First Call: INTERREG Serbia-Bulgaria Programme

The application is with project ideas that contribute to the achievement of Specific objective 2 “To enhance regional competitiveness, incl. in the area of tourism” (with a focus on tourism).

The focus of Call 1 is based on the following fields of intervention:  

• development of new integrated regional tourism products;
• restoration, preservation, exposition of cultural heritage sites;
• support for natural tourism sites;
• set-up of natural sites for economic use;
• investments in tourist support infrastructure and facilities;
• strengthening the links between natural and cultural sites, including through enhancing the cycling network, road infrastructure, border crossing points infrastructure;
• training of staff of tourism attractions;
• improving CBC tourism marketing and branding practices

Brief information about the Call and the full package of documents for application is provided below, and also at:

• http://www.mrrb.bg/
• https://www.mei.gov.rs/
• www.eufunds.bg

The total budget of the call is 8 529 412 Euro.

The deadline for submission of concept notes in Jems is 15th of August 2023, 17:00 EEST, 16:00 CEST.

You can contact the Joint Secretariat of the Programme for additional information:

Main office in Sofia:

js_sofia@mrrb.government.bg

 tel. + 359 2 9405 337;

Branch office in Nis:

gd_nis@mei.gov.rs

tel. + 381 18 513 224.

Call 1 in a nutshell:

• Territorial focus of the Call – the entire cross-border region of the (INTERREG VI-A) IPA Bulgaria Serbia Programme (districts of Vidin, Montana, Vratsa, Sofia-district, Pernik and Kyustendil in Bulgaria, and districts Bor, Zaječar, Toplica, Nišava, Pirot, Jablanica and Pčinja in Serbia).
• Objective of the Call – support project ideas that streamline the utilization of the tourism resources and improve cross-border tourism marketing and branding practices in alignment Specific objective 2 of the Programme’s Territorial Strategy, adopted by the Strategy Board on the 20th of December 2022.
• Focus of the Call - broad thematic coverage (development of new integrated regional tourism products; restoration, preservation, exposition of cultural heritage sites; support for natural tourism sites; investments in tourist support infrastructure and facilities; strengthening the links between natural and cultural sites, including their connecting and mobility network; training of staff of tourism attractions; improving CBC tourism marketing and branding practices) – to promote the integrated territorial development.
• Application process – takes place in the Joint electronic Monitoring System (Jems - https://jems-bgrs.mrrb.bg/), where applicants need to register and create a new project application. Applicants attach the Application form of the concept note, along with the budget forecast, a Letter of Commitment and Project Maturity Development Plan to the Jems application of their project idea. Full project proposals are submitted upon invitation.
• Key features of the project idea/concept note – it is expected that multi-sectoral partnerships between stakeholders from Bulgaria and Serbia will bring in solutions to boost tourism potential of the border area on a larger territorial scope, where cross-border impact plays central role.
• Project actions – compulsory combination of investment (works and/or supply) and soft type of actions (e.g. services); the thematic focus of the actions needs to be fully and logically aligned with the objective/s of the project idea and results indicator of the Call.
• Project participants (applicant and partners) – local/regional bodies and authorities (incl. regional structures of central public authorities and statutory bodies); regional and sector development agencies; business support organization; NGOs; academic, research, training, education, social and cultural institutions. All project partners need to be non-profit, and registered and to operate in the programme area for at least 3 years prior to the application. The project partnership should consist of at least one partner from each side of the border region.
• Project costs – when applying with a concept note it is not required to present a detailed budget of the project idea. What is needed during the project idea identification process is an overall budget estimation of expenditures per cost category and per project partner.
• Financial aspects – min € 500 000 and max € 1 000 000 of a project idea. Grant intensity is 100%, however de minimis provisions apply to all project partners. The investment component (works and/or supply) of the project idea should be no less than 60% of the total eligible costs.
• Project duration – minimum 12 months and maximum 24 months.