Financial Instruments for Funding the Cross Border Western Balkan Regions in the Period 2007?2013

Abstract

Summary:

The paper presents an analysis of the possibilities for funding projects in the cross border Western Balkan region offered by two EU-funded cross-border programs and the SIGMA program. There are several financial instruments for EU assistance to the Western Balkans. The paper is focused on the possibilities for financing offered by the European Regional Development Fund, especially through the cross-border cooperation mechanism. Analytical description is given of the strategic objectives and scope of the basic programming documents for funding the cross-border western Balkan region in the period 2007 – 2013, their objectives, priority axes and intervention areas, as well as the amount of the European and national financing for their implementation. The paper also outlines the importance of the Sigma EU/OECD framework, its role, priority activity areas, working partners, regional networks, working methods and delivery mechanisms.