The cross-border cooperation programme Serbia – Montenegro 2021-2027 is the third generation of the cross-border cooperation programmes between the two countries and is supported by the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance of the European Union. It has incorporated the lessons learnt under the implementation of the 2014-2020 cross-border cooperation programme with the same participating countries to further strengthen and extend the scope of cooperation between beneficiaries.
The programme overall objective/impact is to promote good neighbourly relations, foster Union integration and strengthen the social, economic and territorial development of the programme cross-border area by improving health and social care services and developing sustainable tourism.
Considering the identified needs and challenges of the programme area, the lessons learned from the previous period as well as the available financial envelope, the programme shall address two thematic priorities:
1) TP1: Employment, labour mobility and social and cultural inclusion across borders
An intensive process of structural transformation of the social and demographic structure of the programme area is ongoing. The younger population and the young families are moving toward the urban poles (both inside countries and abroad). The population is ageing and thus the decline of the number of active persons in the rural and remote areas is changing the needs and the socio-economic potential of these areas. This thematic priority is highly relevant since it combines important conditions for the improvement of the quality of life of people in the programme area by provision of upgraded health and social services in accordance with an inclusive society. Cross-border activity in these fields has been increasing in the last years and with this programme such a trend is expected to accelerate.
2) TP5: Encouraging tourism and cultural and natural heritage
The programme area, as one of the most culturally diverse, and its exceptional nature values provide good potential for the development of sustainable tourism. Activation of the natural, cultural and human potentials of the programme area for sustainable, green and inclusive tourism was recognised as one of the key areas of cooperation where significant improvements and increase in the gross value added are meant to be made in the long-term perspective, and where a variety of different stakeholders and community lead organisations are actively called to participate.
Operational Programme 2021-2027
Legal Framework
Framework Agreements were signed between the European Commission and the beneficiary countries of IPA II funds with aim to set and agree the rules (standards, policies and practices) for co-operation concerning EC financial assistance to the beneficiary country. Therefore, beneficiary countries are obligated to confirm Framework Agreements with legal set of the rules.
A set of laws refers to Framework Agreements can be found here:
FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA AND THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION (IPA II)
FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT BETWEEN MONTENEGRO AND THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION (IPAII)
