European Commission Adopts Transnational Cooperation Programme “Balkan-Mediterranean” 2014-2020

The European Commission has approved the Transnational Cooperation Programme “Balkan-Mediterranean” 2014-2020. Its territorial scope includes five countries, three of which are members of the European Union (Bulgaria, Greece and Cyprus) and the other two are candidate countries (Albania and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia).

The budget of the Programme totals 39,727,652 EUR, of which 33 million EU financing (provided by the European Regional Development Fund and the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance).

The 15% national contribution for the Bulgarian partners is provided by the national budget.

The “Balkan-Mediterranean” 2014-2020 will operate through two priority axes: Priority Axis 1 “Entrepreneurship & Innovation” and Priority Axis 2 “Environment”.

Under Priority Axis 1 will be financed projects that encourage entrepreneurship, social and digital innovations, building relationships between business and education in order to to enable the exchange of knowledge and best practices between regions.

The investments within Priority Axis 2 will ensure the sustainable use of natural resources and the preservation of natural and cultural heritage of the transborder region of the Balkan-Mediterranean.

The Programme will enable local, regional and national institutions and organizations to implement joint activities that improve and encourage cooperation, sharing of experience and best practices in line with the priorities of the Europe 2020 Strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth.

The Managing Authority for the Programme is the Hellenic Ministry of Economy, Infrastructure, Shipping and Tourism. The Management structures of the Programme will be supported by a joint secretariat located in Thessaloniki, Greece.

The first meeting of the Monitoring Committee, the official opening of the Programme and the announcement of the First Call for proposals will take place in the second half of November 2015. On the website of the Programme the Managing Authority publishes a working version of the documents related to it, in order to give timely information about the preparation of project proposals from the candidates before launching the Call.