Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, Smolyan launch joint initiative to combat cross-border animal diseases
The Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace (EMT) in Greece and Bulgaria’s Smolyan Province have joined forces to prevent and manage cross-border animal diseases affecting livestock, local economies, and rural communities.
The partnership was formally launched at a meeting held on Thursday, September 11, from 13:00 to 15:00, at the former Prefecture Hall (Yorgos Pavlidis) in Gümülcine. The event took place within the framework of the EU-funded project “Building Cross-Border Resilience to Animal Diseases through Joint Crisis Management.”
During the meeting, project objectives and implementation methods were presented, while stakeholders were invited to share views and suggestions. The initiative aims to establish a new framework for cross-border cooperation, taking into account technological advances and the new conditions created by Bulgaria’s accession to the Schengen Area.
Opening remarks were delivered by EMT Deputy Regional Governor for Agriculture and Livestock Rıvdan Hacı Mehmet and a representative of the Smolyan Province. EMT’s European Programs Advisor Felina Kazaku underlined that the project was initiated at the direct request of Regional Governor Christodoulos Topsidis.
Subsequent presentations were given by Fanurios Panteloyannis, Head of the EMT Brussels Office, and Spyridon Arseniyu, Director of the Regional Policy Planning Department, outlining the project’s goals and phases. Nikolaos Fotinias, Head of the EMT Veterinary Department, together with a Smolyan representative, detailed the roles and responsibilities of both sides.
The project foresees the development of new tools for early detection of cross-border animal diseases, the drafting of a joint crisis management plan, and strengthened institutional cooperation between Greece and Bulgaria.
