The programme general objective is to contribute to the economic, social and territorial development of the programme area by fostering integration, joint development and use of potentials and opportunities to make the area attractive to live and work.

The specific objectives, and types of activities are defined per thematic priority as follows:

Thematic priority 1: Promoting employment, labor mobility and social and cultural inclusion across the border
Specific Objective 1: Increasing employability and employment opportunities Specific Objective 2: Strengthening social and cultural inclusion
Result 1.1.1:

NEW KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND COMPETENCES – Improved knowledge, skills and competence, and work experience of unemployed and employed persons to better adjust to the needs of the labor market and to exploit the employment potential in perspective sectors

 Result1.2.1:

BETTER SERVICES – Increased access to social and cultural services for vulnerable/excluded groups.
Indicative list of Activities
  • Training and capacity building actions to increase knowledge and skills required on the labor market (ICT, life skills, social skills, new or shortage occupations, etc.)
  • Activities aiming to increase contacts and cooperation of students, graduates and educational institutions with potential employers (e.g. internships, on the job training/placement, engagement in research and innovation within the business sector, mentoring, and similar)
  • Development of lifelong learning programmes, VET systems, new qualification programmes
  • Enhancement of facilities (works and supplies) of the relevant actors providing training, work experience, research and innovation support concerning employment and employment initiatives
  • Establishment of training centers addressing common/shared needs
  • Activities fostering CB use of infrastructure/services
  • Promotion of entrepreneurship, especially among young and rural population (e.g. green jobs using local resources and materials, organic production and processing, medicinal herbs sustainable tourism, social innovation, ICT services, RES, etc.)
  • Pilot employment initiative projects, including those supporting the development of social economy and social enterprises
  • CB employment initiatives addressing common employment potentials of rural areas (cooperatives, joint processing and marketing facilities, crafts, branding, etc.)
  • Enhancement of health care facilities, promoting access to health services in rural areas (mobile units, etc.)
  • Promotion of healthy life style and prevention activities
  • Exchange of experience and good practice, capacity building related to social innovation
  • Demonstration/pilot projects developing new programmes and services for vulnerable groups (deinstitutionalization, women empowerment, services for elderly, children and young, and other vulnerable groups at risk of social exclusion etc.)
  • Activities fostering CB use of infrastructure/services
  • Establishment of centers/facilities providing opportunities for excluded groups to work, develop talents, socialize, etc.
  • Activities, events promoting cultural and social inclusion

 

Thematic priority 2: Protecting the environment, promoting climate change adaptation and mitigation, risk prevention and management
Specific Objective 1: Improving waste management and waste water treatment Specific Objective 2: Protection of nature resources and promoting climate change adaptation and mitigation
Result 2.1.1:

IMPROVED CAPACITIES of the municipalities and public utility companies for effective and efficient waste management and wastewater treatment

 Result 2.2.1:

BETTER AWARENESS of the inhabitants and industry on the importance of preserving the environment and nature
Indicative list of Activities
  • Exchange of experience and capacity building for the (regional) public utility companies to introduce inter-municipal/regional solutions to waste management and WWT
  • Developing joint solutions for effective waste management and WWT in particular in rural areas and along the main rivers – feasibility studies, joint management,
  • Activities leading to establishment of recycling yards in the municipalities, provision of placement for recyclable waste, establishing of system for specific waste streams, removal of illegal dumps and the establishment of regular collection and transport of waste
  • Development of systems for exchange and collection of data on the quantities and composition of waste generated in the municipalities across the programme area,
  • Development of cadaster of water polluters, air polluters, soil polluters, planning and protection of agricultural land area
  • Demonstration projects of CB relevance (promotion of primary waste selection, establishment of recycling yards, establishment of cattle cemeteries, WWT in rural areas, etc.) e.g. along the rivers of  Ibar and Lim, rural areas
  • Environmental education and awareness raising for specific target groups (inhabitants, children and young, public and private sector, rural population, city etc.)
  • Strengthening capacities of NGOs and their networks
  • Joint environmental actions (e.g. rehabilitation of illegal wastes, creative/innovative recycling, nature protection actions, composting, environmental and nature protection research camps, etc.)
  • Joint media activities, policy monitoring, Informative and educational programmes in schools, Innovation in the presentation of the monitoring results on environmental quality, etc.
  Result 2.2.2:

IMPROVED NATURE PROTECTION – Increased capacities for joint management of nature protected areas

Indicative list of Activities
 
  • Developing joint management plans for nature protected areas, protection of nature resources, monitoring and exchange of monitoring data, bio-diversity and geo-diversity maps etc.
  • Introduction to NATURA 2000 standards
  • Assessment of populations for endemic and endangered species
  • Demonstration projects addressing protection of nature resources, such as biodiversity, conservation of natural habitats by invasive species, etc.
  Result 2.2.3:

BETTER EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND CLIMATE RESILIENCE – Improved level of emergency preparedness and joint risk management

Indicative list of Activities
 
  • Joint risk management activities (risk assessment, development of measures for fire prevention, flooding, pollution, management and coordination, etc.)
  • Common capacity building (training on preparedness, rescuing, awareness raising among specific target groups, prevention, etc.)
  • Demonstration projects of CB relevance (implementation of measures, purchase of equipment, establishment of joint emergency centers, etc.)

 

Thematic priority 3: Encouraging tourism and cultural and natural heritage
Specific Objective 1: Improving capacities for exploiting tourism potentials
Result 3.1.1:

Joint tourist products enhanced

 Result 3.1.2:

Complementary products and services developed
Indicative list of Activities
  • Activities related to encourage cooperation and coordination among tourist organisations and providers from both sides of border,
  • Development of joint concept, visions, and future programme development
  • Promotion of the institutional cooperation with public and nongovernmental organizations connected to tourism
  • Activities aiming at encouraging investment opportunities in tourism of the programme area
  • Integration of existing individual offers into joint ones centered around main products, e.g. hiking, biking, spa, skiing, religious tourism, art and culture routes, nature protected areas, traditional food…
  • Arrangement of light infrastructure to support development of key products (e.g. visitor centers, sign posting, minor renovation of historical/cultural sites for the tourism purpose, recreational facilities, etc.)
  • Capacity building activities for tourist providers focusing on the development, quality and integration of offers, destination development and management
  • Capacity building for the development of complementary services valorising natural and cultural, potentials (e.g. nature interpretation, guiding programmes for specific target groups, outdoor and indoor programmes) involving local population, the potential and existing businesses and organisations
  • Activities related to diversifying the offer by inclusion of other sectors (e.g. agriculture processing, organic food supply, handicrafts and other local products, culture, sustainable transport, etc.),
  • Activities encouraging supply chains and clusters
  • Development of specific offers in rural and mountainous areas, especially for involvement of women
  • Development of innovative offers and services using ICT and other available technologies (e.g. GPS routes, booking systems, etc.)
  • Development of attractions
  • Increasing capacities of specific services (e.g. mountain rescuing, guiding services,)
  • Development of innovative niche offers focusing on specific target groups (disabled, young, elderly…)
  • Development of tourist statistics, and a system of monitoring of the influence of tourism on the regional
  • Assurance of the standards of international quality in hotel industry
  • Preparation and implementation of a professional and comprehensive hospitality programme
  • Improvement of system of secondary professional schools for hotels and catering with provision of new profiles of professions in tourism
  • Promotion of activities that will lead to raising of quality of destination management