20-05-2022 14:46
The Programme Operator (PO) Management Team of the Justice Programme of the Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2014-2021 hosted a working meeting with representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Norway, the Financial Mechanism Office in Brussels, the Embassy of the Kingdom of Norway in Bucharest, the National Coordination Unit and the Execution of Punishments General Directorate (GDIN).
In front of the guests the Head of the PO and Secretary General of the Ministry Desislava Gaydarova gave an overview of the progress of the predefined projects and of the Programme as a whole. She also outlined the risks identified in relation to the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, the impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, social attitudes, etc.
Mrs. Gaydarova thanked the partners for the fruitful cooperation and reiterated that the implementation of the Programme is one of the main priorities for the Ministry of Justice.
On their part, the guests pointed out that the Justice Programme, and in particular the predefined project (PDP 2) “Enhancing the capacity of prison staff, building a pilot prison facility, connected to a training center and improving the rehabilitation of prisoners”, implemented by the DGIN, is among the most ambitious projects and high expectations are focused on its implementation.
The conceptual design of the new prison, training centre and transitional ward was presented in the meeting room of the ministry, and later the delegation visited the site designated for the penitentiary complex in the village of Samoranovo near Dupnitsa. On site, the Director General of the DGIN, Chief Commissioner Ivaylo Yordanov and the team of PDP 2 explained their views on the construction of the facilities and answered in detail the questions posed.
Both sides agreed that to achieve good results, intensive teamwork is needed to find the most flexible and pragmatic way to overcome challenges.