Memo: Bulgaria – the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia IPA Cross-border Co-operation Programme 2007-2013

On 14 December 2007 the European Commission approved a Cross-border Co-operation Programme between Bulgaria and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), which is adopted under and co-financed by the cross-border co-operation component of the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA). The programme involves Community support for five Bulgarian and Macedonian regions that lie along their common border: the Bulgarian districts of Kuystendil and Blagoevgrad and Macedonian regions North-East, East and South-East.

Community funding for the programme over the period 2007-2009 is worth around €6.6 million, supplemented in turn by about €1.2 million of national funding from the two participating countries. The programme’s total budget therefore is approximately €7.8 million.