SERBIA AND BULGARIA CROSSBORDER COOPERATION PROGRAMME

Project proposals for the promotion of cross border
cooperation between Bulgaria and Serbia

Cross-border cooperation programme between Serbia and Bulgaria is the EU instrument for the assistance and promotion of cross-border cooperation outside EU borders. The programme is focused on the promotion of sustainable socio/economic development, environment protection, fighting against organized crime improvement of control of the borders and promotion of people-to-people cooperation.

The objective of the programme is the decrease of the differences in development rates between the regions outside EU and the promotion of the cooperation between local self governments as well as the cultural cooperation. The programme enables the central and local administrations and institutions inside and outside EU to improve through cooperation the economic and social conditions and to strengthen the possibilities of joint development. Cross-border cooperation programme will assist the people on both sides of the borders to resolve the issues of common interest by operating locally.

By implementing the programme on the local and regional level, the long term contacts and links between the people on both sides of the borders are created which represent the foundation for further cooperation and development. The process of identifying the projects, the application for funds, the very implementation of the projects, enable the partners from Serbia to gain valuable experience in using the EU funds since all the calls for project proposals should be carried out in accordance with EU external aid regulations.

In the period from 2004 to 2006, EU made available 4 million euros to Republic of Serbia through CARDS programme by participation in the programme of cooperation between Serbia and Bulgaria. The objectives of the programme were: promotion of the sustainable development in border areas, joint work on resolving the common challenges, securing efficient and safe borders and the development of the small projects of direct cooperation through strengthening infrastructure for the support to cross-border cooperation, promotion of sustainable economic development in border areas through economic valorization of their potentials, creation of new partnerships in cross-border cooperation and strengthening the operative cross-border cooperation.

Total programme fund:
2004: 2 million euros
2005: 1 million euros
2006: 1 million euros

The area of Bulgarian-Serbian border covered by the programme includes 12 administrative regions in Bulgaria which correspond to NUTS level III (EUROSTAT) in accordance with the request of the EU regulation 1059/2003 on NUTS classification and with EC Guidelines Draft, Note from January 2004 (regions of Vidin, Montana, Sofia, Pernik, Ćustendil and the city of Sofia) and 6 districts NUTS III in Serbia (districts of Bor, Zaječar, Nišava, Pirot and Jablanica). This area covers 18,5% of the total Bulgarian territory with more than 60 municipalities in 6 regions and 21,4% of the Serbian territory with more than 36 municipalities in 6 regions.

In 2008, EU made available to Serbia, through IPA 2007, 8 different programmes securing for the Programme of Cross-border cooperation between Serbia and Bulgaria the fund of 5.6 million euros. The objectives of the 2007-2009 programme are: strengthening of the territorial unity of Serbian-Bulgarian cross-border region, the competitiveness of the region and sustainability of development through economic, social and environment protection cooperation.

Total programme fund:
2007: 1.262.655,00 euros
2008: 2.156.390,00 euros
2009: 2.357.097,00 euros

The programme includes the following districts in Serbia: Borski, Zaječarski, Nišavski, Pirotski, Jablanički i Pčinjski. The following regions from Bulgaria are included: Vidin, Montana, Sofia, Pernik, Ćustendil and the City of Sofia.