Bulgaria and North Macedonia with joint environmental and tourism projects

More than BGN 1.7 million will be reallocated under the Cross-border Cooperation Programme INTERREG - IPA between the Republic of Bulgaria and the Republic of North Macedonia 2014-2020 for financing projects in the area of environmental protection and tourism development in the cross-border region between the two countries.

The funds are allocated following a decision of the Council of Ministers, which approved the change of the programme proposed by the Managing Authority as a result of an internal analysis carried out last year. As a result, unused resource from the Competitiveness priority axes is transferred to the measures, Environment and Tourism. This will fund more projects in these areas, submitted by the beneficiaries under the Second Call for Proposals, which are currently included in the reserve list. This will also contribute to the achievement of the set goals and the full absorption of the funds under the 2014-2020 Programme.

The government decision broadens the list of eligible beneficiaries under the Technical Assistance priority axis, resulting in representatives of central and regional authorities being included as such.

The change in the name of the partner country - the Republic of North Macedonia - is also reflected in the programme text.