Programme description

Main objectives

The overall aim of the programme is to stimulate the balanced and sustainable development of the Bulgaria-Serbia border region integrated in the European space – achieved through smart economic growth, environmental change adaptation and learning culture enhancement

Funding priorities

The Programme will focus on the following priorities:

• Priority Axis 1 “Sustainable Tourism”: Approximately 35 % of the Programme funds is planned to be dedicated to “Encouraging tourism and cultural and natural heritage” because of the significance of the region’s natural and cultural heritage as among its most valuable assets. Capitalisation of these assets could contribute to the economic development of the area by promoting environment-friendly tourism. Importance of the priority axis is undoubtedly high also in terms of creating employment opportunities in the border region.
• Priority Axis 2 “Youth”: is highly relevant since since clear needs have been identified to investing in education, training, including vocational training due to a high level of youth unemployment and of early-school leavers due to poor perspectives of the youth.
• Priority Axis 3 “Environment”: 30% of the Programme’s budget will be allocated to thematic priority (b): “Protecting the environment and promoting climate change adaptation and mitigation, risk prevention and management”. The priority is viewed to have the potential to cover quite a broad range of solutions in the field of sustainable environmental management, depending on the local specificities of the environment, risk prevention and disaster management, as well as the community and other interests. For this reason, sufficient resources are needed to meet the demand.

Information on reported financial data to the European Commission (by theme) can be found here

Source and further information is avalable here: IPA CBC Bulgaria - Serbia