Search
Interreg is one of the key instruments of the European Union (EU) supporting cooperation across borders through project funding. It aims to jointly tackle common challenges and find shared solutions in fields such as health, environment, research, education, transport, sustainable energy and more. With a budget of 6.7 billion EUR, 73 cross-border Co-operation programmes for 2021-2027 aim to boost cooperation actions across borders between neighbouring regions and countries.
Several Interreg programmes are geographically relevant for the Western Balkans, for example:
- Interreg Europe (eligible are Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia – among others)
- Interreg ADRION (Adriatic Ionian) (eligible are Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia – among others)
- Interreg Danube Region Programme (eligible are Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia – among others)
- Interreg EURO-Med (eligible are Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and North Macedonia – among others)
Covering all of Europe including the Western Balkans, URBACT provides support to towns and cities in EU pre-accession countries – Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Serbia. Their participation in the URBACT programme is financed by the EU’s Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA).
Furthermore, specific Interreg Cross-Border Cooperation programmes are focusing on particular WBs and their borders, such as:
- Interreg IPA CBC Croatia – Bosnia and Herzegovina – Montenegro
- Interreg IPA CBC Croatia – Serbia
- Interreg IPA CBC Bulgaria – Republic of North Macedonia
- Interreg IPA CBC Bulgaria – Serbia
- Interreg IPA CBC Greece – Albania
- Interreg IPA CBC Greece – Republic of North Macedonia
- Interreg IPA CBC Italy-Albania-Montenegro
- Interreg IPA CBC Romania – Serbia
- Interreg IPA CBC Hungary – Serbia