With Decision № C (2015) 5280 of 22 July 2015 the European Commission approved the CBC programme "INTERREG IPA CBC Bulgaria-Turkey".

The programme is one of the five programmes of the European Union for cross-border cooperation, in which Bulgaria participates for the period 2014-2020.

The territorial scope of the programme includes regions at NUTS III level or equivalent, located at the border between the two partner states, namely: Burgas, Yambol and Haskovo on the territory of Bulgaria and the provinces of Edirne and Kırklareli on the territory of Turkey.

The total amount of funds under the programme amounts to € 29,642,896, of which € 25,196,460 are from IPA and € 4,446,436 - national public co-financing provided by the two partner states.

The programme will operate through three Priority axes and the allocation of funds is as follows:

• Priority 1 "Environment" - 45%;
• Priority 2 "Sustainable tourism" - 45%;
• Priority 3 "Technical Assistance" - 10%.

It is expected that the first Call for project proposals to be opened in September 2015.

Beneficiaries under the Programme may be legal persons registered in the eligible area, as are organizations that do not generate profits (including local / regional / national authorities or subordinate structures, national and regional agencies, administrations of natural parks, community centers, non-governmental or non-profit organizations, educational institutions such as universities, schools, colleges and libraries; Euro regions and others or associations of two or more of the above listed).

Managing authority is the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works of Bulgaria and the Ministry for European Union Affairs of Turkey performs the functions of National authority.

The main office of the Joint Secretariat will remain in the city of Haskovo, Bulgaria and on the territory of Turkey a branch office will operate in Edirne.

With the approval of the new programme opportunity is given for creation of joint initiatives in order to have timely and successful achievement of the programme's objectives and expected results.