2nd Call for Proposals of the Interreg IPA Cross-border Cooperation Programme Croatia-Bosnia and Herzegovina-Montenegro

Deadline: Dec 20, 2018  
CALL EXPIRED

1. GENERAL INFORMATION

The Guidelines for Applicants (hereinafter GfA) for the 2ndCall for Proposals (hereinafter CfP) within the Interreg IPA Cross-border Cooperation Programme Croatia-Bosnia and Herzegovina-Montenegro 2014- 2020 aim to provide practical information to the applicants for the successful submission of the applications.

This document presents general information on the Programme (including overview of the Programme: eligible cross-border area, priority axes and specific objectives, Programme indicators, Programme management structure, financial allocation for the CfP, etc.), the application procedure, the assessment and selection criteria, the decision procedure and other practical information.

The Application Package for the 2nd CfP consists of:

Guidelines for Applicants and annexes

1. Template of the Lead Partner Statement;

2. Template of the Project Partner Statement;

3. State-Aid Self-Assessment Questionnaire;

4. Template of the Partnership Pre-Agreement;

5. Model of Subsidy Contract;

6. Model of Partnership Agreement;

7. Achievement of the Programme output indicators.

The Application Package is available on the Programme web site: www.interreg-hr-ba-me2014-2020.eu. 1.1. Overview of the Programme

The Interreg IPA Cross-border Cooperation Programme Croatia-Bosnia and Herzegovina-Montenegro 2014-2020 (hereinafter the Programme) has been prepared in line with the above listed legislation. The Programme is the result of a co-operative effort coordinated by the Managing Authority together with the Croatian, Bosnian and Herzegovinian and Montenegrin national, regional, local authorities and other relevant bodies that were involved in preparation of the Programme. The European Commission has approved the Programme on 24 November 2015. The modified version of the Cooperation Programme

Detailed information can be found in Cooperation Programme and corresponding annexes, which are available on the Programme web site: www.interreg-hr-ba-me2014-2020.eu.

1.1.1. Programme strategy

The overall aim of this Programme is to strengthen the social, economic and territorial development of the Programme area through the implementation of joint interventions in the areas of health and social care, environment protection and sustainable energy, development of sustainable tourism as well as sustainable use of cultural and natural heritage assets and strengthening of competitiveness and business environment.

The Programme is perceived as the instrument for the implementation of EU cohesion policy as the main investment tool for delivering Europe 2020 goals: smart, sustainable and inclusive growth that is to be achieved by concentrating on more effective investments in education, research and innovation, move towards a low-carbon economy and job creation and poverty reduction thus focusing on five ambitious goals in the areas of employment, innovation, education, poverty reduction and climate/energy.

The Programme provides the opportunity for participating countries to continue their cross-border cooperation established in the financial perspective 2007-2013.

The designed Programme strategy seeks to reduce barriers to development by promoting sustainable and integrated territorial approaches. It aims to strengthen existing or to make use of yet untapped potentials in order to support territorial integration, which shall ultimately result in creation of growth and jobs.

The Programme consists of the following four (4) priority axes3:

1. Priority axis 1 – “Improving the quality of services in public health and social care sector” - aims to improve the quality of facilities, services and skills in the areas of public health and social welfare.

2. Priority axis 2 – “Protecting the environment and nature, improving risk prevention and promoting sustainable energy and energy efficiency” - directly responds to the environment and nature protection challenges, risk prevention improvement needs in the area of disaster response capability and aims at strengthening the usage of renewable energies thus improving energy efficiency.

3. Priority axis 3 – “Contributing to the development of tourism and preserving cultural and natural heritage” - aims at further strengthening, diversification and integration of cross-border tourism potential in the Programme area as well as preservation, better management and sustainable use of cultural and natural heritage assets by addressing common challenges through cross-border cooperation.

4. Priority axis 4 – “Enhancing competitiveness and developing business environment in the Programme area” - addresses the main challenges and needs related to enhancing the competitiveness and development of business environment in the Programme area through implementing cross-border business support actions aiming at strengthening cooperation between business support institutions, education and research organisations, clusters and entrepreneurs with aim to develop new products/services/patents/trademarks in the Programme area.

The selected Priority axes reflect the needs and challenges of the Programme area. Each Priority axis consists of at least one specific objective, which represents a positive change that the Programme aims to achieve in the cross-border area.

Note: Priority axis 5 – “Technical Assistance” is not subject of open Calls for Proposals, as it provides funding exclusively for the management of the Programme.

Priority axis (PA)

Specific objective (SO)

1. Improving the quality of the services in public health and social care sector

1.1. To improve the quality of the services in public health and social care sector across the borders

2. Protecting the environment and nature, improving risk prevention and promoting sustainable energy and energy efficiency

2.1. To promote and improve environment and nature protection and management systems for risk prevention
2.2. To promote utilization of renewable energy resources and energy efficiency

3. Contributing to the development of tourism and preserving cultural and natural heritage

3.1. To strengthen and diversify the tourism offer through cross border approaches and to enable better management and sustainable use of cultural and natural heritage

4. Enhancing competitiveness and developing business environment in the Programme area

4.1. To enhance institutional infrastructure and services in order to accelerate the competitiveness and development of business environment in the programme area

In order to apply for funding under this CfP, an Application must refer only to one of the above- mentioned Priority axes and one Programme specific objective, even in case of an Application where some activities might also fall under more than one priority axis. The 2ndCfP is open to four (4) above- listed priority axes.

