The joint operational programme Romania – Ukraine – Moldova will be implemented within the next six years. It aims at stimulating the development potential of the border zones, by favouring contracts between the partners from both sides of the border, in order to improve the social-economic and the environmental situation. Deputy Minister of Economy and Commerce Viorel Melnic, who participated on Tuesday, July 3 in the opening of the seminar dedicated to strengthening management capacities of the central and regional levels in working out projects within the Programme, said that the document stipulates non-reimbursable financing for local and regional authorities, NGOs, educational organisations selected at the public auctions of joint project proposals on cross-border cooperation. The elegibility criteria are approved by the Joint Supervisory Committee. The minimum criteria for the projects to be financed are the existence of a single partner on the other part of the border, administrative, technical and financial capacity and one of the partners should be from Romania. The projects between Ukraine and Moldova will not be accepted. The eligible cooperation area within the programme is the entire territory of Moldova, Romania – Botosani, Galati, Iasi, Suceava, Tulcea and Vaslui, Ukraine – Odessa and Cernauti regions. The budget of the joint operational programme totals EUR 126 mln.