agreement on creation
of the euroregion “upper prut”
Based on desire of reciprocal transfrontier co-operation as an element of general European process; 
Aimed to provide sustainable social-economic development of the Regions in the basins of the rivers Prut, Dniester and Siret, subsequently integrate in the existing fields of collaboration and to draw together mutual interests of frontier administrative-territorial units of our countries;
Considering the acquired experience of co-operation on the basis of bilateral relationship of frontier administrative-territorial units in the due course of working out and implementing the joint projects;
Following in all activity to the basic principles of the European Union and taking into account the requirements of legislation of Republic of Moldova, Romania and Ukraine, and regulations which our countries follow in bilateral and multilateral relations (according to the Annex 1), the administrative-territorial units, correspondingly Belts and Edinets Counties of Republic of Moldova, Botosani and Suceava Counties of Romania and Chernivtsy Region of Ukraine, which act in the frame of their competence accordingly to the received authority from the Governments of Republic of Moldova and Ukraine as well as concerted by respective Ministries of Romania which support the realisation of transfrontier projects and legal providing of the Euroregion members co-operation
Have agreed as follows:
Article 1 The members of the Euroregion “Upper Prut” become: 
•	Belts County – Republic of Moldova
•	Botoєani County – Romania
•	Chernivtsi Region – Ukraine
•	Edinets County – Republic of Moldova
•	Suceava County – Romania.
Should the administrative-territorial system of one or several States which administrative-territorial units are members of the Euroregion change, the newly formed administrative-territorial units will acquire the participation in it in case other proposals are not tabled to the Council of the Euroregion for consideration.
Article   2  The main definitions used by the parties in this Agreement have the  following meanings
Euroregion – means a form of co-operation between administrative-territorial units of the adjacent countries according to the bilateral and/or multilateral treaties of the States and European experience available to solve joint problems by means of coherent mechanisms determined by the Agreement on creation and Statute of the Euroregion. 
Ecoeuroregion – means a form of co-operation within the frame of the Euroregion (the constituent part of it) between the state and local authorities, departments specialising in the fields of Environmental protection, Environmental Safety, monitoring, civil protection of population, sanitary-epidemiological inspection, as well as between agents of economic activities of adjacent countries, aimed at improvement of technogenious-environmental safety in the basins of the rivers on the set territories in order to provide sustainable social-economic development of the territories in question.
Euroyouth - means a form of transfrontier co-operation within the frame of the Euroregion in the areas of upbringing, spare time and sport designed directly for youth which  lives in the administrative-territorial units  members of Euroregion.
Member of the Euroregion – means an administrative-territorial unit the authorised representatives of which have signed the Agreement on creation of the Euroregion and joined its Statute in accordance with the provisions of the national legislation and international treaties.
The members of the Euroregion “Upper Prut” can become other administrative-territorial units of Republic of Moldova, Romania and Ukraine which will join its membership and support the provisions of the given Agreement and Statute of the Euroregion. The entrance realise on the ground of the application letter, approved by the Council of the Euroregion “Upper Prut”.
Any other fundamental terms which will determine the forms of euroregional co-operation in the economical, social, cultural, youth and other fields of co-operation can be introduced by approval of the Council of the Euroregion.
Article 3.  The objective of creation of the Euroregion “Upper Prut” is to expand the existing subregional contacts and to contribute to further development of cross-border co-operation between administrative-territorial units – its members, local authorities, institutions, enterprises, natural persons, non-governmental and public organisations, persons belonging to the national minorities in the fields of economy, education, science, culture and sport, development of new mechanisms of subregional co-operation, sustainable development of the Region within the framework of modern European integration process. 
Euroregion “Upper Prut” functioning does not contradict agreements concluded by administrative-territorial units, makes no obstacles to the existing cross-border co-operation or the one which will be established later and does not restrict the establishment of direct interactions between its members  beyond the frames of  the Euroregion
Article 4. Main activities according to the international politics of the States, include members of Euroregion, which have to be implemented by means of reciprocal cross-border collaboration and immediate direct contacts within the Euroregion, are:
•	to develop and harmonise trade and economic relationships; 
•	to work out new projects;
•	to develop and introduce advanced technologies (know-how); 
•	to secure ecological safety, to reduce pollution in the basin of the river Danube, Prut, Siret, Dnister basins and the Black  Sea, to prevent and liquidate the impacts of industrial accidents  and natural disasters, to increase Cleaner Productions;
•	to harmonise the development of national infrastructures, including power systems, transportation and communication networks;
•	to develop cross-border relationships and to expand co-operation in the fields of legislation, science, education, culture, sport and youth;
•	to introduce and to secure full and true non-discrimination policy towards the persons who belong to the national minorities and persons who belong to the majority of population in the economic, social, political fields and cultural life;
•	to provide health protection of population, development of tourism and recreational activities.
Article 5.  To accomplish the objectives determined in the Article 4, the members of the Euroregion “Upper Prut” declare:
•	adherence to the principle of mutual interest;
•	adherence to the principle of solidarity both in the native countries and between them by means of consolidating mutual efforts aimed at attaining the approved objectives;
•	adherence to the principle of balanced development aimed at formation of the nature usage system which will make it possible to meet the demands of the current generation without restricting the possibilities of the future generations;
•	adherence to the principle of warning; in this accord members of the Euroregion will endeavour to take up all measures necessary to avoid the potentially possible negative impact on the Environment and Health of the population; 
•	adherence to the principle of co-operation and partnership which have to dominate the intersectional, interregional and interstate levels;
