Bulgaria and Turkey will invest over 34 million euros in the border regions

Over 34.4m euros will be invested in the border regions of Bulgaria and Turkey over the next seven years. This is provided by the Cross-Border Cooperation Programme for the period 2021-2027. The Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works publishes the draft program for public discussion before submitting it for approval by the European Commission. Business and security in the border area are the main priorities of the programme.

Nearly 2m euros of the resource are earmarked for a strategic project pre-defined by both sides, aimed at strengthening the capacity of law enforcement agencies on both sides of the border to tackle illegal migration. Its partners are the regional directorates of the Ministry of Interior in Haskovo, Burgas and Yambol and the Law Enforcement Department in the provinces of Edirne and Lozengrad (Kirklareli).

Small and medium enterprises will be able to apply with energy efficiency projects for their building stock. More than 7.6m euros have been earmarked for this. These investments will help businesses reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. The funds will also finance activities for the introduction of technological modernization and transition to a circular economy, exchange of know-how and good practices.

More than 24.8m euros are earmarked for joint projects to promote integrated and inclusive social, economic and environmental local development, culture, natural heritage, sustainable tourism and security on both sides of the border.

The Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works will continue to perform the functions of the Managing Authority of the cross-border cooperation programme between Bulgaria and Turkey in the next programming period 2021-2027.

Public discussion of the prepared final version of the Cross-border Cooperation Programme INTERREG IPA Bulgaria-Turkey 2021-2027 will be held online (via WebEx) on February 21, 2022 at 15:00. Those wishing to take part in the public discussion can register for participation in the event by February 14, 2022 at ma_ipacbc@mrrb.government.bg

The full text of the draft Program is published for public consultations on the Public Consultation Portal, the Unified Information Portal: www.eufunds.bg, on the website of the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works and on the website of the program www.ipacbc-bgtr.eu.

Comments and opinions on the published draft of the program can be submitted by March 2, 2022 in the office of the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works at the address: Sofia, № 17-19 ‘St. St. Cyril and Methodius’ str., as well as in electronic form at the e- mail address ma_ipacbc@mrrb.government.bg.