Of all EU macro-regional strategies, EUSAIR is the only one that includes more non-EU countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Northern Macedonia, San Marino and Serbia) than EU member states (Croatia, Greece, Italy, Slovenia). Since the implementation of the strategy can only be successful if it is based on a desire for joint strategic planning, a willingness to pool resources, share knowledge and experiences, with the necessary administrative capacity and supporting instruments, IPA – Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance as a legal framework and financial assistance that celebrates this year 15 years of existing, was, with the reason, in the focus of the event “Exploring synergies between Interreg IPA and IPA-IPA programmes“ organised by Interact, DG REGIO, DG NEAR and CBIB+3 project at the last day of the 7th EUSAIR Forum.
The event brought together representatives from both Interreg IPA CBC programmes and IPA-IPA programmes supported by the IPA III financing instrument (2021-2027) in order to raise awareness about the Interreg IPA and IPA-IPA programmes and to offer room for open discussion on the possibility of engaging Interreg IPA and IPA-IPA programmes in an exercise to identify areas of interest for synergies.
From January 2007 onwards, IPA has replaced a series of European Union programmes and financial instruments for candidate countries or potential candidate countries, namely PHARE, PHARE CBC, ISPA, SAPARD, CARDS and the financial instrument for Turkey and has become a new and valuable instrument for socio-economic growth and improving quality of live by bringing positive impact on people, society, nations and regions. The IPA, as well, has enhanced the accession process in the Western Balkan by making it more effective and credible.
Ms Irena Bošković, Head of the Operating Structure for cross-border cooperation programmes Ministry of European Affairs of Montenegro highlighted and hit the essence of the topic in her speech with “Synergy is better than my way or your way, it is our way”.
On inter-programme synergy and capitalisation of the results, among programmes under the same policy/funding instrument and Cross-programmes synergy and capitalisation, with programmes from other policy/funding instrument the presentation titled “Strategies for synergies: an Interreg example” held Mr Ivano Magazzu from Interact programme.
Croatia, as the country that last joined the European Union in 2013, has an unique, extensive and valuable experience of participating in both IPA and INTERREG programmes, as non-EU as well as EU member and is ready to share it – stated at the meeting Ms Stella Arneri, Director-General – Ministry of Regional Development and EU funds of Croatia.
The success of the meeting was contributed by great participants from European and national institutions, next to those already mentioned: Mr Jean-Pierre Halkin – Macro-regions, Transnational, Interregional, External Cooperation, Enlargement, DG REGIO, Mr Gilles Kittel – Team Leader – EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region, IPA and enlargement negotiations, DG REGIO, Mr Mauro di Veroli – IPA planning, reporting and coordination for Western Balkans, DG NEAR, Mr Elbert Krasniqi – Minister of Local Government Administration of Kosovo*, Mr Massimo Gerli – EU funds National Coordinator, Presidency of the Council of Ministers – Department for Cohesion Policy of Italy, Mr Andi Seferi – Deputy Mayor, Municipality of Tirana, Mr Robert Lichtner – Danube Strategy Point (DSP) Coordinator, and Mr Mauro Novello – Head of JS, Interreg IPA CBC Italy-Albania-Montenegro programme.
The meeting was held in hybrid format and moderated in situ by Ms Besiana Ninka and online by Ms Ilze Ciganska from Interact programme.