•	Members of the Euroregion “Upper Prut” provide are going to make  use of the following instruments, determined by basic international documents signed by Republic of Moldova, Romania and Ukraine:
•	simplification of border and customs control;
•	expansion of immediate contacts between the scholars, productive arrangements and administrative-territorial units according to the concept of the Euroregions, co-operation and integration;
•	gradual introduction of common standards in the fields of Environmental and Technogenic Safety on the set territories;
•	in collaboration with the concerned departments on the state and local levels identification of concrete measures within the framework of joint programs in financial-economic fields, as well as approval in co-operation with the representatives of corresponding ministries of the States of tentative list of priority projects towards which is displayed mutual interest;
•	making use of joint actions in financial-economic international organisations in order to provide for appropriate financing of the projects, approved on the trilateral level, by means of application to the PHARE and TACIS international programs on the part of the European Union, as well as  corresponding programs in the framework of BSEC;
•	expansion of co-operation with other regions of Danube and Black Sea countries in accordance with UN mechanisms and its specialised institutions, OSCE, Council of Europe, Central European Initiative,  Black Sea Economic Co-operation, etc.
Article 6.  In order to put the co-operation into practice the members of the Euroregion with support of the competent bodies of their States will interact between each other by means of harmonisation of procedures concerning:
•	concrete measures within the framework of joint programs,
•	priority projects which are of mutual interest,
•	joint actions within international financial-economic institutions in order to provide for corresponding financing of the projects, approved on the trilateral level;
•	gradual implementation of common European standards in the following fields:
A   In the field of economic relations by means of :
a)	implementation of joint programmes and independent projects taking into consideration economic potential of the parties;
b)	creation and collective use of modern information systems;
c)	support and incitement of co-operation between Chambers of Commerce and Industry;
d)	contribution to creation of free economic and trade zones;
e)	support for creation of commercial banks and banking associations with compound capital;
f)	joint study of the region’s forestry potential, identification of  priorities and contribution to the development of forestry activities and timber industry; 
g)	development of co-operation in farming industry, product processing and marketing;
h)	contribution to negotiating commercial contracts between commercial institutions;
i)	study of the trilateral market capacity and contribution to the joint economic and financial activities in the market.
В. In the field of cross-border infrastructure development by means of:
a)	contribution to the development of and upgrading the systems of rail, motor, air, pipe-line and other types of transportation in the context of trans-european transport corridors along with the introduction of new management and traffic safety technologies;
b)	arrangement of conditions for qualitative improvement of communication networks;
c)	development of energy-supplying systems and coherent modernisation of power networks;
d)	creation of the new and updating the existing border check-points;
e)	work-out and support of the joint projects in building of highways, water- and gas-supply, housing, constructing social and cultural objects.
С. In the field of the EcoEuroRegion activities aimed at sustainable development, technogenic-environmental safety and improvement of environment by means of:
a)	joint study of characteristics of ecological situation, level of environmental safety and identification of priorities for the region;
b)	joint work-out of the programs and projects concerning monitoring, resource and energy usage; preservation of water, land resources and atmosphere, management of substances which are considered to be hazardous according to the national legislation of the States which administrative territorial units are members of Euroregion, industrial, domestic, radioactive and toxic wastes; concerning economy of nature usage, audit systems and corresponding information support of administrative activity; 
c)	joint development of national parks networks, reserves, and measures to preserve bio-diversity in the Region;
d)	contribution to implementation of the world, European and regional standards in the field of environmental management, treatment of hazardous substances and wastes, preventing the territory of the Euroregion of being polluted;
e)	gradual adjustment of systems for forecasting technogenic and natural disasters; plans for joint activities aimed at liquidation of their consequences within the framework of co-operation between the central authorities and international programs;
f)	work-out of cross-border programs and projects concerning  energy and resource conservation and reduction of the level of energy and resource capacity of manufactures and products;
D. In the field of health protection, tourism and recreational activities development by means of:
a)	joint study of the main problems concerning protection and improvement of the region’s population health, identification of common and regional priorities, work-out of the joint medical and medical-ecological programs;
b)	assessment of recreational potential of the region and work-out of the joint projects concerning reclamation of recreational resources;
c)	contribution to the development of cross-border mountainous, forest, rural, historical-religious, environmental, speleological and other types of tourism.
Е. In the field of science, upbringing and education, culture, sport, youth, relationships between non-governmental organisations by means of:
a)	extension of relationships and simplification of interaction mechanisms, exchanges between the universities and other schools, scientific and cultural centres, specialised institutions;
b)	creation of joint associations of schools and support of the contacts between cultural partnerships; 
c)	intensification of existing contacts, contribution to further development of cultural exchange programs as part of interaction with the partnerships of national minorities;
d)	securing and implementing rights of the persons belonging to the national minorities in accordance with the legislation of the States and in accordance with the bilateral and multilateral conventions in this field currently in force, to which Republic of Moldova, Romania and Ukraine are the signatories
e)	support of co-operation between public, non-governmental organisations, institutions and trade unions;
f)	co-operation in the field of social support of feebly protected social strata;
g)	organisation of subregional sporting competitions and repose;
h)	contribution to the expansion of contacts between mass media.

