The Government approved the draft Interreg NEXT Black Sea Basin Programme 2021-2027

The Council of Ministers approved the draft Transnational Cooperation Programme Interreg NEXT Black Sea Basin 2021-2027 before its submission to the European Commission. Bulgaria’s commitments as a participating country have also been approved.

The total budget of the programme is EUR 72 275 137. Of this, EUR 65 047 623 shall be provided as European funding. EUR 7 227 514 is national co-financing from the participating countries. Joint projects will be funded under the priorities “Blue and Smart Region” and “Green and Clean Region”. The former is aimed at enhancing research and innovation capacity and introducing advanced technologies. The second aims to promote adaptation to climate change and disaster risk prevention, as well as nature conservation, biodiversity, green infrastructure and pollution reduction. Beneficiaries can be national, regional and local authorities, universities, research centres, associations, NGOs, civil society groups and networks, etc.

Interreg NEXT Black Sea Basin 2021 -2027 aims to contribute to the transition towards a climate-neutral society by ensuring the sustainable and innovative growth of the regions in line with the new EU Cohesion Policy for the period 2021-2027. The programme covers regions from 3 EU Member States - Bulgaria (the regions of Varna, Dobrich, Targovishte, Shumen, Burgas, Sliven, Yambol and Stara Zagora), Romania, Greece, as well as 5 other partner countries from the Black Sea region - Turkey, Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia and Armenia.