Cross-border cooperation between Slovenia and Croatia has been supported since 2003 under several EU instruments, starting with PHARE/CARDS (2003), trilateral Neighbourhood Programme (2004-2006), and Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) CBC (2007-2013). Administrative and implementing arrangements introduced in each of the programming period gradually improved conditions for cooperation, such as joint calls for proposals, joint projects, lead partner principle and contributed to eliminating some important obstacles. With the accession of Croatia to EU on 1 July 2013, the new cooperation period 2014-2020 opens new opportunities and challenges.
The cross-border cooperation aims to tackle common challenges identified jointly in the border region and to exploit the untapped growth potential in the border areas, while enhancing the cooperation process for the purpose of the overall harmonious development of the Union.
Programme Area
The Cooperation Programme INTERREG V-A Slovenia-Croatia comprises 17 NUTS 3 regions – statistical regions in Slovenia and counties in Croatia:
- Slovenia: Pomurska region, Podravska region, Savinjska region, Zasavska region, Posavska region, Jugovzhodna Slovenija region, Osrednjeslovenska region, Primorsko-notranjska region, Obalno-kraška region;
- Croatia: Primorsko-goranska County, Istarska County, City of Zagreb, Zagrebačka County, Krapinsko-zagorska County, Varaždinska County, Međimurska County and Karlovačka County.
VISION Connected in Green.
“The Cooperation Programme INTERREG V-A Slovenia-Croatia aims at promoting sustainable, safe and vibrant border area by fostering smart approaches to preservation, mobilization and management of natural and cultural resources for the benefit of the people living and working in or visiting the area.”
The vision highlights the overall direction to sustainable development. Primary focus shall be on seizing its natural and cultural values to deliver innovative, smart and effective solutions that help preserve and improve the quality of environment and its diverse identity on one hand, and activate its socio-economic potentials on the other. Ensuring safe and vibrant area is of outmost importance for the people and shall be addressed by increasing the capacities for institutional cooperation at all levels.
PROGRAMME PRIORITY AXES AND OBJECTIVES
Priority Axis 1: Integrated flood risk management in transboundary river basins
- Thematic Objective 5, Investment Priority 5b: Promoting investment to address specific risks, ensuring disaster resilience and developing disaster management systems
Specific objective: Flood risk reduction in the transboundary Dragonja, Kolpa/Kupa, Sotla/Sutla, Drava, Mura and Bregana river basins
Priority Axis 2: Preservation and sustainable use of natural and cultural resources
- Thematic Objective 6, Investment Priorities 6c: Conserving, protecting, promoting and developing natural and cultural heritage
Specific objective: Active heritage preservation through sustainable tourism
- Thematic Objective 6, Investment Priorities 6d: Protecting and restoring biodiversity and soil and promoting ecosystem services, including through Natura 2000, and green infrastructure
Specific objective: Protecting and restoring biodiversity and promoting ecosystem services
Priority Axis 3: Healthy, safe and accessible border areas
- Thematic Objective 11, Investment Priority 11: Enhancing institutional capacity of public authorities and stakeholders and efficient public administration by promoting legal and administrative cooperation and cooperation between citizens and institutions.
Specific objective: Building partnerships among public authorities and stakeholders for healthy, safe and accessible border areas
BUDGET AND FINANCING PLAN
The overall programme budget comprises 55,7 M€ (with ERDF contribution of 46,1 M€).
The Priority Axes 2 and 3 will be implemented through open calls. Under Priority Axis 1 strategic projects will be awarded by direct approval of Monitoring Committee.
The programme may co-finance projects up to a maximum rate of 85% of eligible costs.
The allocation of budget per priority axes is as follows:
| Priority axis | Thematic objective | Union support (ERDF), EUR | Percent (%) of total Union support | |
| Priority Axis 1 | Integrated flood risk management in transboundary river basins | TO 5-IP 5b
Promoting investment to address specific risks, ensuring disaster resilience and developing disaster management systems |
10,026,557 | 21,74 % |
| Priority Axis 2 | Preservation and sustainable use of natural and cultural resources | TO 6-IP 6c
Conserving, protecting, promoting and developing natural and cultural heritage TO 6-IP 6d Protecting and restoring biodiversity and soil and promoting ecosystem services, including through Natura 2000, and green infrastructure |
28,074,358 | 60,88 % |
| Priority Axis 3 | Healthy, safe and accessible border areas | TO 11-IP 11
Enhancing institutional capacity of public authorities and stakeholders and efficient public administration by promoting legal and administrative cooperation and cooperation between citizens and institutions. |
5,013,278 | 10,87 % |
| Priority Axis 4 | Technical Assistance | TA | 3,000,000 | 6,51 % |
| Total | 46,114,193 | 100 % |
