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EC approves allotting 145 million euros to project protecting Romanian Black Sea shore
The European Commission (EC) on Monday approved an investment worth over 145 million euros from the Cohesion Fund in an environment project aimed at protecting the Black Sea shore in south-eastern Romania, a region attracting over eight million tourists annually, informs an EC release made public in Brussels.
The project will focus on five areas that are most exposed to the phenomenon of accelerated erosion along a 7.3 kilometre-long shore strip. The project titled 'The protection and rehabilitation of the southern Romanian Black Sea shore in the Municipality of Constanta and in Eforie Nord area,' mainly consists of investing in the shore protection infrastructure. The shore consolidation and the new sand supply on beaches will contribute to stopping the erosion process, the EC leadership believes.
This project is a concrete example concerning the way in which structural funds can contribute both to the environment protection and the economic development of the region, the release quotes European Commissioner for Regional Policy Johannes Hahn as saying. These investments along the Black Sea shore will help diminish the shore erosion effects, in a way benefiting both visitors and locals. These measures will also improve the attractiveness of the region for business and tourism, Johannes Hahn also said.
Reducing the flood risk, the project will also avoid the possible damages of millions of dollars resulted from property destruction. The risks on the health and safety of tourists and locals will substantially diminish, the release also mentions. The project is supposed to increase the beach area by 33 hectares by 2015 and about 278,000 inhabitants will benefit from the coastal rehabilitation. Moreover, a number of 250 jobs will be created due to this project.
The EC decision on Monday approves the EU contribution to the first phase of the project, the investment being conducted through the Environment programme. The EU will contribute with 145 million euros of the project's cost, the total necessary investment standing at 170 million euros.