103m euros earmarked for cross-border projects with Turkey, Serbia and the Republic of Northern Macedonia

More than 103m euros are earmarked to finance joint projects under cross-border cooperation programs between Bulgaria and neighboring Turkey, Serbia and the Republic of Northern Macedonia for the period 2021-2027. The total amount has increased by just over 17% compared to the country's budget. The three cross-border programs are expected to be adopted by the Council of Ministers and sent for approval by the European Commission by the end of March 2022.

The Managing Authority conducted public consultations, and stakeholders gave recommendations for effective and successful implementation of future projects.

The new programs focus on regional policy, addressing the specific needs and specificities of each region. It relies on equal access and direct support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to the financial resource for cross-border cooperation. Emphasis is also placed on integrated territorial development, based on the bottom-up approach, and local communities will have the opportunity to prioritize investments to the most pressing territorial issues. The support will be tailored to the specific needs of each region, which is one of the innovative ways to adapt programs to those who need them most.

The focus of the program between Bulgaria and Serbia is the preparation of the population of the two countries in the border region for timely and adequate response to disasters and accidents. The Bulgaria-Serbia program, with a budget of 38,116,398 euros, provides for SMEs to receive support to increase the competitiveness of enterprises in the regional and international markets. This includes the development and implementation of technological solutions, investments to reduce production costs and services, access to new markets, the creation of a comprehensive joint program of business and consulting services. The integrated territorial approach will focus on investment in tourism, improvement of services of general interest, as well as framework support for business in the form of consultations, training and exchange of experience to increase innovation and entrepreneurial capacity, transition to digital and environmental work.

Under the program between Bulgaria and Turkey, the leading priority is the strengthening of the capacity and operational search activities of the police departments in the border area related to illegal migrants. Under this program, investments for SMEs are aimed at a "green" transition in terms of energy efficiency, reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and the prospects of the circular economy. This includes financing energy efficiency projects for buildings, implementing digital solutions, implementing energy systems, exchanging good practices between local businesses on both sides of the border. Integrated investments to promote territorial development will support a wide range of actions - increasing the competitiveness of the local economy and improving the business environment, increasing the degree of digitalization and climate neutrality of the local economy, improving skills for successful labor market, development of tourism, increasing the contribution of the natural heritage to the balanced socio-economic development of the region, reducing pollution and the negative effects of climate change and foreseeable natural disasters of a transboundary nature. The total budget of the program is 34,415,251 euros.

The construction of the Klepalo border checkpoint and the related infrastructure between the municipality of Strumyani on the Bulgarian side and the partner municipality of Berovo is the focus of the program with the Republic of Northern Macedonia. Its budget for all measures amounts to EUR 31,152,400. With regard to SMEs, priority will be given to activities aimed at technological modernization in order to make them environmentally friendly, digital and competitive, product development and access to new markets, development of integrated regional tourism products, discovery of new SMEs in the field. of tourism, etc. The priority "Integrated development of the cross-border region" provides interventions to implement the development of an attractive all-season tourism product by improving the mobility and connectivity of transport and engineering infrastructure; development of systems for alternative movement and a network of bicycle lanes; promoting the development of health and recreation tourism and others.