Cities from Bulgaria and 35 other countries in Europe can receive up to EUR 1 million for the creation of partner networks under the URBACT IV Programme

Cities from Bulgaria, EU Member States, Norway, Switzerland, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Ukraine and Moldova will be able to participate in joint programming partnership networks funded by the European Union. Each can receive up to EUR 1 000 000 provided by the URBACT IV Programme 2021-2027. The Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works (MRDPW), which is the National Programme Authority for Bulgaria, has published on its website an invitation to set up ‘Joint Programming Networks’, which can be applied for until 17 June 2026. The aim is to create partnerships between cities willing to implement their strategies or policies by implementing specific measures to implement them at local level. The call is aimed primarily at city administrations wishing to work together with other European cities.  An important condition is that 50% of the total budget is allocated to the implementation of pilot actions at local level. The call covers the entire territory of the participating countries and is open to all cities.

URBACT specifically supports urban authorities from neighbourhood level to functional urban area, depending on the topic covered and the impact that can be exerted. This includes urban-rural links and cross-border functional urban areas. Each network is open to 6 to 8 partners.

ERDF funds amount to 70% of the project cost for partners from the South-West Planning Region and 80% for partners from the rest of Bulgaria. MRDPW provides 15% national co-financing for Bulgarian beneficiaries.

Detailed information on the call and the conditions for participation can be found on the programme page: https://urbact.eu/get-involved