Information Day for applicants under the Open Call for Project Proposals for SME's Held in Shtip

On June 25, 2025, an Information Day  for applicants  was held in Shtip  under the Open Call for Project Proposals for SME's under Priority 3 - Integrated Development of the Border Region under the Interreg VI-A IPA Bulgaria – North Macedonia Programme.

The event gathered over 80 representatives of companies from the Northeast, East and Southeast Planning Regions of North Macedonia, who had the opportunity to learn more about the details of the call and the application process.

The participants were welcomed by the Mayor of the Municipality of Shtip, Mr. Ivan Jordanov, as well as representatives of the Ministry of Local Self-Government of the Republic of North Macedonia and the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works of the Republic of Bulgaria, who emphasized the importance of cross-border cooperation and support for the development of SMEs in the border regions.

Representatives of the Managing Authority, National Authority, and the Joint Secretariat presented the following:

• Overview of the Call for Project Proposals

• Eligibility of applicants, activities, and costs; indicative budget

• Methodology for project evaluation

• Practical guidelines for application and electronic submission of documents

All questions raised by participants were addressed in detail, helping clarify key aspects of the application procedure.

Special focus was placed on the opportunity for finding cross-border project partners, through a dedicated online partner search tool, which was presented during the session.

Participants were also informed about the upcoming networking opportunities, in particular the Information Day and Partner Search Forum to be held on 3 July 2025, in Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria, starting at 13:00 in the "22 September" Hall.

The event was a valuable step toward bringing the programme closer to the business community and encouraging joint cross-border initiatives.

You can find the presentations from the Information Day HERE