INTERREG
Interreg is one of the key instruments of EU supporting intraregional cooperation through project funding. It aims to jointly tackle common challenges and find shared solutions in different fields including environment, transport, and sustainable energy. Several Interreg programmes are geographically relevant for the Western Balkans Six, 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 Six, URBACT provides support to EU pre-accession towns and cities in Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia. Their participation in the URBACT programme is financed by the EU’s Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA). Furthermore, specific Interreg CBC programmes are focusing on particular WB6, such as Interreg IPA CBC Croatia – Bosnia and Herzegovina – Montenegro, Interreg IPA CBC Croatia – Serbia, Interreg IPA CBC Bulgaria – North Macedonia, Interreg IPA CBC Bulgaria – Serbia, Interreg IPA CBC Greece – Albania, Interreg IPA CBC Greece – North Macedonia, Interreg IPA CBC Italy-Albania-Montenegro, Interreg IPA CBC Romania – Serbia, and Interreg IPA CBC Hungary – Serbia. Regarding the budget, €180M is an estimate for the Interreg IPA & IPA-IPA CBC contribution to the GAWB in the period 2021-2027 (relates to 30% for climate contribution and 8.5% for biodiversity out of the IPA allocation for the Interreg IPA programmes, €395M).
Interreg projects do not have a single implementing agency; instead, implementation is managed by different bodies depending on the specific Interreg programme. Each programme typically has a Managing Authority responsible for general implementation, a Joint Secretariat for day-to-day tasks like supporting applicants and beneficiaries, and an Audit Authority to ensure compliance. Specific tasks, like controlling costs and ensuring proper expenditure, are also delegated to domestic-level Controllers within the participants
Interreg projects do not have a single implementing agency; instead, implementation is managed by different bodies depending on the specific Interreg programme. Each programme typically has a Managing Authority responsible for general implementation, a Joint Secretariat for day-to-day tasks like supporting applicants and beneficiaries, and an Audit Authority to ensure compliance. Specific tasks, like controlling costs and ensuring proper expenditure, are also delegated to domestic-level Controllers within the participants