Call for proposals opens for a total of over €21 million for joint projects under two cross-border programmes

The first calls for projects between Bulgaria and North Macedonia and between Bulgaria and Turkey for the period 2021-2027 are open

More than 21 million euro will finance project proposals under two Interreg programmes for the period 2021-2027 - the one between Bulgaria and North Macedonia and the one between Bulgaria and Turkey. The total budget of the programme with North Macedonia is EUR 8,143,233 and the one with Turkey - EUR 13,423,529.

This is stated in the first calls for proposals for the two programmes, which are now published on the website of the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works.

The deadline for submission of concepts is 24 July 2023.

Under Interreg Bulgaria - North Macedonia the focus will be tourism. The cross-border region of the programme covers the districts of Blagoevgrad and Kyustendil in Bulgaria and the Northeast, East and Southeast regions in the Republic of North Macedonia. Ideas will be sought for projects that contribute to the creation of an attractive and year-round tourism product in these areas, with the objectives of increasing connectivity between the two countries, good marketing of tourism products in the cross-border region, increasing employment in the tourism sector and strengthening links between tourism and natural and cultural sites.

The Bulgaria-Turkey Interreg programme will look for projects that contribute to sustainable and inclusive economic growth based on increased competitiveness of the local economy, digital and green transformation. The cross-border region of the programme covers the districts of Burgas, Yambol, Haskovo and the Turkish provinces of Edirne and Kırklareli.

Activities under both programmes must be a combination of investment - construction and/or supplies and soft activities (e.g. services).

The minimum for funding a project idea is EUR 500 000 and the maximum is EUR 1 000 000.

The investment component (construction and/or supplies) of the project idea must be at least 70% of the total eligible costs.

Projects are open to local/regional bodies and authorities (including regional structures of central public authorities); SMEs; NGOs; academic, research, training and cultural institutions. All project partners must have been registered and operating in the programme area for at least 3 years prior to application. The partnership must consist of at least one partner from each country of the border region.