1.1.2. Programme area

The Programme area covers the following NUTS III regions4 in the cross border territory:

PROGRAMME AREA

CROATIA

Brod-Posavina County, Vukovar-Srijem County, Karlovac County, Sisak- Moslavina County, Lika-Senj County, Zadar County, Šibenik-Knin County, Split-Dalmatia County, Dubrovnik-Neretva County, Bjelovar-Bilogora County, Požega-Slavonia County, Zagreb County

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

Brčko District of Bosnia and Herzegovina and 109 municipalities:

Bijeljina, Teočak, Ugljevik, Lopare, Tuzla, Lukavac, Čelić, Srebrenik, Petrovo, Gračanica, Doboj Istok, Gradačac, Pelagićevo, Donji Žabar, Orašje, Domaljevac-Šamac, Šamac, Modriča, Vukosavlje, Odžak, Brod, Srebrenica, Bratunac, Milići, Han-Pijesak, Vlasenica, Kladanj, Šekovići, Kalesija, Osmaci, Zvornik, Banovići, Živinice, Sapna, Prnjavor, Srbac, Laktaši, Čelinac, Kotor Varoš, Kneževo, Dobretići, Šipovo, Jajce, Jezero, Mrkonjić Grad, Banja Luka, Gradiška, Kozarska Dubica, Prijedor, Oštra Luka, Sanski Most, Ključ, Ribnik, Glamoč, Bosansko Grahovo, Drvar, Istočni Drvar, Petrovac, Bosanski Petrovac, Bosanska Krupa, Krupa na Uni, Novi Grad, Kostajnica, Bužim, Velika Kladuša, Cazin, Bihać, Doboj, Derventa, Prozor/Rama, Konjic, Nevesinje, Gacko, Bileća, Trebinje, Ravno, Ljubinje, Berkovići, Mostar, Jablanica, Kupres, Kupres (RS), Tomislavgrad, Posušje, Široki Brijeg, Čitluk, Stolac, Neum, Čapljina, Ljubuški, Grude, Livno, Istočni Mostar, Doboj Jug, Kakanj, Maglaj, Tešanj, Usora, Zavidovići, Zenica, Žepče, Bugojno, Busovača, Donji Vakuf, Gornji Vakuf-Uskoplje, Novi Travnik, Travnik, Vitez, Teslić

MONTENEGRO

Herceg Novi, Kotor, Tivat, Budva, Bar, Ulcinj, Cetinje, Danilovgrad, Nikšić, Podgorica.

4 NUTS level III regions (or equivalent regions in the non-MS) covered by the cross-border cooperation programme. Page 9 of 56

Map 1. Geographical structure of the Programme area5

Specific territories targeted

Taking into account that common potentials and challenges have been identified throughout the whole Programme area, no specific territories will be targeted under the specific Priority Axis. Therefore, the supported projects can be implemented throughout the whole Programme area.

However, the Programme may finance activities, performed outside the programme area up to the limit of 20% of the support from the Union at Programme level. For more information, please see section 2.3.

5 Map of the Programme area is Annex 3 to Cooperation Programme. Page 10 of 56

1.2. Programme management structure

In line with relevant EU Regulations, the Programme management structure is the following:

Managing Authority (MA) – Agency for Regional Development of the Republic of Croatia, Directorate for Managing Cooperation Programmes is designated to perform the functions of the Managing Authority under the Interreg – IPA CBC Croatia-Bosnia and Herzegovina-Montenegro 2014-2020 Programme. The Managing Authority is responsible for managing the cooperation programme in accordance with the principle of sound financial management in line with EU regulations. Furthermore, the Managing Authority will perform its functions in line with relevant regulations, more specifically in line with Annex 10 of Cooperation Programme. Inter alia, the MA is responsible for launching the Call for Proposals and contracting the Operations.

National Authority (NA) – National authorities of the participating countries, Ministry of Regional Development and EU Funds of the Republic of Croatia, Directorate for European Integration of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Prime Minister's Office - European Integration Office of Montenegro are responsible for setting up and ensuring efficient functioning of the respective national control systems, as well as all other relevant responsibilities, in line with Article 74 of the CPR and Annex 13 of the Cooperation Programme.

Joint Monitoring Committee (JMC) – shall review the overall effectiveness, quality and coherence of the implementation of all actions towards meeting the objectives set out in the cross-border programme, the financing agreements and the relevant strategy papers. It may make recommendations for corrective actions whenever needed. Members of the JMC represent the participating countries on policy and administrative level and thus ensure a transparent approach in monitoring the programme implementation. In line with Article 39 (1) of IPA II Implementing Regulation, Operations under this Programme shall be selected by the JMC.

Joint Secretariat (JS) – the JS assists the MA and the JMC in carrying out their respective functions. The JS undertakes the day-to-day implementation of the programme in line with Annex 17 of the Cooperation Programme. In that respect, JS will provide support to the applicants in project development phase and beneficiaries in project implementation phase.

1.3. Financial allocation and sizes of grants

The overall budget of the Programme for period 2014-2020 is 67.241.552 EUR out of which an EU funding (Programme amount in the percentage of 85%) is 57.155.316 EUR and 10.086.236 EUR represents national funding (15%).

The 2nd Call for Proposals covers the Programme budget for the years 2017 (partially), 2018, 2019 and 2020 (partially). The total available funds within 2nd CfP for Priority axes 1, 2, 3 and 4 for these years is 25.966.626 EUR out of which 22.579.675 EUR represents the EU funding (Programme amount) and the remaining 3.386.951 EUR represents the national funding.