Small and medium-sized enterprises for the first time will apply for funding under the cross-border cooperation programme between Bulgaria and North Macedonia

“78% of the funds under the INTERREG VI-A IPA Programme Bulgaria - North Macedonia 2021-2027, managed by the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works, have been contracted, which means that over 21 million euro are available to the beneficiaries. The last call is to be opened for the remaining EUR 5 million, which will ensure full contracting of the programme resources,” said Deputy Minister of Regional Development and Public Works Yura Vitanova at the opening of the 5^th meeting of the Bulgaria-North Macedonia Programme Monitoring Committee.

This year, for the first time, the Integrated Territorial Strategy of the programme is launching a call for applications to local micro, small and medium-sized enterprises to support technological modernisation that will contribute to greener, digital and more competitive businesses. It is envisaged that the call will fund activities to procure new equipment that will contribute to greener, more digitised and more competitive businesses. It will also stimulate the acquisition of new knowledge and skills as well as the development of innovative products and improved access to new markets through marketing, entrepreneurship and international cooperation. The communities of the cross-border region themselves prioritize and identify investments that meet their needs such as innovation and competitiveness in the region through improved mobility and connectivity, cross-border tourism products and strengthened cooperation. The call, with a total budget of EUR 4 990 345, will be published in early June this year.

Funding under the call is targeted at micro, small and medium-sized enterprises. Eligible applicants are those registered and operating in the cross-border region of Bulgaria and North Macedonia. In Bulgaria these are the districts of Blagoevgrad and Kyustendil. The scope of the programme in North Macedonia includes.

In order to ensure full absorption of the programme funds, a proposal for up to 15% overcommitment was voted. This measure will allow for greater flexibility in management and will allow for the funding of quality projects for which funds are not available.

During the meeting the progress on the strategic project for the construction of a new border crossing Strumyani - Berovo between Bulgaria and the Republic of North Macedonia was also noted. It was noted that the contractors are working on the project with attention to environmental legislation, maintaining excellent communication with the institutions, including the Road Infrastructure Agency, on which the successful implementation of this long-awaited road depends. The project should be completed by the end of 2029.

The participants in the meeting also noted that the approved projects and the upcoming initiatives under the INTERREG VI-A IPA Bulgaria-North Macedonia Programme will build on the successes achieved so far for the third programming period, after the implementation of the programme reached a 97-98% absorption rate in the previous two and established the cross-border region as an example of successful cooperation and sustainable development.