Greece-Bulgaria Interreg programme launches 24 projects worth €67.6 million
The Greece-Bulgaria Interreg VI-A 2021–2027 cross-border cooperation programme is moving into its implementation phase, with 24 projects carrying a combined budget of €67.6 million, including initiatives covering Rhodope, Xanthi and Evros in northeastern Greece.
Greece’s Deputy Minister of National Economy and Finance, Nikos Papathanasis, has signed funding agreements for 21 new projects worth €33.4 million. Together with three strategic projects approved previously, the new agreements bring the programme’s activated budget to 86% of its available funding, according to a report by Paratiritis News.
The projects aim to strengthen cooperation between northern Greece and southern Bulgaria, focusing on environmental protection, green development, education, social inclusion, cultural heritage and sustainable tourism.
THRACE INCLUDED IN THE CROSS-BORDER PROGRAMME
The programme covers several regional units in Greece’s Eastern Macedonia and Thrace region, including Drama, Kavala, Thasos, Xanthi, Rhodope and Evros. Thessaloniki and Serres are also included on the Greek side.
In Bulgaria, the eligible areas are Blagoevgrad, Smolyan, Kardzhali and Haskovo.
A total of 87 organisations are participating in the projects, comprising 48 from Greece and 39 from Bulgaria. Their cooperation is intended to facilitate the exchange of expertise, develop joint initiatives and address challenges affecting communities on both sides of the border.
The inclusion of Rhodope, Xanthi and Evros creates opportunities for local organisations to benefit from European funding for regional development. However, the ministry’s announcement does not specify which individual projects will be implemented in each regional unit or how much funding each area will receive.
FOUR PRIORITY AREAS FOR FUNDING
The 21 newly approved projects are divided into four main areas:
Green transition and circular economy: Six projects with a combined budget of €9.7 million will promote sustainable resource management and more efficient use of natural resources.
Environmental protection and biodiversity: Six projects worth €9.7 million will support nature conservation, biodiversity, green infrastructure and pollution reduction.
Education and social inclusion: Three projects totalling €4.2 million will seek to improve equal access to quality education and lifelong learning, including through accessible facilities and online and distance-learning opportunities.
Cultural heritage and sustainable tourism: Six projects with a budget of €9.6 million will use the cross-border region’s cultural and tourism assets to support local economic development, social inclusion and innovation.
Together, the four categories account for the full €33.2 million in funding indicated by the individual allocations, slightly below the reported overall budget of €33.4 million for the 21 new projects.
86% OF AVAILABLE FUNDING ACTIVATED
The signing of the funding agreements marks the completion of the programme’s first call for proposals and the beginning of a new implementation phase.
With 24 projects now activated and €67.6 million allocated, the programme has mobilised 86% of its available resources, according to Greece’s Ministry of National Economy and Finance.
Interreg is part of the European Union’s Cohesion Policy and supports cooperation between neighbouring countries to address shared challenges and promote regional development.
For communities across Thrace and southern Bulgaria, the programme offers a framework for cross-border initiatives in environmental sustainability, education, cultural heritage and tourism. The specific local impact will depend on the projects selected for implementation in each area.
