EU Funding Amounting to Over 13 Billion HUF for Hungary-Serbia Cross-border Cooperation26 October 2009
The Hungary-Serbia IPA Cross-border Cooperation Programme helps strengthen cross-border contacts between Hungary and Serbia during the 2007-2013 period. The Programme allocated an IPA funding framework amounting to 13.2 billion HUF operates as a so-called Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance up to 2013. The conference presenting this programme was held in Szeged on 26 October.
The long-term comprehensive objectives of the Hungary-Serbia IPA Cross-border Cooperation Programme relate to facilitating the creation of a balanced and cooperating region with a sustainable and safe environment, in which area cross-border regions jointly foster cultural and natural heritage, cooperation efforts geared towards business, education, research and cultural cooperation strengthen and employment rates increase.
In order to reach this goal, applicants are invited to apply for the implementation of joint cross-border developments that contribute to reducing the isolation of peripheral regions by improving access to border regions and strengthen environmental stability and safety. Projects that facilitate economic cooperation, the fostering of common cultural heritage, cultural values and traditions, i.e., contribute to developing tourism and facilitating the formation of intense cultural, educational and research contacts are eligible for support.
Areas eligible for support in Hungary: Csongrád County and Bács-Kiskun County; districts in Vojvodina eligible for support in Serbia: West Bačka, North Bačka, North Banat, South Bačka and Central Banat.
Maximum 85% community funding complemented by national contributions (own funds provided by applicants, as a mandatory requirement, complemented by state co-funding) finances this Programme.
The Programme is implemented in a standard structure, regardless of the regional distribution of the area determined by state borders, through joint projects and by applying a joint decision-making process.
Public institutions, institutions under national jurisdiction and institutions set up under the scope of civil law (operating as non-profit-oriented organisations on both sides of the border in areas eligible for support) are eligible to apply for funding. Potential applicants extend to include, for example, municipal and county local governments, state and local government-financed institutions, non-profit organisations, micro-regional associations, development agencies, environmental protection and water directorates, national parks, universities, chambers, tourism organisations, employment centres, etc.
Partners from both sides of the border must be integrated in specific projects to be able to ensure a direct cross-border impact; developments must use, or be implemented with the help of funding made available on both sides of the border; project results must have a justifiable and perceivable impact on both the Hungarian and the Serbian side of the border. Applications may be submitted up to 31 December.