January 17 (SeeNews) - Bulgaria and Serbia plan to announce a 12 million euro ($14.7 million) call for proposals for cross-border cooperation projects by the end of the month, the regional development ministry in Sofia said on Wednesday.
The projects will be financed under the EU's Interreg-IPA Cross-border Cooperation Bulgaria-Serbia Programme, the ministry said in a statement.
Projects are expected to be approved in autumn, the statement reads.
Project proposals have to target one of the three priority axes of the programme - sustainable tourism, youth and environment.
This will be the second call under the programme. Following the first call for proposals, 39 projects worth a total of 18.5 million euro received financing.
The programme's total budget is 34.1 million euro.
The eligible area of the programme covers NUTS III regions or equivalents, situated on the border between the both partnering countries, including: Bulgarian districts Vidin, Montana, Vratsa, Sofia, Pernik and Kyustendil and Serbian districts Bor, Zajecar, Nisava, Toplica, Pirot, Jablanica and Pcinja.
($ = 0.8171 euro)