Bucharest, 13 February 2026

At the headquarters of the National Institute of Heritage (INP), a collaboration protocol was signed between INP and the three Romanian regions involved in the European Region of Gastronomy programme: Harghita (title holder in 2027), Banat (candidate region for 2028), and Dobrogea (candidate region for 2029).

For Dobrogea, this protocol represents a strategic step in strengthening the professional and methodological framework required for the preparation of the 2029 candidacy. The partnership provides access to INP’s institutional expertise in the fields of tangible and intangible heritage, supporting a rigorous process of documentation, research, and valorisation of the region’s gastronomic heritage.

Continuity and Expertise: INP Projects in Dobrogea

The collaboration with the National Institute of Heritage already has a strong foundation in the region. Over time, INP has carried out landmark projects in Dobrogea focused on the research, documentation, and valorisation of cultural and multicultural heritage, contributing to the consolidation of a living archive of local identity.

Among these are:

• Constanța Multietnică – a careful mapping of cultural diversity and urban memory;
• Boemă și Loisir! – an initiative dedicated to built heritage, architecture, and lifestyles;
• Multiculturality and Traditional Gastronomy in Dobrogea – a research project bringing together cultural and food heritage;
• The Summer Schools in Eforie Sud and Hârșova – educational programs that included guided tours, field visits, and workshops carried out together with local communities.

Within the project Multiculturality and Traditional Gastronomy in Dobrogea, the short film ”Flavours of Dobrogea” was produced through a partnership between INP and Riviera Românească, dedicated to showcasing the region’s gastronomic heritage and identity. The film was awarded at Food Film Menu 2025, a competition organized by IGCAT in Barcelona, bringing the taste of Dobrogea to the international stage and confirming the region’s potential to tell its story through culture and gastronomy.

These initiatives demonstrate that Dobrogea already has a coherent track record in documenting and promoting its multicultural heritage — an essential foundation for its candidacy for the title of European Region of Gastronomy 2029.

A Shared Framework for Cultural and Gastronomic Projects

The protocol establishes a framework for cooperation in initiating and implementing cultural, educational, and tourism projects centered on the living heritage of the regions involved. In the case of Dobrogea, the collaboration focuses on:

• the documentation of local gastronomic heritage and its integration into the 2029 candidacy;
• the development of projects dedicated to intangible heritage;
• methodological support for the development of promotional materials;
• the alignment of public communication regarding heritage and regional identity.

“By signing this protocol, the National Institute of Heritage assumes an active role in supporting the regions that carry forward Romania’s gastronomic heritage. Traditional gastronomy is part of our living cultural heritage, and through coherent collaborations—based on documentation, expertise, and responsible communication—we can transform local resources into meaningful projects for communities and for Romania’s image in Europe.”
— Valeria-Oana Zaharia, Interim Manager, National Institute of Heritage

“This partnership establishes a practical working mechanism: from methodological support and the alignment of public messaging to clear guidelines on the creation and use of promotional materials related to intangible heritage. Our aim is for the initiatives developed together to be well documented, replicable, and to deliver lasting results beyond the years in which the title is held.”
— Daniela Mihai, Deputy Director, Programs, Projects, Promotion and Methodologies, National Institute of Heritage

Dobrogea 2029 – Heritage, Communities, Gastronomy

For Dobrogea, the candidacy for the title of European Region of Gastronomy 2029 is built on the conviction that gastronomy cannot be separated from history, memory, and communities. The region’s multicultural character and the diversity of its culinary influences represent essential resources in shaping an authentic and coherent gastronomic identity.

“For Dobrogea, this collaboration with the National Institute of Heritage provides a solid working framework that helps us highlight the connection between heritage, communities, and gastronomy. The candidacy for 2029 requires credible partnerships and projects that can endure beyond the title year.”
— Carmen Ispas, Executive Director UNPR RSE

“Through the projects we develop together, we aim to bring the public closer to Dobrogea’s tangible and intangible heritage — from traditions and crafts to recipes, markets, and communities. This partnership provides a clear framework for coordination, communication, and concrete results.”
— Teodora Moraru, Vice President, UNPR RSE

In the coming period, the collaboration will be operationalized by defining priority projects and establishing the 2026 activity calendar, with the objective of integrating the results directly into Dobrogea’s 2029 candidacy framework and the region’s long-term strategy.

Dobrogea is strengthening its candidacy through continuity, institutional expertise, and projects that responsibly showcase the region’s living cultural heritage.