The new Cross-Border Cooperation Programme with FYRoM funded under IPA II 2014-2020 was presented in Struga.

The European Union continues its support to the Cross-Border Programme activities under the new Instrument for Pre-Accession 2014-2020 (IPA II), budgeted with app. 12 million EUR. The Programme will support cross-border cooperation projects in the field of environment, climate change adaptation and mitigation, risk prevention and management, tourism and cultural and natural heritage, competitiveness, development of business and small- and medium-sized enterprises  , trade and investment.

The IPA II Cross Border Cooperation Programme is continuation of the IPA I CBC Programme 2007-2013. The overall objective of the new Programme is to stimulate more balanced, inclusive and sustainable socio-economic development of the cross border area.

The 1st Call for Proposals under this CBC Programme will be launched soon (latest by the beginning of the summer).

As part of the launching event, three thematic workshops will be organised on economic, environment and social cohesion issues, bringing together experts from the grant beneficiaries, officials from local, regional and central authorities. The workshops are facilitated by the regional project: Cross-border Institution Building (CBIB+), funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented by a consortium led by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH. CBIB+ focuses on regional coordination and harmonisation in the context of pre-accession, as well as exchange and transfer of good practice.