HASKOVO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY

NEWS

European Territorial Cooperation Programme Greece-Bulgaria 2007-2013

Project: Promoting the processes on standardization, certification and market control in the cross-border region of the countries, participating in Operational Programme INTERREG (Market control)

Since the beginning of March 2011, Haskovo Chamber of Commerce and Industry is realizing Market Control project, under agreement № B1.33.04 from 14.03.2011 for promoting the processes on standardization, certification and market control in the cross-border region of the countries, participating in INTERREG operational programme. The project is funded by “European territorial cooperation Greece-Bulgaria 2007-2013” Programme and is executed in partnership with Greek international business association (SEVE), Greek standardization organization (ELOT) in Thessaloniki and with Chamber of Professionals and Handicrafts of Rodopi, Greece.

The overall objective of the MARKET CONTROL project, was to reduce the gap between the cross-border regions in the field of effective Market Control, fostering the cooperating countries on their way to European Integration, as well as to improve the level of Market Control and preservation of the merchandised commodities and enterprises in the cross-border area.

The specific objectives of the project were:

To study and assess the most important sectors of the cross-border area and their needs, regarding conformity marks, certification, standardisation etc.
To develop a Road map/ Business plan for the development of a unified body for market control and product certification, aiming to preserve the adequate market control and merchandised products in the area. It also intends at the efficient and faster implementation of the EU regulations and directives, regarding market control and supervision, starting from selected areas of the interregional markets with significant exporting activity. Finally, it aims at the smooth transition of the involved bodies to the wider organisation of EU market control which is under construction according to the EU directive 057ΕΕ. Laboratories in the interregional area, to conduct examinations to products, which bear conformity marks or want to obtain conformity marks. A common conformity mark/quality mark (e.g. for dairy products in the Evros-Haskovo area)
To create and establish of a permanent communication channel/network of cooperating bodies in the countries of cross-border regions to exchange know-how and good practices on standardization, conformity certification and monitoring the market, contributing to the implementation of Specific subjective B of the programme “Increasing of the competitiveness through promotion of business cooperation schemes, establishment of cooperation networks and investment in human resources”.

All those objectives were accomplished through realization of variety of activities, within 24 months:

Research was made, based on data, delivered by the companies, aiming to find the Rodopi-Haskovo cross-border company needs, acting in targeted sectors, with regard to establishment of common quality standards and implementation of European directives in the area of market control. By Bulgarian side, the research was done by Centre for testing an European certification Ltd, Stara Zagora;
The project partners developed joint business plans (road maps) for examination on conditions for creation of common certification, standardization and market control body, for establishment of laboratories in the region and for creation of conformity mark of chosen products in the cross-border region;
On a initiative of the researched companies, a loyal business Code was developed, as a tool for self-discipline and self-improvement, aiming to better practices in the cross-border region in Haskovo district in Bulgaria and Evros district in Greece, in the benefit of the business and the consumers;
A wide informational campaign in 2012 and 2013 was conducted, comprising two conferences – in Haskovo, Bulgaria (15th of February 2013) and in Komotini, Greece (1st and 2nd of March 2013). Within this campaign, throughout 2012, the Greek partners organized two info meetings in Komotini (25th of June 2012) and Orestiada (26th of June 2012), Greece, and Haskovo Chamber of Commerce and Industry organized equivalent meetings in Haskovo (27th of June 2012) and Harmanli (28th of June 2012). In 2013 second consequence of informational meetings in Bulgaria and Greece was held. On 22.02.2013 Chamber of Professionals and Handicrafts of Rhodopes, Greece was a host of the first info day. Haskovo chamber of commerce and industry informed the public of Dimitrovgrad (26th of February) and Kardjali (6th of March) for the conducted research results in both countries and for the achieved project results. The final informational meeting in Greece was organized on 04.03.2013 by Greek International Business Association in Thessaloniki.
For the purposes of the contribution of European Fund for Regional development for realization of project activities popularization, a website was developed (http://marketcontrol.eu/), used as an effective tool for communication and distribution of information. Brochures in Bulgarian, English and Greek languages and different presentation materials were printed out. All project activities were widely popularized in local and national media, which contributed for achievement of transparency in the actions and for multiplication of the final project result.

The project realization helped for increasing the capacity of consumers in cross-border region, regarding the preferences to products with high quality, contributed for the increased partner organizations interest to the business needs, and the companies were encouraged to participate actively in activities on topics, related to the quality in the cross-border region.

The European Territorial Cooperation Programme “Greece-Bulgaria 2007-2013” is
co-funded by the European Union and by national funds of the participating countries