Joint Monitoring Committee meeting under the Interreg-IPA CBC Bulgaria-Serbia Programme 2014-2020 and Meeting of the Joint Working Group for the forthcoming Programme period 2021-2027

On 18 December 2020, the Eight Joint Monitoring Committee meeting under the Interreg-IPA Cross-border Cooperation Bulgaria-Serbia Programme 2014-2020 was held online. The meeting was co-chaired by Ms. Denitsa Nikolova, Deputy Minister of the Regional Development and Public Works of the Republic of Bulgaria and by Ms. Valentina Vidović, Ministry of the European Integration of the Republic of Serbia.

Greetings were expressed by Ms. Magali Lenoel and Ms. Klaudia Feurle, representatives of the DG Regio, European Commission.

During the online session of the JMC the current progress of implementation of the Programme was presented and a decision for amendment of the Technical assistance’s budget for the period 2020 – 2023 was taken in order to be guaranteed the successful completion of the current Programme and a smooth transition to the new Programme. The representatives of the JMC have been also informed on the progress in the programming for 2021-2027.

On the same day the Third meeting of the Joint Working Group for the forthcoming Programme period 2021-2027 was held. The main focus was the discussion of the logic of interventions, which outlines the following three priority axes for the forthcoming Programme:

Priority Axis 1 “Competitive border region” – aimed at enhancing sustainable growth, ensuring jobs and increasing the competitiveness of SME-s with a share of 15% of the total Programme’ budget;
Priority Axis 2 “Integrated development of the border region” – with a focus on fostering the integrated social-economic and environmental development, cultural heritage and security in urban and other than urban areas with a share of 55% of the total Programme’ budget;
Priority Axis 3  “A more resilient border region” – aimed at adaptation on climate changes, risk prevention and disaster resilience with a share of 20% of the total Programme’ budget.

The approval of the intervention logic gives a green light for public discussion of the General Programme’ document and its completion within the next 4-5 months.