Funding for territorial cooperation in 2024

INTERREG programs are a key EU tool supporting regional cooperation by funding projects to address common challenges and create solutions in the fields of the environment, transition to a zero-carbon economy, sustainable energy, innovation, transport, tourism, social integration, education, security, and good governance. Territorial cooperation programs open the door to a wide range of opportunities to implement projects in cooperation between different regions of beneficiary countries in a variety of cross-border, transnational and interregional partnerships. Local, regional, and national authorities, public institutions, development agencies, chambers of commerce, clusters, educational and scientific organizations, non-governmental organizations, international organizations, as well as businesses can participate in the implementation of a project with a common goal and problem. The range of grant opportunities under INTERREG programs and their specifics are analyzed in the current article.

The upcoming INTERREG VI-A Greece Bulgaria call is expected to be announced in the first half of the year. The main objective is to support the transition to a circular economy, improve protection and preservation of nature, biodiversity, and ecological infrastructure, promote equal access to inclusive and quality services in the field of education, training, and lifelong learning through the development of affordable infrastructure, strengthen the role of culture and sustainable tourism with an overall budget of almost 32 million euro. Project proposals’ budget can reach up to 2.5 million euro, and the funding rate for Bulgarian partners is 100%.

The topics under the INTERREG VI-A Romania Bulgaria Program are related to the thematic areas of Education and Closer to the Citizens. The funding rate under the program is 98% for the Bulgarian partners.

• The first call will aim to improve equal access to quality educational services, training, and lifelong learning by developing accessible infrastructure, including distance and online education and training. The total budget of the call will be 15 million euro.
• The second call will be related to the Territorial Strategy, with investments foreseen for the construction of the Eurovelo 6 cycling route along the border, enhancing the attractiveness of the route by supporting tourism activities and related sectors, as well as the implementing ICT.

The programs with the external borders of the EU, INTERREG VI-A IPA Bulgaria Serbia, INTERREG VI-A IPA Bulgaria North Macedonia and INTERREG VI-A IPA Bulgaria Turkey, surprise with a new element in their priorities, namely projects for micro, small and medium enterprises on both sides of the borders. The grant for the project proposal can reach up to 400,000 euro with a 100% funding rate under all IPA programs in the de minimis aid. A pilot call was launched under the Bulgaria-Turkey program, and it is currently open for applications until March 13, 2024, for projects in the field of energy efficiency and circular economy. The calls for proposals under Bulgaria-Serbia and Bulgaria-North Macedonia Programs are expected in the first quarter of 2024. Under the first program, the focus is on improving the sustainable growth and competitiveness of SMEs and job creation, including through productive investments. The new SME funding element under the Bulgaria-North Macedonia Program favors the knowledge capacity and increased production of SMEs through technological modernization to work in a greener, more digital, and more competitive environment. All cross-border programs mentioned above require at least one partner from both sides of the border.

In November 2023, INTERREG VI-B Danube published the second call for project proposals with a deadline for applications until March 29, 2024. The second call has a budget of 38 million euro for funding projects in the field of climate change adaptation, water management, biodiversity protection and conservation, inclusive and efficient labor markets, education and training, culture, sustainable tourism, increased institutional capacity. There is no project maximum budget limit set at program level. The budget should be planned in accordance with the project activities and size of the partnership. At least three participants from Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Germany, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia, and Ukraine are required to address the challenges in the Danube region, as the Bulgarian partners can receive 95% grant funding.

With budget of 44.7 million euro, the second call under the INTERREG VI-B NEXT Black Sea Basin Program will be announced in 2024 as well. The regular project proposals are expected to be up to 1.5 million euro with funding rate of 98% for the Bulgarian participants. The topics to be announced are development of innovations, mitigation of climate change, protection of biodiversity, nature, and green infrastructure in cities, and capacity building for good governance. The project should involve at least four partners from at least three beneficiary counties – Bulgaria, Romania, Greece, Turkey, Moldova, Ukraine, Georgia, and Armenia.

INTERREG Euro-Med is the new program in which Bulgaria is а beneficiary country. In March 2024, a call for thematic projects with a total budget of 44 million euro will be announced. Projects solving challenges in the field of improving research and innovation capacity and deployment of modern technologies, as well as transition to a circular economy, adaptation to climate change and disaster risk prevention, protection and conservation of nature, biodiversity, and green infrastructure, including in urban areas. Partnerships involves at least four partners from four of 14 beneficiary countries from the Northern shore of the Mediterranean. Grants are expected to be between 1 and 2 million euros. The funding rate for Bulgaria is 95%.

Calls for applications under the largest cooperation program INTERREG Europe will be opened in the spring of 2024. Candidates from the 27 member states, Switzerland, and Norway will be eligible to apply with projects on all themes – smart, green, social, connected Europe and Europe closer to citizens. The aim is to improve the regional development policies of the regions through the exchange of experience or pilot actions (learning by doing) between at least three partners from at least three countries. The funding rate for the Bulgarian participants will reach 95% with a project budget between 1 and 2 million euro.

URBACT supports the exchange of knowledge and good practices between cities and other levels of government. The aim is to promote integrated sustainable development in cities, improve urban policies and improve the effectiveness of urban cohesion policy. A call for proposals for innovation transfer networks addressing an important issue or aspect of local and urban development in line with the European Urban Initiative was published on 10 January 2024. The funding rate will be up to 95% for Bulgarian partners, and the grant will reach up to 550,000 euro per project. The deadline for the submission of project proposals is the 20th of March 2024.

For comprehensive insights and expert advisory services on the INTERREG Programs, we encourage you to contact Deloitte’s Gi3 team in Bulgaria. Together, we can pave the way for a significant level of cooperation that will contribute to the harmonious economic, social and territorial development of the Union as a whole.

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