Project code: | BGRS0400079 |
Project call: | Restricted Call for Governance Project Proposal under Priority 2 - Integrated development of the border region |
Priority axis / Specific objective: | Priority 2 - Integrated development of the border region Specific objective 2.1 Promoting integrated and inclusive social, economic and environmental local development, culture, natural heritage, sustainable tourism and security in non-urban areas |
Type of project: | Soft measures |
Project duration in months: | 56 months |
Project final contract amount: | 1.035.225,46 € |
Project EU co-financing rate: | 85% |
Project start date: | 11/07/2025 |
Project end date: | 07/06/2030 |
Partners: | Lead partner: Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works of the Republic of Bulgaria; Partner 2: Ministry of European Integration, Republic of Serbia |
Project summary: | The Governance project aims to enhance social, economic, and environmental development in the Bulgaria-Serbia cross-border region, aligning with Priority 2 of the INTERREG VI-A IPA Bulgaria – Serbia 2021–2027 Programme. Through a participatory approach, it tackles the common challenge of improving territorial governance and strategic decision-making, fostering inclusive and effective cross-border cooperation for sustainable regional growth. Key Challenges and Objectives A key challenge in the cross-border region is the need to foster collaborative decision-making, educate a shared sense of ownership and build mutual trust among key territorial players. Addressing this, the project focuses on empowering local people and institutions to take an active role in shaping the territorial development of their region. Furthermore, the project focuses on strengthening the role of the Strategy Board (SB)—a newly established bilateral structure responsible for implementing the Territorial Strategy (TS). By enhancing the capacity of the SB, the project promotes more inclusive and participatory governance, ensuring that SB decisios reflect local needs and aspirations. Additionally, the project aims to enhance the capacity of the Operational Unit (OU), which provides administrative and technical support to the SB, ensuring efficient coordination and decision-making processes. The main objective is to create a well-structured, self-sustaining framework that empowers local actors, foster trust-based cooperation, and enables effective responses to both current and future cross-border challenges. Expected Impact and Beneficiaries By improving governance mechanisms and strengthening institutional capacity, the project will enhance cross-border cooperation, driving sustainable economic and territorial development. Key beneficiaries include: - Local/regional authorities and NGOs, who will gain better strategic knowledge and tools for collaborative and consensus-driven decision-making. - Communities and businesses, benefiting from a more integrated, well-coordinated regional strategy that unlocks economic opportunities and support long-term growth. - Stakeholders involved in cross-border cooperation, benefiting from a more structured, transparent and efficient implementation of the Territorial Strategy, leading to stronger alignment with regional needs and priorities. Approach and Innovation The project adopts a place-based, participatory approach, ensuring that local communities actively participate in addressing challenges and opportunities for integrated territorial development. By strengthening both the SB and the OU, the project enhances stakeholder cooperation and fosters more effective implementation of the Territorial Strategy. The OU plays a key role in supporting the SB’s work by facilitating administrative processes, streamlining document workflows, and ensuring transparency in SB’s decision-making. Given the shared nature of regional challenges, a cross-border and participatory approach is essential, ensuring that solutions are co-designed and implemented collaboratively, rather than fragmented or unilateral actions.
The novelty of the project lies in its strategic and systemic approach to governance, focusing on long-term sustainability, collaborative decision-making and capacity building. This initiative serves as a pilot project, as it is the first to enhance the capacity of the newly established Strategy Board (SB) and its Operational Unit (OU) during the 2021–2027 programming period. By reinforcing the SB’s role in implementing the Territorial Strategy and improving the OU’s efficiency in supporting its operations, the project lays the foundation for an effective, sustainable, and cross-border governance model that can serve as a reference for future initiatives in the region and beyond. Through this pioneering effort, the project not only improves the operational capacity of the Strategy Board and its Operational Unit but also sets a new standard for participatory territorial governance, making the Bulgaria-Serbia cross-border region more resilient and future-ready. |