sea, Cross-Border Business Activities, Following the steps of Orpheus and Democritus, Get to Know your Neighbour etc. Moreover, ARM is currently working on projects co-funded by Intelligent Energy Europe Programme of the European Union.
ARM gained also experience in the production of promotional materials, in organizing workshops, trainings and other events with the participation of mayors, municipal specialists, municipal councilors, tour operators, journalists and other stakeholders.
Municipality of Krumovgrand
The Kroumovgrad Municipality is located in Kardzhali District, in the South-Central Bulgaria, in the Eastern Rhodopes, on the banks of the river Krumovitsa. Administrative center of the Municipality is the city Kroumovgrad.
The Municipality has the general competence and responsibility for the economic, social, cultural and ecological development on the territory of the Municipality.
The total personnel of the administration in the Municipality of Krumovgrad is 170 people.
As a public authority the Municipality of Krumovgrad conduct active measures in the sphere of the local development of its area.
The Municipality has the necessary financial and administrative resources for the effective and efficient implementation and management of project activities. The Municipality has also competent personnel with experience in the management of projects under the European Programmes. Successfully realized are the indicatively, the following projects: "Green Center-Nature for us and we for the nature" in which the Municipality of Krumovgrad was the leading partner; the Municipality of Krumovgrad was also a partner in the following projects: "EASY TRIP" and "Joint Reference Strategies for rural activities of reduced inputs - AGRO_LESS".
Municipality of Momchilgrad
Municipality of Momchilgrad is located in Kardjali, in the South-Central region of Bulgaria. The Municipality has the general competence and responsibility for the economic, social, cultural and ecological development on the territory of the Municipality. In the Municipality of Momchilgrad are working 70 employees.
The Municipality of Momchilgrad possesses the necessary technical capacity for the implementation of projects. The Municipality has much experience in participating in European programmes and projects. Some of them coordinated and managed by the Municipality of Momchilgrad, are: 1. Project "Tatul - Orpheus` sanctuary", funded by PHARE Programme; 2."Deinstitutionalization - improving the quality of life of disabled children (A day centre for disabled children)", funded by PHARE Programme - Territorial Cooperation Programme Bulgaria - Turkey 2004; 3. "Building of bio wastewater treatment plant in Progres village, as a factor for stable protection and management of waters in the territorial region", funded by PHARE Programme - Territorial Cooperation Programme Bulgaria -Greece 2005; 4. "Improvement of the energy efficiency of Multispecialty hospital "Dr. S.Rostovtzev" - Momchilgrad", funded by the National Trust Eco Fund.
The Municipality has also participated as a partner, in many European programmes and projects.