The 2014–2020 programming period of the Interreg-IPA Bulgaria–Serbia Programme has officially come to an end. The European Commission accepted its final implementation report, marking the completion of a period in which organisations from Bulgaria and Serbia worked together for the development of the cross-border region.
Six new medium-class rescue vehicles delivered under the strategic project RESPONSE were officially presented on 29 September in Blagoevgrad. The vehicles have a total value of nearly EUR 1.87 million and will be deployed to serve the needs of the Bulgaria–Serbia cross-border region.
The presentation was part of an event organised by the General Directorate Fire Safety and Civil Protection, which also included the opening of a new training centre in Blagoevgrad under the FLOODGUARD 2 project, funded by the Interreg VI-A Greece–Bulgaria Programme 2021–2027.
The experience of the Interreg VI-A IPA Bulgaria–Serbia Programme 2021–2027 in supporting small and medium-sized enterprises was presented at the 10th National Conference on European Territorial Cooperation Programmes, organised by the Ministry of European Integration of the Republic of Serbia on 23 September in Novi Sad. The event brought together representatives of the European Commission, national and programme authorities, and organisations involved in territorial cooperation.
The urgent need for digital transformation, obstacles in entering foreign markets, and the lack of access to finance are the main challenges highlighted by businesses from the cross-border region between Bulgaria and Serbia. A discussion on the challenges for sustained business growth and funding opportunities under the INTERREG VI-A IPA Bulgaria-Serbia 2021-2027 Program was held on 17 September 2026 in Niš, Serbia under the 10th Forum of Advanced Technologies organized by the Science and Technology Park Niš – TechIntelligence.
On 16 September, the Municipality of Merošina in Serbia hosted the 2026 Interreg Cooperation Day between Bulgaria and Serbia. The festival programme combined presentations of projects supported by the Programme with demonstrations, creative activities and activities for children, families and visitors from nearby communities.
At an information day held in Niš, the “Scaling Regions” (RESCALE) project presented the opportunities available to support small and medium-sized enterprises from the Bulgaria–Serbia cross-border region. The event was organised by the Serbian project partners – Science and Technology Park Niš and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia – with the participation of the lead partner, the Bulgarian Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion Agency (BSMEPA).
Following the official launch of the strategic RESCALE (Scaling Regions) project in March this year, the first phase of support for businesses is now underway. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from the Bulgaria–Serbia cross-border region can now express their interest in joining the project and benefit from a comprehensive development programme offering free access to expert support, training, international business networking and innovation opportunities.
The Interreg VI-A IPA Bulgaria–Serbia Programme 2021–2027 offers a young volunteer the opportunity to join the Interreg Volunteer Youth - IVY initiative as an IVY Reporter.
Successful disaster response depends on more than firefighters, rescue teams and specialised equipment. It also relies on volunteers – people who choose to dedicate their time to learning how to help when every additional pair of hands can make a difference.
From 29 June to 3 July 2026, the sixth and final group of volunteers under the RESPONSE project completed its training at the Training Centre of the General Directorate Fire Safety and Civil Protection in Montana, Bulgaria.
To support the successful launch of the new projects, the Interreg VI-A IPA Bulgaria–Serbia Programme 2021–2027 organised parallel training sessions for beneficiaries from Bulgaria and Serbia under the Call for Services of General Interest. The training covered the main rules for project management, implementation and reporting.
The sessions took place on 26 June 2026, immediately after the signing of the subsidy contracts, providing participants with practical guidance from the very beginning of project implementation.