On Thursday, the 13 June 2019, the Joint Monitoring Committee of the Interreg-IPA Cross-Border Cooperation Romania-Serbia Programme approved the Annual Report of Implementation for 2018.
The main results obtained in 2018 are related to the progress made within the Interreg-IPA CBC Romania-Serbia Program in the implementation of 34 projects, the finalisation of 11 projects and the achievement of the following results:
- over 14,000 citizens involved in cultural, social or health care activities;
- over 21,000 people benefiting from flood protection measures funded by the program;
- 35 cross-border structures / initiatives to promote tourism;
- 1000 people who have received training, etc.
Among other things, the cross-border program invests in two strategic projects:
- in the field of transport, where the main objective being to repair the navigation infrastructure on the Bega Canal;
- in the field of health, where there is a joint initiative of the two countries, to fight cancer, in order to improve the diagnosis and treatment of malignant tumours.
The total budget of the programme is 88,124,999 euros, of which 74,906,248 euros represents the European Union funding. For the 2014-2020 programming period, projects are funded under 4 priority axes in the following areas:
- employment promotion and basic services strengthening for an inclusive growth,
- environmental protection and risk management,
- sustainable mobility and accessibility,
- attractiveness for sustainable tourism.
The eligible area of the Programme consists of the counties Timiş, Caras-Severin and Mehedinti (from Romania) and the districts South Banat, Central Banat, South Banat, Braničevski, Borski, Podunavski (Republic of Serbia).
Following the first call, 34 projects (32 normal projects and 2 strategic projects) were contracted, amounting to approximately 46.8 million euros. Under the second Call for Proposals, 33 projects amounting to a total of approximately 20 million euros were approved and proposed for financing by the Joint Monitoring Committee members of the Programme.
All those interested in the cross-border cooperation funded by the European Union under the Interreg-IPA Cross-border Cooperation Romania-Serbia Programme can get more information by visiting www.romania-serbia.net
Romania fulfils the role of Managing Authority through the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Administration, the National Authority being established within the Ministry of European Integration within the Government of the Republic of Serbia who coordinates the Joint Secretariat Antenna activity, based in Zrenjanin.
The Joint Secretariat is organized within the Regional Office for Cross-Border Cooperation Timisoara. The audit at the level of the Programme is carried out by the Audit Authority attached to the Court of Accounts in Romania, and the certification tasks are performed by the Managing Authority.