Brussels, 22/10/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 20 October, the European Commission adopted the transnational cooperation programme Interreg V for the Adriatic and Ionian region. The programme will have a budget of almost €100 million (€118 million with national co-financing) and seeks to strengthen environmental protection, the economy and social cohesion.
Out of the €99.4 million provided by the Union, €83.4 million will come from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and €16 million from the Pre-Accession Aid Instrument (PAI II). The programme seeks to meet the targets set out in the European Union strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian region (EUSAIR) and will cover Greece, Croatia, Italy and Slovenia, as well as accession candidate and potential candidate countries such as Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia.
EUSAIR is based on four pillars: - blue growth, promoting research and innovation in the maritime sector; developing sustainable management of fishery resources and improving maritime basin governance; the regional connection and the strengthening of the intermodal system between ports and hinterland, as well as for passengers and freight and consolidating energy-related connections; the environment, such as the strengthening of coastal environmental policies based on the modalities included in the Barcelona Convention for the Protection of the Mediterranean; - sustainable tourism, by diversifying tourist services and products based on the seasons and internal, coastal and maritime tourism demand.
The programme's launch is planned for 9-10 December in Bologna. (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)