Article 7.  The activity of Euroregion should  be transparent for public society and for the countries whose administrative-territorial units joined Euroregion. The Central Authorities of the States accordingly to the Law can require from their administrative-territorial units, which joined Euroregion, information and documentation on Euroregion activities, projects and decisions.

Article  8 .The governing and working bodies of the Euroregion “Upper Prut” are:
А) the Council of the administrative-territorial units-members of the Euroregion –– the Council of the Euroregion,
B) Executive President of the Council of the Euroregion 
C) Secretariat of the Council of the Euroregion;
D) Working Commissions of the Euroregion.
8.1.Decisions accepting by the managing and working bodies will be reached by the principle of consensus.
А) the Council of the administrative-territorial units – the Council of the Euroregion;
The Council of the administrative-territorial units – the Council of the Euroregion – consists of the governing officials of the bodies of administrative-territorial units  members of the Euroregion (5 persons respectively). In sittings of the Council also can take a part as observers permanent representatives and advisors on behalf of the administrative-territorial units of the EU countries acting as regular partners in the programs and projects of the Euroregion as well as representatives of the Governments of States to which members of Euroregion belong.
The concrete representation in the Council of the Euroregion is determined by the legislation of every State, conformably: Republic of Moldova  heads of Belts and Edinets County Councils; Romania  heads of Botosani and Suceava County Councils and Ukraine  head of Chernivtsy Regional State Administration.
The condition to secure a quorum  is the presence of all heads of the administrative-territorial units or their representatives from not less then from two countries.
The Council of the Euroregion is considered to have been formed since the moment of signing the Agreement. 
Regular meetings of the Council of the Euroregion “Upper Prut” take place once in every half-year.
Council of the Euroregion realises the following functions:
•	passes the Statute of the Euroregion, further amendments to it and provide the execution of the Agreement on creation of the Euroregion;
•	makes decision concerning the entry of new members to the Euroregion and walk-out from its membership;
•	sets up Working Commissions and makes decisions as to the lines of their work, organisation and financing;
•	approves the programmes and projects of co-operation within the framework of the Euroregion, worked out by the  Working Commissions;
•	analyses and approves the reports of the Working Commissions and takes measures to implement tabled decisions, programmes and projects;
•	elects Executive President, analyses and approves annual informational reports submitted by the Executive President to the Council;
•	approves annual financial report about the activities of the Euroregion;
•	agrees on the speakers for the Agenda;
•	makes other decisions and adopts resolutions necessary for the functioning of the Euroregion.
In the case of the absence of the Member of the Council of Euroregion at its sitting he appoints his franchise representative who deputy him.
Heads of the Working Commissions who are not Members of the Council as well as responsible secretaries of the Working Commissions can also  take part in the sittings of the Council of Euroregion
Council of Eororegion can't accept decisions which direct or indirectly can influence negatively on the development of bilateral interactions between ins members or between them and third parties.

