This awareness seminar on the IPA cross-border programmes was organized in hotel ‘Epinal’ in Bitola on October 25^th 2007. The seminar was organized in close cooperation of the Ministry of Local Self Government of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, the Municipality of Bitola and the Region of Pelagonija, the latter two being the host institutions.

Representatives of about 150 different institutions (Municipalities, NGOs, Chambers of Commerce, education institutions, etc.) from the eligible reagion were invited and 69 persons participated. The event was well covered by the local and national media (TV, newspapers and radio).

Objective:

The objective of this awareness meeting was to familiarize the potential applicants in the Bitola region with the cross-border programme between the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Albania and with the main characteristics of a cross-border project.

More specifically, the objective of the awareness seminar was to help potential applicants to start thinking about projects ideas, preparation of projects and search of relevant partners.

The meeting was officially opened by the Mayor of the Municipality of Bitola and President of Pelagonija Region, Mr. Vladimir Taleski, Mr. Gajo Ramadani, the First Secretary of the Cabinet of the Minister of Local Self-Government, and Remy Reymann from CBIB Skopje.

After the official opening five presentations were delivered:

• Introduction to IPA and IPA Component II, presented by Martina Antik from the Ministry of Local Self Government;
• The cross-border programme between the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Albania (eligible area, priorities, measures and potential operations, beneficiaries;
• Indicative financial allocations) presented by Vladimir Poposki from the Ministry of Local Self Government;
• Brief presentation of the cross-border programme between the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Greece, by Jasminka Taseva-Jankovic, CBIB;
• What is a cross-border project (type of projects, type of partners, budget and eligible costs, call for proposal) presented by Remy Reymann from CBIB;
• Best practices in cross-border cooperation and CBIB next activities, presented by Jasminka Taseva Jankovic from CBIB.

The presentations were followed by questions and answers.   

Conclusions and Lessons Learned:

The organizers consider this event a full success (number of participants, quality of the questions…)

Lessons learned:

• The audience and the great interest of the participants show that IPA CBC raises a lot of expectations in the region. Information is a high demand and it is certainly not too early to organize such events;
• The presence of a procurement expert from the EAR or the EC delegation in awareness meetings would be highly appreciated (many technical issues raised).