#SWEM Kick-off press conference for the SWEM project!
On 14 August 2025, a kick-off press conference was held in Ivano-Frankivsk for the project ‘Sustainable Weather Emergency Management’ (SWEM), which is being implemented as part of the Interreg NEXT Romania–Ukraine 2021–2027 programme.
The welcoming speech was delivered by Ruslan Martsinkiv, Mayor of Ivano-Frankivsk, and Ihor Popadiuk, Director of the Department of Investment Policy, Projects, International Relations, Tourism and Promotion of the Ivano-Frankivsk City Council. Vitalii Burko, Director of the municipal enterprise “Municipal Road Company”, told about the value of the project for the city and the municipal enterprise, as well as about addressing the needs and challenges faced by the enterprise after the full-scale invasion. Head of the Project Management Office Lidiia Cherevko presented the SWEM project and told about the main objectives and activities during the project implementation.
The aim of the project is to improve the response to weather-related emergencies in two cities in the cross-border region and to expand the capacity to deal with the consequences of severe weather conditions by providing municipalities with specialised equipment and vehicles, studying best practices and exchanging experience, training responsible personnel, and raising public awareness.
The project provides for:
- the purchase of a cleaning and sweeping machine and a snow removal dump truck with a sand spreading function;
- training for students and first aid training, which consists of teaching basic first aid methods with an emphasis on winter-related injuries;
- creation of an electronic guide aimed at providing residents with knowledge for effective and safe snow removal management, promoting environmental responsibility and increasing community preparedness for winter conditions;
- joint activities with Romanian partners, which will focus on practical knowledge and practical training opportunities, promoting cross-border cooperation.
The total budget for the project is EUR 1,360,843.70. The budget for Ivano-Frankivsk is EUR 721,843.14, of which 90% is financed by the European Union under the Interreg Next Romania-Ukraine 2021-2027 programme. The project duration is 24 months.
The lead partner of the project is the Executive Committee of the Ivano-Frankivsk City Council, and the project partner is the Municipality of Baia Mare, Romania.
The SWEM project will not only benefit the residents of Ivano-Frankivsk and Baia Mare, but will also serve as an example of the successful implementation of a project related to disaster recovery and timely response to extreme weather events. The project will be the first step for partner cities to improve their ability to ensure the safety of the population in difficult weather conditions.
This publication has been produced with the assistance of the European Union. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of the Executive Committee of Ivano-Frankivsk City Council and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union or of the Interreg VI-A NEXT Romania-Ukraine Programme 2021-2027 management structures.”
