Jems
This year Interreg celebrates its 35th anniversary with a central celebration happening on the 21 September during the Interreg Cooperation Day.
In the border areas of Croatia several Interreg programmes have been implemented: Italy-Croatia, Slovenia-Croatia managed by the partner countries. However, with the accession of Croatia to the EU, two more Interreg cross-border cooperation programmes, Croatia-Serbia and Croatia-Bosnia and Herzegovina-Montenegro, have been established and are managed by Croatia. Recently, Croatia has also taken on the management of the Hungary-Croatia programme.
Interreg VI-A IPA Programme Croatia-Bosnia and Herzegovina-Montenegro 2021-2027
In the 2014-2020 period, after the Croatian accession in the EU, Interreg IPA Cross-border Cooperation Programme Croatia – Bosnia and Herzegovina –Montenegro was established. During the programme duration, 59 projects have been implemented with an investment of 54 million euro from EU funds. Projects in the areas of social care and public health, environment protection and energy efficiency, tourism, culture and entrepreneurship received financing. In the current 2021-2027 financial period, almost 107 million euro is available for the beneficiaries in the framework of the Interreg VI-A IPA Programme Croatia-Bosnia and Herzegovina-Montenegro, with many projects underway in the border areas of countries.
As part of the celebration, we have chosen several hallmark projects that have made a substantial positive impact on local communities in all three countries.
The CODES for Stronger Entrepreneurship
Improving the entrepreneurship infrastructure is one of the priorities of the programme. During the 2014-2020 period, the project CODE became one of the star projects of the programme thanks to the impact it made for the young people who wanted to start their own businesses and create the better future for themselves and their communities.
CODE and 2CODE had budgets of 1,8 million euro. The main purpose of these projects was to support research, start-ups, innovation and competitive entrepreneurship. Code Hub Zadar was opened as one of four coworking spaces established in partner cities Mostar, Tuzla and Nikšić. During the second part of the project, the local IT network has been strengthened through support provided to the establishment and operation of IT clusters in Mostar, Nikšić and Tuzla. Capacities of the existing CODE Hubs were upgraded through purchasing of new equipment and developing new services.
In the 2021-2027 period CODES project is underway with a budget of 1,2 million euro. Project overall objective is to enable existing and new SMEs and entrepreneurs to create new innovative products and services with upgrade of existing innovation labs in Mostar and Nikšić, two new specialized laboratories for electronics and programming in Tuzla, and a new laboratory for cognitive modelling of intelligent systems in Zadar.
Smarter Schools and Companies for a Greener Future
In the priority axis of environment, risk prevention and energy efficiency the Smart Schools project started in the 2014-2020 period had achieved a great success and won recognition on the international level.
The project has tackled common cross-border problems of Brod-Posavina County in Croatia and Tuzla Canton in Bosnia and Herzegovina of low renewable energy share, energy inefficient public buildings and a small number of green jobs in the economy of the cross-border areas. Project’s main objective was to contribute to sustainable growth in the project area by increasing energy efficient measures and introducing renewable energy sources. Project outputs include 7 energy renovated schools and new biomass-heating, 2 School Solar Labs and 20 prototypes made by student innovators. The budget of the project was 1,6 million euro. The project made a huge impact on the local communities and in 2021 has reached the finals of the prestigious REGIOSTARS awards competition organized by the European Commission. The continuation of the project, the Smart Schools 2 project followed, with a budget of 1,8 million euro. The project achieved the usage of 4,5 MW new renewable-energy capacities (biomass, solar energy) in 33 public facilities (primary and secondary schools).
In the 2021-2027 period project SMART SoluTions in Energy transition of Productive businesses (SMART STEP) is a continuation of the previous two projects, however with the focus on the entrepreneurship sector. With a budget of 2,3 million euro, the project represents an effective response to key obstacles for the urgently needed decarbonization of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the project area, which have so far been neglected in the energy efficiency policies of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republic of Croatia. The project will contribute to a smart, competitive, energy-efficient and carbon-neutral economy of the project area, which includes Tuzla Canton in BiH and Brod-Posavina County in Croatia.
Fortresses of Culture
In the 2014-2020 period the Fortress ReInvented project was started with a budget of 1,3 million euro. The project has introduced new, digital content in tourism sites of the cross-border area and activated the potential of historical fortification monuments. The revival of cultural and historical heritage with joint cultural cooperation strengthens and diversifies the cross-border tourism. The project engulfed two famous Croatian fortresses Šibenik’s St.Michael’s Fortress and Klis Fortress in Klis, Bosnia and Herzegovina’s fortress Vranduk in Zenica and Montenegro’s fortress Kanli Kula in Herceg Novi. The project made a substantial impact in the cultural circles and was included in the publication titled „The CulturEU Funding Guide“ as a case of good practice of projects implemented in the field of culture. The publication was published by the European Commission, and it provides an overview of funding opportunities for the cultural and creative sectors offered by the European Union.
The second part of the project was carried on in the 2014-2020 period under the name Fortitude. With a budget of 1,6 million euro the project improved fortification facilities in three partner countries with modern equipment, design new specialized tourist tours, and hold the first edition of the Night of Fortresses event to popularize and promote cultural heritage in cross-border area. Four visitor centers in historic fortifications in Šibenik, Karlovac, Banja Luka and Bar were upgraded with stone stairways, accent lighting and heating systems, and equipped with installation of permanent setups, exhibitions and various multimedia contents. The project FORTITUDE is an example of a regional project that has contributed to the strengthening of regional cooperation and the branding of cultural heritage. This fact was recognized by the Forte Cultura and EFFORTS, two large European networks that gather over 150 members, who signed a Letter of Intent on cooperation with the aim of continuing the organization of „Night of Fortresses“, which will become an integral part of the European Fortress Summer event.
Continuation of the activities is secured in the 2021-2027 period through the GIFTSnet project – Network for Green and Inclusive Fortified Tourism Solutions. The overall objective of the GIFTSnet project is to enhance sustainable cultural tourism development by investing in the conservation, sustainable valorisation, and inclusiveness of nine cultural tourism sites located in Šibenik, Karlovac (Croatia), Banja Luka, Trebinje (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Bar and Ulcinj (Montenegro). Through green, sustainable, and nature-based investments, the project with a budget of 2,2 million euro aims to develop socially inclusive cultural tourism offer and incorporate new sites into the cultural tourism circuit.
Watch the video: