Jems
This year’s Europe Day on 9 May also marks the 35 years of Interreg, Europe’s flagship programme for territorial cooperation. It is a programme aimed at improving the quality of life of citizens in the border regions of the Member States of the European Union, as well as those who have not yet become part of it.
Interreg is a key initiative of the European Union that connects countries, regions and communities through a series of funding programmes promoting cross-border, transnational, interregional and outermost regions cooperation. Thanks to the Interreg projects in the areas of entrepreneurship, rural development, health, social tourism and the environment, the quality of life of many inhabitants of border areas has seen remarkable improvement. Also, friendly cooperation between numerous institutions from different countries has been established. Therefore, Interreg raises awareness of the importance of cooperation between the EU Member States and aspiring countries.
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-BH-Montenegro, have been established and are managed by Croatia. Recently, Croatia has also taken on the management of the Hungary-Croatia programme.
In the framework of the Interreg IPA Cross-border Cooperation Programme Croatia – Bosnia and Herzegovina – Montenegro 2014 – 2020, 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 from the border areas of Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro. Interreg VI-A IPA programme Croatia – Bosnia and Herzegovina – Montenegro has four priority axes: Smart investments in research, innovation and competitive entrepreneurship; Green investments in environmental protection and efficient risk management; Accessible and resilient health services and Sustainable and inclusive tourism and culture. Following the first call for proposal, 34 projects are in implementation.
With the support of Interreg programmes, residents across the cross-border programme area achieve better mutual understanding and improve their quality of life, being not divided but connected by the state borders.