Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance Cross-border Cooperation Slovenia-Croatia Operational Programme 2007-2013 CCI number: 2007 CB 16 I PO 002 04 October 2011 TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................. 5 1 INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................... 6 1.1 Background............................................................................................................... 6 1.2 The purpose.............................................................................................................. 7 1.3 Relevant regulations and strategic documents............................................................. 7 1.4 Programming process................................................................................................ 9 2 SOCIO-ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF THE PROGRAMMING AREA.................................1 2.1 Identification of eligible areas ....................................................................................11 2.2 Geographical description of eligible areas ..................................................................12 2.2.1 Mediterranean....................................................................................................12 2.2.2 Dinaric mountains...............................................................................................14 2.2.3 Alps and Sub alpine hills .....................................................................................14 2.2.4 Pannonian basin ................................................................................................14 2.3 Demography ............................................................................................................15 2.3.1 National and ethnic minorities..............................................................................16 2.4 Economy..................................................................................................................18 2.4.1 Agriculture and rural development .......................................................................19 2.4.2 Industry .............................................................................................................20 2.4.3 Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) .......................................................20 2.4.4 Services.............................................................................................................21 2.4.5 Tourism .............................................................................................................21 2.5 Environment and nature protection ............................................................................23 2.5.1 Nature protection................................................................................................23 2.5.2 Water treatment (water supply + WWTP) .............................................................24 2.6 Energy.....................................................................................................................25 2.7 Transport .................................................................................................................25 2.7.1 Road .................................................................................................................26 2.7.2 Rail....................................................................................................................26 2.7.3 Seaports ............................................................................................................26 2.7.4 Border crossings ................................................................................................27 2.8 Human resources .....................................................................................................27 2.8.1 Labour market....................................................................................................27 2 2.8.2 Education...........................................................................................................29 2.9 Research, development and innovation......................................................................30 2.10 Culture...................................................................................................................30 2.11 Local and regional development ..............................................................................31 2.12 Information and communication technologies ...........................................................31 3 ANALYSIS OF STRENGTHS, WEAKNESSES, OPPORTUNITIES AND THREATS (SWOT).........................................................................................................................33 4 PROGRAMME STRATEGY ........................................................................................36 4.1 Strategic premises....................................................................................................36 4.2 Main principles .........................................................................................................36 4.3 Strategic objective ....................................................................................................37 5 JUSTIFICATION FOR THE SELECTED PRIORITIES....................................................38 6 DESCRIPTION OF PRIORITIES AND MEASURES ......................................................40 6.1 Economic and social development.............................................................................42 6.1.1 Tourism and rural development ...........................................................................43 6.1.2 Development of entrepreneurship........................................................................43 6.1.3 Social integration................................................................................................44 6.2 Sustainable management of natural resources ...........................................................44 6.2.1 Environmental protection ....................................................................................45 6.2.2 Preservation of protected areas...........................................................................46 6.3 Technical assistance.................................................................................................46 7 HORIZONTAL THEMES..............................................................................................48 8 BENEFICIARIES.........................................................................................................49 9 FINANCING PLAN ......................................................................................................50 10 ELIGIBLE EXPENDITURE .........................................................................................51 11 IMPLEMENTATION STRUCTURE .............................................................................53 11.1 Managerial level .....................................................................................................55 11.1.1 Joint Monitoring Committee (JMC).....................................................................55 11.1.2 Managing Authority (MA)...................................................................................56 11.1.3 National Authority (NA) .....................................................................................57 11.1.4 Certifying Authority (CA)....................................................................................57 11.1.5 Audit Authority (AA) ..........................................................................................58 11.2 Operative level .......................................................................................................59 11.2.1 Joint Technical Secretariat (JTS) and Info Point..................................................59 3 11.2.1.1 Tasks of the Joint Technical Secretariat .................................................................. 59 11.2.1.2 Tasks of the Info Point........................................................................................... 60 12 IMPLEMENTING PROVISIONS .................................................................................6 12.1 Lead beneficiary (lead partner principle)...................................................................61 12.2 Awarding of funds...................................................................................................62 12.2.1 Information and advice......................................................................................62 12.2.2 Project submission ...........................................................................................62 12.2.3 Project assessment and selection......................................................................62 12.2.4 Contracting ......................................................................................................63 12.2.5 Project implementation......................................................................................64 12.3 Financial Control.....................................................................................................64 12.4 Payments...............................................................................................................65 12.5 Irregularities and financial corrections ......................................................................67 12.6 Monitoring and evaluation .......................................................................................67