The mechanization that has arrived today is delivered in relation with the implementation of the project “Preventing and limiting the consequences of human-induced trans-border disasters in the Vidin-Zajecar region” under the Interreg-IPA Cross-Border Cooperation Program Bulgaria-Serbia 2014-2020. Vidin Municipality is the leading partner of the project.

Mayor Ognian Tsenkov, together with the municipal leadership, municipal councilors, experts and workers, welcomed the entering of the machines in the parking lot in the administrative building. The event was attended by Deputy District Governor Angelo Metodiev and Archimandrite Antim, a priest of the Vidin Holy Metropolis. “Today we can congratulate ourselves with another nice asset for the Municipality of Vidin, which is for the benefit of all the inhabitants” Tsenkov said. He explained that the upcoming activities related to new cars are related to demonstration cleaning of landfills, and within the project there will be an exchange of experience for employees of both administrations from the municipalities of Vidin and Zajecar (the employees of the Serbian municipality will get acquainted with the work of the Regional landfill depot for household waste) and others.

On 22.11.2016 Vidin Municipality concluded a grant agreement with the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works, the Directorate for Territorial Cooperation Management, which is the Managing Authority. The contract value is EUR 547 711.82. Of these, European funding: EUR 465 555.04 and Bulgarian national co-financing: EUR 46 190.12. Serbian co-financing is EUR 35 966.66. The value of the waste collection machines amounts to EUR 248 800, or BGN 486 609, VAT included. The duration of the project is 24 months – from 23.11.2016 to 22.11.2018. “In order to implement the project, the Municipality of Vidin has benefited from the FLAG Local Government Support Fund, having a short-term loan amounting to BGN 340 000 and with the recovery of the funds spent by the Municipality as working capital, this loan will be reimbursed “- said the mayor of Vidin. He added that the contract signed with the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works is for 100% gratuitous financial assistance.

On behalf of the supplier of mechanization – “Auto Engineering Holding Group”, Anna Kuncheva presented the technical parameters of the vehicles at the event. The delivery contract was concluded on 14.12.2017. The main chassis warranty is valid 3 years after the certificate is accepted or after reaching 100 000 km. The warranty for the upgrade is 365 days. The chassis and the superstructure were manufactured after 01.01.2017. The machines have a very good safety system, including: Emergency buttons on the operator control panel to switch off all operating functions; automatic speed limitation of 25-30 km / h when there is operator out at the machine rung, video camera at the rear, along with monitor in the operator’s cabin, etc.

All project activities will contribute to reducing risks such as drought, floods, forest fires, landslides and environmental pollution as well as their prevention and will increase the administrative capacity in this area of responsible experts in the long run.

The project is co-funded by the European Union through the INTERREG-IPA Cross-Border Cooperation Program Bulgaria-Serbia.

This publication made by the support of the European Union through the INTERREG-IPA Cross-Border Cooperation Program Bulgaria-Serbia, CCI No 2014TC16I5CB007. The content of the publication is the sole responsibility of the Municipality of Vidin and should in no way be taken as an expression of the opinion of the European Union or the Managing Authority of the Program