В) Executive President of the Council of the Euroregion:
Executive President is elected by the members of the Council of the Euroregion for the term of 1 year at the moment of its creation and later  at the final meeting of the accounting period for the next  year on the basis of consensus, taking into the consideration the principle of rotation of the States which administrative territorial units are members of Euroregion.
In the exclusive cases his authorised representative carries out the duties of Executive President in response to his written circulation.
Executive President of the Council of Euroregion undertakes:
•	to ensure the fulfilment of decisions adopted by the Council of the Euroregion;
•	to invite on behalf of the Council of the Euroregion regular members of the Council, persons who by the order of the regular members of the Council represent them at the meeting, authorised representatives of the central governing bodies of the States which administrative territorial units are members of Euroregion, advisers and experts – representatives of the partners of the Euroregion in the EU countries, representatives of other euroregional institutions, members of the Working Commissions whose presence at the meeting is a must;
•	to ensure the preparation of and to present the annual report about the activities of the Euroregion “Upper Prut” and execution of the resolutions adopted by the Council of Euroregion;
•	to pass upon the completion of his term in office all the documents of the Euroregion to the new Executive President;
•	to carry out other functions determined by the Statute of the Euroregion “Upper Prut” and resolutions of the Council of the Euroregion;
Executive President organisesthe activities of the Council of the Euroregion and implementation of the objectives related to its functioning:
•	acts as the general representative of the Euroregion “Upper Prut”;
•	keeps in touch with the Working Commissions, set up in accordance with the given Agreement;
•	directs the work of the Secretariat in accordance with the resolutions of the Council of the Euroregion;
     Functions of Executive President as to the organisation of  the sittings of the Council of the Euroregion are:
1. While preparing the meeting of the Council: of the Euroregion:
•	to prepare the questions for discussion at the  sitting according to the working plan of the Council of the Euroregion;
•	to invite officially the participants to the sitting;
•	to ensure the preparation of materials and documents as to the agenda of the sitting;
•	to ensure the dissemination of invitations, draft copies of decisions and preliminary materials for the sitting not later than 10 days before the sitting;
•	to make decisions as to the persons invited to the sitting in accordance with the Statute provisions;
2. While holding the sitting of the Council of       Euroregion:
•	presides at the sitting of the Council of the Euroregion;
•	opens and closes the sittings of the Council of the Euroregion;
•	secures the quorum while voting according to the Statute taking into consideration the persons whose authorities are verified in a written form;
•	secures keeping minutes;
•	proclaims the agenda, follows the standing orders;
•	deliver the speech about the activities of the Council and events related to the Euroregion  “Upper Prut”, implementation of the resolutions passed at the previous sittings of the Council and beyond the agenda;
•	opens the sittings, presides at them, makes conclusions and summarises the discussions, puts resolutions and proposals to vote, designates the persons responsible for carrying out the resolutions;
•	announces the results of the voting (on decisions and resolutions);
3. After the sitting of the Council of the Euroregion in order to implement adopted documents;
•	to ensure preparation and to approve the protocols of the Council of the Euroregion within 5 days after the sitting;
•	to secure publishing of the resolutions of the Council of the Euroregion in the annual edition, starting from the first issue;
•	to secure the implementation of the Council of the Euroregion resolutions within the specified terms.
С) Secretariat of the Council of the Euroregion is formed by Executive President from among the specialists of the his staff of the administrative-territorial unit of which he is the head.
The Statute of the Euroregion determines functions and responsibilities of the Secretariat.
D) The Council of the Euroregion "Upper Prut" forms Working Commissions in the corresponding fields of the Euroregion activities
Functions and responsibilities of the Working Commissions are determined by the Statute of the Euroregion and Provisions on their organisation and operation.

