Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia become part of the 'Digital Europe' programme
The Digital Europe Programme has an overall budget of 7.5 billion Euro. The programme focused on bringing digital technology to businesses, citizens and public administrations. It provides strategic funding to answer these challenges, supporting projects in 5 key capacity areas: supercomputing, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, advanced digital skills, and ensuring a wide use of digital technologies across the economy and society, including through Digital Innovation Hubs.
It aims to accelerate the economic recovery and shape the digital transformation of Europe’s society and economy, bringing benefits to everyone, but in particular to small and medium-sized enterprises.
On June 30, the association agreements were signed for four Western Balkans economies: Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia, as announced via a press release on June 30, 2023.
Digital Europe Programme opens to candidate countries Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania, and Serbia to access calls for funding
European Commission
Following the signatures, and upon the completion of the related ratification processes, the association agreements will enter into force. Businesses, public administrations and other eligible organisations in these neighbouring countries will be able to access the calls of the Digital Europe Programme, which has an overall budget of €7.5 billion in the 2021-2027 period.
In particular, participants from these four countries will be able to take part in projects that deploy digital technologies across the EU in specific areas such as artificial intelligence, and advanced digital skills. They will also be able to set up Digital Innovation Hubs in their own regions.
This will bring them closer to the EU economy and society, benefit their technology capabilities and support digitalisation overall, notably of small and medium-sized businesses.
The Digital Europe Programme's funds will complement funding available in Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia, as well as Albania, through other EU programmes such as Horizon Europe. The objectives and specific topic areas that are currently eligible for funding are detailed in the Work Programmes.
More information
Read more about the Digital Europe programme in our glossary: https://wbc-rti.info/glossary/163
Watch the space at https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/digital/guidance/list-3rd-country-participation_digital_en.pdf about the conclusion of the full ratification processes.
- Albania
- Europe
- Montenegro
- Republic of North Macedonia
- Serbia
- Cross-thematic/Interdisciplinary
- Engineering and Technology
Entry created by Elke Dall on June 30, 2023
Modified on June 30, 2023
