1. EU funds for South East Europe: IPA II Cross-border Cooperation Programme BULGARIA-SERBIA 2014-2020
Sofia, 2015

2. Strategic objective
IPA II CBC Programme Bulgaria-Serbia aims to stimulate the balanced and sustainable development of the border region integrated in the European space – achieved through smart economic growth, environmental change adaptation and learning culture enhancement.

3. Management structure
Managing Authority (MA) – DG “Territorial Cooperation Management” at the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works of the Republic of Bulgaria is responsible for managing and implementing the Programme, in accordance with the principle of sound financial management.
National Authority (NA) - Serbian European Integration Office in Republic of Serbia supports the Managing Authority in the process of management and overall implementation of the Programme.
Joint Monitoring Committee (JMC) - formed of representatives of MA, NA as well as other relevant national, regional and local authorities, macro-regional strategy representatives, economic and social partners. The JMC shall supervise the overall effectiveness, quality and coherence of the implementation of the cross-border Programme.
Joint Secretariat (JS) - a common structure that assists the MA, NA and the JMC in carrying out their functions, representing main contact point between the Programme and the potential beneficiaries/project partners.

4. (EU + National funding)
EU funding €
Total budget:
(EU + National funding) €
2015 €
35 %
Priority axis 1
Sustainable Tourism: €
2016 €
10 %
 Priority axis 4
 Technical assistance €
2017 €
2020 €
30 %
 Priority axis 3
 Environment €
2018 €
2019 €
25 %
Priority axis 2
Youth €
50 %
Priority Axis 2
Improving the Quality of
Life
The Budget is SHARED – there is no financial distinction between states or eligible NUTS III regions

5. Eligible area Territory: 43 933 sq. km. Border length: 341 km
Border checkpoints: 5
Population: people
Eligible regions (NUTS III):
Bulgaria
Serbia
Vidin District
Bor District
Montana District
Zaječar District
Vratsa District
Toplica district
Sofia District
Nišava District
Pernik District
Pirot District
Kyustendil District
Jablanica District
Pčinja District

6. Eligibility criteria for candidates
Lead Partner and its partners must comply with all of the following criteria:
be legally established organizations, according to the national legislation of the state territory they are located;
be registered in the eligible cross border region between Bulgaria and Serbia;
be non-profit making organizations;
be directly responsible for the preparation and management of the action, not acting as an intermediary;
belong to one of the categories, listed in the respective Guidelines for applicants.

7. Potential beneficiaries
Priority Axis 1: Sustainable Tourism
Specific Objective Tourist attractiveness:
All levels of regional/local authorities;
Public cultural institutes (museum, library, community centres, etc.);
Regional and sector development agencies;
Central and regional offices and structures of relevant government institutions/ administrations;
Non-government organizations;
Regional touristic associations.

8. Potential beneficiaries
Priority Axis 1: Sustainable Tourism
1.2 Cross-border touristic product:
1.3 People to people networking
All levels of regional/local authorities;
Regional and sector development agencies;
Central / regional structures of government;
Business support structures;
NGOs, Regional touristic associations;
Cultural institutes (museum, library, art gallery, community centres, etc.);
Business support structures - CCIs, business association, business cluster;
Education / Training Centres;
Education / Training Centres.
Local Action Groups (LAGs).

9. Potential beneficiaries
Priority Axis 1: Sustainable Tourism
Specific Objective People to people networking:
All levels of regional/local authorities;
Cultural institutes (museum, library, art gallery, community centres, etc.);
Regional touristic associations;
Civil society structure (association/foundation/NGOs);
Local Action Groups (LAGs) established and supported under measure "Leader" within the Rural Development Programme for Bulgaria and within IPARD for Serbia.
Business support structures;
Education / Training Centres;

10. Potential beneficiaries
Priority Axis 2: Youth
2.1 Skills & entrepreneurship
2.2 People to people networking
All levels of regional/local authorities;
Universities, research institutes;
Universities, knowledge / research institutes;
Education / Vocational training institutions;
Training service providers;
Training service providers, Business support structures
Civil society /Business support structures;
Cultural institutes, local community centres.
Youth organizations, NGOs;

11. Potential beneficiaries
Priority Axis 3. Environment
Specific Objective 3.1 Joint risk management:
Relevant local and regional structures dealing with emergency situations;
Central and regional offices and structures of relevant government institutions/ administrations;
Regional and sector development agencies.
Specific Objective 3.2 Nature protection:
All levels of regional/local authorities;
Central and regional structures of relevant government institutions/ administrations in the sphere of their competence;
Regional and sector development agencies;
Administrations of protected areas;
Research and academic institutes;
Environmental NGOs;
Local Action Groups (LAGs).

12. Cross-border impact
All projects must deliver direct cross-border impact and benefits for the partners, target groups, project/programme area, in terms of meeting at least 3 of the following criteria:
Joint development - project must be designed in close cooperation of the partners from both sides of the border;
Joint implementation - activities must be carried out and coordinated among partners on both sides of the border. It is not enough that activities run in parallel;
Joint staffing - project should not duplicate functions on either side of the border. Regardless of where the person is located, there should be a joint project management;
Joint financing - the project shall be awarded with only one grant contract, therefore there must be joint project budget, divided between partners according to the planned activities.

13. Draft schedule of events
Place
Time
Annual CBC conference
Sofia
July-September 2015
Photo competition
On line
August 2015
European Cooperation Day
Kyustendil
12th of September 2015
Launching of Call for proposals
Sofia & Nis
2015
Info-days and training seminars
5 cities in Bulgaria / 4 cities in Serbia
Partner search Forum
Serbia

14. Програма за ТГС България – Сърбия 2014 – 2020
Thank you for the attention!
Stoyan Kanatov
Head of Joint Technical Secretariat
Tel:
web page: