All Territorial Cooperation Programmes in which Bulgaria participates in the programming period 2021-2027 have been approved

The EC also gave the green light to the Interreg NEXT Black Sea Basin Programme 2021-2027

The European Commission has approved the Interreg NEXT “Black Sea Basin” Programme 2021-2027. With this decision, all twelve territorial cooperation programmes in which Bulgaria participates during the programming period 2021-2027, managed by the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works, are approved and ready to start active implementation in 2023.

The Interreg NEXT Black Sea Programme is funded by the European Regional Development Fund, the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance and the Neighbourhood, Development Cooperation and International Cooperation - Global Europe Instrument.

In addition to Bulgaria, Greece, Romania, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova, Turkey and Ukraine participate in the programme. On the territory of Bulgaria, the scope of the programme includes the North-Eastern and South-Eastern Planning Regions with the districts of Varna, Dobrich, Targovishte, Shumen, Burgas, Sliven, Yambol, and Stara Zagora.

Its total budget is €72 275 137, of which €65 047 623 is European co-financing and €7 227 514 national co-financing from the countries participating in the programme. Of the 10 % national contribution: 8 % is national public co-financing provided by the National Authority (the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works) and the remaining 2 % must be the beneficiary’s own contribution.

The aim of the programme is to contribute to combating the impact of global climate change while ensuring sustainable growth of the regions, in line with the new EU cohesion policy for the period 2021-2027. Projects will be supported in the areas of research and innovation, climate change adaptation, disaster risk prevention and resilience, nature protection and conservation, biodiversity and green infrastructure.

More information can be found on the programme‘s website.