site.btaEC Approves Bulgaria-Serbia Cross-border Cooperation Programme

EC Approves Bulgaria-Serbia Cross-border Cooperation Programme

Sofia, July 31 (BTA) - The European Commission has approved the
Bulgaria-Serbia Cross-border Cooperation Programme 2014-2020,
said the Regional Development and Public Works Ministry on
Friday. The approval came on the day when the Programme's
monitoring committee held its first meeting to endorse a package
 of documents for the first call for tenders.

The Programme will fund projects in the fields of sustainable
tourism, youth and environment and will make available some 35
million euro. The regions of Vidin, Montana, Vratsa, Sofia,
Pernik and Kyustendil in Bulgaria and Bor, Zajecar, Nisava,
Pirot, Jablanica and Pcinja in Serbia can tap funding under the
programme.

The first call for tenders will disburse nearly 13 million euro.
 
The potential beneficiaries include all levels of regional/local
 authorities, regional and sector development agencies, central
 and  regional  offices  and  structures  of  relevant 
government  institutions administrations, public cultural
institutes such as museums, libraries, community centres and
non-government organizations and tourist associations.

The Programme will be managed by Bulgaria's Regional Development
 Ministry and Serbia's Office for European Integration.

The head office of the Joint Secretariat will be located in
Sofia and a branch will operate in the Serbian town of Nis.