The Managing Authority of the Interreg IPA South Adriatic Programme has published a ranking list that includes 43 new projects approved for funding, out of a total of 198 proposals submitted under the Call for Proposals for Standard Projects.
The list of approved standard projects can be downloaded here.
These projects, with a total value of €41 million, will strengthen cooperation between the two shores of the Adriatic Sea, connecting the Italian regions of Apulia and Molise, Albania and Montenegro. The approved projects, involving 223 beneficiaries from the programme area, will focus on key areas such as climate change adaptation, circular economy, natural resource management, sustainable economic growth, innovation and skills development.
Of the 43 approved projects, 10 fall under the SMART priority axis, aimed at improving conditions for the growth and competitiveness of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). These projects primarily address topics such as sustainable blue economy, energy transition, SME development and digitalization.
The largest number of projects, 16 in total, have been approved in the GREEN priority axis, focusing on climate change adaptation and risk prevention, biodiversity, pollution reduction and energy efficiency. Key issues tackled by these projects include disaster management, the use of artificial intelligence for environmental monitoring, marine pollution mitigation and wildfire prevention.
In the CONNECTED priority area, 6 projects have been approved, with the goal of developing sustainable, resilient and intermodal mobility and improving access to the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T).
Finally, 11 projects have been funded under the SOCIAL priority: some aim to enhance cross-border skills and training, while others focus on inclusive tourism, strengthening the role of culture and tourism in economic development and social innovation.
The approval of these projects is the result of the collaborative work of the Monitoring Committee, the program’s decision-making body, co-chaired by the Managing Authority and representatives of the three participating countries – Italy, Albania and Montenegro, as well as the European Commission.
“Puglia Region plays a leading role in this call,” said Alessandro Delli Noci, Regional Minister for Economic Development. “More than 65 beneficiaries from Puglia are involved in the funding, with 30 of them acting as lead partners, for a total investment of approximately €20 million in the Apulian territory. Apulia is increasingly investing in its international growth path, supporting the EU accession process of Albania and Montenegro, with whom we continuously work to build cohesion policies that address the real needs of citizens, young people and businesses.”
“We focused on quality”, emphasized Claudio Polignano, Head of the Managing Authority of the Programme, “both in the eligibility verification and in the qualitative evaluation of project proposals, carried out through a thorough cross-checking process by the Joint Secretariat of the programme. The qualitative analysis, in particular, paid great attention to the innovativeness of the proposals, their feasibility, territorial impact, partnership solidity and long-term sustainability.”
“Albania’s next step toward strengthening regional cooperation and aligning with EU standards is embodied in the implementation of the new projects under the IPA South Adriatic Programme, said Eridana Çano, Head of the State Agency for Strategic Programing and Aid Coordination (SASPAC). “The investment of 13 million euros is not merely a sign of the European Union’s support for our country but a testament to its ongoing commitment to guiding Albania’s reforms and enhancing the quality of life for all Albanian citizens.”
“We are proud to see 49 Montenegrin beneficiaries participating in innovative cross-border projects that will contribute to a smarter, greener, better connected and more social South Adriatic region”, said Miloš Marković, Director-General of the Directorate for European Territorial Cooperation at the Ministry of European Affairs of Montenegro. “Institutions and organizations from Montenegro will benefit from over €13 million, driving positive impact across our entire country in joint efforts with partners from Italy and Albania. We wish all the partners success in project implementation and look forward to tangible improvements in the quality of life for our citizens.”
To promote a spirit of collaboration and shared ambition, the official hashtag #inspiredbythesea has been launched, symbolizing the collective commitment to the development of the South Adriatic region. The hashtag will accompany the implementation of all approved projects, serving as a recognizable brand for the program’s project community.
The lead partners of the projects approved under conditions will be notified shortly from the Managing Authority. The notification letter will provide details on the detailed instructions for the negotiation phase.