On 21 July 2026, a training was held via the WEBEX platform for the beneficiaries of the Interreg VI-A IPA Bulgaria – North Macedonia Programme, intended for the beneficiaries of the 11 projects approved under the Call for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, for which grant contracts were signed at the end of June and the beginning of July this year.
A total of 22 companies from Bulgaria and the Republic of North Macedonia will receive EUR 5.8 M from the Interreg cooperation programme between the two countries. The allocation will back 11 joint projects of small and medium-sized businesses from Blagoevgrad, Petrich, Sandanski, Gotse Delchev, Kolarovo and Logodazh and their partners from Kochani, Strumica, Valandovo, Vinica, Kumanovo and Shtip. The investments are in the food industry, furniture production, packaging, metal and plastic products, tourism, wine production and energy.
The Ministry of Local Self-Government, acting as the National Authority of the Programme, continued the series of regional consultations as part of the preparation of the new programmes for the 2028–2034 programming period.
The Joint Secretariat is pleased to present the Beneficiary Navigator, an interactive online guide developed to facilitate the use of the Project Implementation Manual (PIM) under Priority 1 “Greener Border Region” and Priority 3 “Integrated Development of the Cross-Border Region” of the Interreg VI-A IPA Bulgaria–North Macedonia Programme 2021–2027.
The Ministry of Local Self-Government, in its role as the National Authority, is launching the process of regional consultations with stakeholders for the preparation of the new programming documents for the period 2028-2034.
How can the Territorial Strategy become an even more effective tool for the development of the cross-border region? How can the real progress of supported initiatives be measured, and how can the experience gained be used in preparing the next programming period? Most importantly, what have we achieved so far and what comes after 2027?
A new rope park and eco-trail are now welcoming visitors to Hisarlaka Forest Park near Kyustendil. The attraction was officially opened at the beginning of June and is part of a project aimed at developing sustainable tourism in the cross-border region between Bulgaria and North Macedonia.
Once again, cross-border relations show real results. Good symbiosis between two countries invariably leads to positive results from which citizens can draw inspiration, security and peace of mind. With each implemented project, in addition to the implementation of the set goals, sustainable convergence between the regions is sought, which will be preserved over time.
Over half a million euros is the planned budget for improvements in Kumanovo and Kyustendil — an investment that places people at the heart of change. The true value of this project lies not only in the new facilities and upgrades, but in the opportunities it creates for the residents of these two wonderful cities and in the improvement of their quality of life.
The joint celebration of Interreg cooperation day 2025 of Bulgaria-North Macedonia Programme and Bulgaria–Serbia Programme brought together 2600 participants, making it the biggest event of the campaign. It was part of the international festival "Acting Europe, Theatre without Borders" in Kyustendil, Bulgaria.