Call for proposals under the Transnational Cooperation Programme “Danube Region” 2021-2027

14 European countries will have access to over €91 million for joint initiatives

The first call for project proposals under the Transnational Cooperation Programme “Danube Region” 2021-2027 is launched. It consists of two phases - submission of a Statement of Interest outlining the intervention logic of the proposal and the strategic relevance for the programme, and a complete Application Form by the applicants approved in the first phase.

The first stage of the application, by submitting a Statement of Interest in the programme’s electronic system (Jems), is open until 17 November 2022 (14:00, CET). It does not require the submission of additional documents.

The call is open for project proposals under the following programme priorities: ‘A more competitive and innovative Danube Region’, ‘A greener, low-carbon Danube Region’, ‘A more social Danube Region’ and ‘Better governance through cooperation’: Specific objective 4.2 ‘Enhanced institutional capacity for territorial and macro-regional governance’.

The second stage of the call is expected to open in spring 2023.

Partners in the projects can be local, regional or national authorities, academic organisations, NGOs, business associations, enterprises, etc. officially registered in the programme area. Each project must involve at least three partners from three different countries. At least one project partner must be from an EU Member State.

The programme area covers 14 countries, including 9 EU Member States: Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany (Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria), Hungary, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia; 3 acceding countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia, as well as 2 neighbouring countries: Moldova and Ukraine.

The total amount of funding under the call amounts to around €91.7 million. The EU co-financing under the Danube Region Programme 2021-2027 of the project activities amounts to 80%.

The Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works, as the National Authority of the programme, will provide a national co-financing from the national budget to each Bulgarian partner in the amount of 15% of its budget in the approved project. The remaining part (5%) of the national co-financing will be borne as the partners’ own contribution.

Detailed information and documentation on the First Call for Proposals is published on the Programme’s website.

Applicants have the opportunity to consult individually with the Joint Programme Secretariat on their developed project ideas before and during the open call for proposals. Consultations in the form of bilateral meetings or telephone discussions can be requested by email to the thematic expert in the Joint Programme Secretariat responsible for the relevant project topic.