site.btaSwiss-Bulgarian Programme Launches Projects on Air Quality and Migration

Seven and eighth agreements under the Swiss-Bulgarian Cooperation Programme were signed by Minister of Innovation and Growth Tomislav Donchev, Switzerland's Ambassador Raymund Furrer, Minister of Environment and Water Manol Genov, and Minister of Interior Daniel Mitov in Sofia, the Ministry of Innovation and Growth said on its official page on Wednesday.

The upcoming projects will focus on air quality and migration management, involving not only financial support but also the exchange of best practices among institutions and the creation of new partnerships. The programmes are part of the Second Swiss Contribution – Improving Air Quality and Supporting Migration Management – with a total value of CHF 18.7 million.

“We share common interests and want to achieve something significant. These are two important and very high-quality programmes,” Furrer said.

From the programme operator, the Ministry of Environment and Water, Genov said that the Swiss support would give Bulgaria the opportunity to purchase state-of-the-art equipment for measuring air quality and the data the country exchanges with the European air monitoring system.

The “Improving Air Quality” programme, with a budget of CHF 15 million, is aimed at modernizing the National Air Quality Monitoring System and ensuring reliable information on the issue.

The Supporting Migration Management programme, with a budget of CHF 3.7 million, aims to support Bulgaria in the integrated management of borders and migration and in implementing measures against human trafficking. It is intended to strengthen the capacity of local authorities to work with migrants, to reinforce and expand integration centres for migrants in Sofia, Varna, Burgas and Plovdiv, as well as to improve public awareness of the positive aspects of better migrant integration.

The programme will also support assistance for victims of trafficking and strengthen the capacity of the national system for combating human trafficking. Partners in the programme include the International Organization for Migration, the National Commission for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, and the Swiss organization FIZ – Advocacy and Support for Migrant Women and Victims of Trafficking.