Balkans meet Barents in Kirkenes

A group of Bulgarian government representatives has visited the Barents Secretariat as part of a Norway Grants study visit on CBC experience exchange.

Published on 03.06.2014

The group included representatives of the Bulgarian Council of Minister and the Ministry of Regional Development. The visit is part of the Norway Grants Programme on Capacity Building and Institutional Cooperation (BG11), an initiative which includes a high focus on cross-border cooperation.

Included in the group were also representatives of the Joint Technical Secretariats on the EU-fundeded CBC IPA programmes between Bulgaria and the neighboring countries of Turkey, Serbia and Macedonia. The JTSs are part of the Ministry of Regional Development and serve as instruments for local programme implementation. They are situated in border towns located near the borders of the respective neighboring country.

“We are happy to be able to exchange experiences on programme management and practical aspects of cross-border cooperation”, Barents Secretariat Deputy Head Laila Dalhaug says. “Both the Barents Region and the Balkans are key regions when it comes to borders and cross-border cooperation”, she adds.