Preparations for the 2028–2034 period of Interreg IPA Bulgaria–Türkiye Programme Begun

Preparations have begun for the 2028–2034 period of the Interreg IPA Bulgaria–Türkiye Programme, for which Türkiye acts as the National Authority since 2003. The Task Force Group, established to define the priorities and working arrangements for the new programming period, held its first meeting in Burgas, Bulgaria.

The meeting focused on the priorities of the new programme planned for the 2028–2034 period and on how it can respond to the needs of the cross-border region. Drawing on experience from previous programming periods and taking into account new European Union policies, the meeting aimed to establish a common understanding and working framework for the programming process.

The meeting opened with remarks by Desislava Georgieva, Head of the Bulgarian Managing Authority and Deputy Minister; Serdar ÖZTÜRK, Deputy Director General for Financial Cooperation and Project Implementation with the European Union at the Directorate for EU Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye; and Margarita GRANCHARSKA-DE-MUYNCK, representative of the European Commission’s DG REGIO.

Following the opening remarks, the rules governing the responsibilities, working methods and decision-making procedures of the Task Force Group were discussed and adopted.

The meeting then focused on the experience gained from the implementation of 2021–2027 programming period.Lessons learned from the implementation of the current and previous programming periods are expected to provide valuable guidance for the preparation of the next programming periods.

One of the key topics of the meeting was the current needs of the Bulgaria–Türkiye cross-border region. Based on the Territorial Analysis prepared for the region, participants assessed the main challenges facing the border area, the areas requiring further development and the expectations of institutions operating in the region. The results of previous consultations with stakeholders and institutions were also shared with the members of the Task Force Group. In this way, the new programme is intended to be designed not only through desk-based planning, but also by taking into account the actual needs of the cross-border region.

The meeting also provided information on the European Union’s new approach to programmes for the 2028–2034 period. In the new programming period, a more performance-based approach is planned, placing greater emphasis on the tangible results and impact of implemented activities rather than primarily on how and to what extent financial resources are spent.

In the coming period, the Task Force Group is expected to continue its work, with further meetings contributing to the development of the priorities and overall structure of the Interreg IPA Bulgaria–Türkiye Programme for 2028–2034. The decisions emerging from these meetings will help determine the areas in which Bulgaria and Türkiye can cooperate across their border regions in the years ahead and the needs towards which European Union funding may be directed.