Article 9.  The administrative-territorial units where the sitting of the Council of the Euroregion and Working Commission are being held is made responsible for all accommodation, board and lodging expenditures of the participants. The participants of the meetings bear all travel expenses. In case of organising and holding a meeting of the Working Commissions on the issues of the operating projects, being financed, the expenditures can be fully or partially reimbursed at the expense of the project budget.
Article 10.  The local authority the head of which acts as an Executive President bear all expenditures concerning the activities of the Secretariat of the Council of the Euroregion.

Article 11. The Council of the Euroregion can make a separate decision concerning the annual contributions of the members of the Euroregion to provide financing for specific activity lines of the Secretariat and the Working Commissions. 
Local governing bodies on the basis of which the Secretariat and the Working Commissions are functioning manage all finances in accordance with the distribution of finances scheme determined by the Council of the Euroregion.
Article 12. Euroregion “Upper Prut” starts its activities from the moment of signing this Agreement and election of Executive President
Euroregion “Upper Prut” does not possess the status of the legal person.
Article 13. Euroregion “Upper Prut” suspends its activities in case of agreed decision of the governing bodies of the members of the Euroregion
Euroregion suspends its activities from the moment when according to such decisions the administrative-territorial units of one country remain in its membership.
Should all the administrative-territorial units of one country suspend their membership in Euroregion, for continuation of its activity Council of the Euroregion adopts the corresponding amendments to the Statute.
Announcement about walkout from the membership of the Euroregion has to be submitted in writing addressed to Executive President not later than 90 days before the regular sitting of the Council of the Euroregion.
Article 14. Organisation and further development of the Council of the Euroregion activities will set up by the Statute of the Euroregion “Upper Prut” and by eigen regulations of the Council of the Euroregion in accordance with the given Agreement.

Done in city of Botosani on September 22, 2000 in five copies, all being equally authentic. Should any controversies concerning interpretation of the texts arise the preference is given to the English text.

Nicolae KIRILCHUK - Head of Belts County Council, Republica Moldova

Ioan ANICULГESE - Head of Botoєani County Council, Romania

Teofil BAUER - Head of Chernivtsi Regional State Administration,. Ukraine

Ion GUTSU - Head of Edinets County Council, Republica Moldova

Gavril MОRZA - Head of Suceava County Council, Romania