The Programme for Cross-Border Cooperation between the Republic of Bulgaria and the Republic of Northern Macedonia 2021-2027 has been announced for public discussion

The Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works starts a public discussion of the draft Programme for cross-border cooperation between Bulgaria and the Republic of Northern Macedonia 2021-2027 before sending the document for official approval to the European Commission.

Over 31.1 million euros is the total financial resource of the programme. It will be invested in joint projects for construction and development of green areas and improving the links between them, direct support to small and medium enterprises to increase production capacity and competitiveness, digitalisation and others.

A little over 10m euros from the programme's budget are earmarked for the construction of the Klepalo border crossing between the municipalities of Strumyani and Berovo.

At a meeting this week, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Regional Development and Public Works - Grozdan Karadjov and his Macedonian counterparts- the Transport and Communications Minister Blagoj Bocvarski and the Local Government Minister Goran Milevski, agreed to speed up work on the checkpoint to be completed by the end of 2023.

In the period 2021-2027, the MRDPW will continue to perform the functions of the Managing Authority of the INTERREG IPA Bulgaria - Republic of Northern Macedonia Cross-Border Cooperation Programme.

The public discussion of the prepared final version of the programme will be held online (via WebEx) on February 15, 2022 at 11:00 am. Those wishing to take part can register until February 8, 2022 at the following e-mail address: ma_ipacbc@mrrb.government.bg

The full text of the draft program is published on the Portal for public consultations: https://www.strategy.bg/PublicConsultations/View.aspx?lang=bg-BG&Id=6604, the Single Information Portal: www.eufunds.bg, on the Internet page of the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works https://www.mrrb.bg/bg/pokana-za-uchastie-v-obstestveno-obsujdane-i-obstestveni-konsultacii-na-proekta-na-programata-za-transgranichno-sutrudnichestvo-mejdu-republika -bulgariya-i-republika-severna-makedoniya-2021-2027-g / i on the program website http://www.ipa-cbc-007.eu

Comments and opinions on the published project can be submitted by February 28, 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 on e- mail address: ma_ipacbc@mrrb.government.bg.