Cross-border programme Albania - Kosovo, Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA II)

Cross-border programme Albania - Kosovo, Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA II), 4rd call for proposal

The EU Delegation has launched the 4th Call for Project Proposals under IPA II CBC Albania-Kosovo Programme on 20 February 2023. The Call will be open until 22 May 2023.

The Call has a total budget of EUR € 2,280,000 (EU contribution) divided into two Lots:

• LOT 1 – Protection and preservation and valorisation of environmental resources in the Programme area – 1,200,000 EUR;
• LOT 2 – Tourism, cultural, and natural heritage is valorised as a way to promote the economic development of the area – 1,080,000EUR.

The total number of partners must not exceed 4, and it must include at least one public body (national, regional, local) per country (i.e. one from Albania and one from Kosovo). Additionally, whenever the lead applicant or the co-applicant is not effectively established in the eligible area or does not have an office in the eligible area, they must ensure that in the partnership, there is at least one legal entity effectively established in the eligible area of both participating countries.

IMPORTANT:

Applications must be submitted online via PROSPECT:
https://wikis.ec.europa.eu/display/ExactExternalWiki/e-Calls+PROSPECT following the instructions given in the PROSPECT user manual.

Info session dates will be released soon.

The application package and other information are available in the following link:
https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/europeaid/online-services/index.cfm?ADSSChck=1676912647481&do=publi.detPUB&searchtype=QS&orderby=upd&orderbyad=Desc&nbPubliList=15&page=1&aoref=176799

For more information, contact: Joint Technical Secretariat of the Programme:
Jona.Leqejza@saspac.gov.al; Mira.Topciu@saspac.gov.al; Dritan.Shala@rks-gov.net and/or Delegation-Albania-Tenders@eeas.europa.eu

ABOUT IPA II

IPA II CROSS BORDER COOPERATION PROGRAMME ALBANIA-KOSOVO 2014-2020

IPA Cross Border Cooperation (CBC) Programme Albania-Kosovo 2014-2020 is implemented through direct management by the Delegation of the European Union to Albania as the Contracting Authority for this programme.

The CBC bodies coordinating the programming and implementation process on the respective sides of the border are the State Agency for Strategic Programming and Aid Coordination, Albania and the Ministry of Administration of Local Government, Department for Inter-Municipal and Cross-Border Cooperation, Kosovo

The Joint Technical Secretariat is located in Lezhe, Albania, and the Antenna office is located in Pristina, Kosovo.

The implementation of the new programme financed from IPA 2014-2020 funds started on the 1st of March 2016. IPA 2014-2020 programme was prepared by participating countries during the second half of 2013 and first half of 2014 and was adopted by European Commission for funding on 11 December 2014.

ABOUT THE PROGRAMME

The eligible area for the 2014-2020 IPA Cross-Border Programme between Albania and Kosovo covers a territory of 8,335 km2. The length of the border is 114 km. The eligible areas in Albania represent 48% of the programme area covering 2 regions composed of 8 municipalities with a total of 362 settlements. The 2 regions from Albania include the Region of Kukës and the Region of Lezha. The eligible area in Kosovo covers 52% of the programme area and includes the South Economic Region composed of 6 municipalities, and the West Economic Region composed of 6 municipalities.
The programme eligible area has a total population of 936,761 inhabitants, out of which 76% live in the Kosovo territory and 24% in Albania. In the whole programme area, the population is predominantly rural. In the regions of Kosovo, 65.9% of the population is rural, whereas in Albania rural population reaches 53.8%.

The 2014-2020 CBC Programme Albania – Kosovo has a total EU financial allocation of € 8.4 million for the entire programming period. The Programme aims at providing assistance for cross-border cooperation in the following Thematic Priorities (TP):

• TP1: Protecting the environment, promoting climate change adaptation and mitigation, risk prevention and management;
• TP2: Encouraging tourism and promoting natural and cultural heritage;
• TP3: Investing in youth, education and skills;
• TP4: Technical Assistance.

The Technical Assistance under the Programme Albania-Kosovo is 100% financed by the European Commission and implemented by the State Agency for Strategic Programming and Aid Coordination, in Albania in partnership with the Ministry of Local Government, in Kosovo.