IPA III Cross Border Cooperation Programme 2021-2027 Republic of North Macedonia - Republic of Albania ADOPTED ON DD/MM/YYYY IPA-III Cross-Border Cooperation Programme 2021 – 2027 between Republic of North Macedonia and Republic of Albania TABLE OF CONTENTS Programme synopsis........................................................................................................................................3 List of acronyms.................................................................................................................................................4 Section 1: Programme summary................................................................................................................ 5 1.1 Summary of the programme............................................................................................................ 5 1.2 Preparation of the programme and involvement of the partners...................................... 6 Section 2: Programme area........................................................................................................................ 12 2.1 Situation Analysis................................................................................................................................12 2.2 Main findings.........................................................................................................................................18 Section 3: Programme strategy................................................................................................................ 20 3.1 Rationale – Justification for the selected intervention strategy....................................... 20 3.2 Description of programme priorities................................................................................................ 23 Overview of the intervention logic....................................................................................................... 29 3.3 Horizontal and cross-cutting issues............................................................................................. 38 3.4 Coherence with other programmes and macro-regional strategies................................40 Section 4: Financial plan.............................................................................................................................. 46 Section 5: Implementing provisions........................................................................................................47 5.1 Financing agreement......................................................................................................................... 47 5.2 Indicative implementation period.................................................................................................47 5.3 Implementation method...................................................................................................................47 5.4 Programme management structure.............................................................................................49 5.5 Project development and selection and implementation.....................................................49 5.6 Payments and financial control......................................................................................................53 5.7 Reporting, monitoring and evaluation........................................................................................ 53 5.8 Information and visibility................................................................................................................. 53 ANNEX 1: Description and analysis of the programme area..................................................... 56 Situation Analysis................................................................................................................................... 56 SWOT/PESTLE analysis.........................................................................................................................88 ANNEX 2: List of Institutions participating in JTF IPA III CBC ProgrammeNorth Macedonia – Albania 2021-2027......................................................................................................................................90 ANNEX 3 – Coherence with other programmes.................................................................................. 91 ANNEX 4 - Synergies with EU and other donors’ support at local level.................................... 95 ANNEX 5: Preliminary assessment of the strategic project............................................................98 ANNEX 6 - Meeting with the Communication Officers of the projects under the 2ndcall for Proposals to brainstorm on innovative activities to approach visibility of IPA 3 CBC Programme North Macedonia – Albania 2021-2027........................................................................105 Page 2 of 106 IPA-III Cross-Border Cooperation Programme 2021 – 2027 between Republic of North Macedonia and Republic of Albania Programme synopsis Programme title IPA-III Cross Border Cooperation Programme between Republic of North Macedonia and Republic of Albania 2021-2027 Programme area Three regions in each of the beneficiary countries: • Pelagonia, Polog and Southwest in North Macedonia; • Dibër, Elbasan and Korçë in Albania. Programme An environmentally friendly cross-border region with a overall objective sustainable tourism sector for the women and men living in it Programme TP0: Technical Assistance thematic clusters, thematic priorities TC 2: Greener and Improved resource efficiency and specific TP2: Environment protection, climate change objectives per adaptation and mitigation, risk prevention and thematic priority management TC 4: Improved business environment and competitiveness TP5: Tourism and cultural and natural heritage; To be mainstreamed throughout the Programme: TC 5: Improved capacity of local and regional authorities to tackle local challenges TP7: Governance, planning and administrative capacity building of local and regional authorities. Total EU financial 11,900,000 EUR allocation 2021- 2027 Management Direct Management implementation mode Contracting Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of North authority Macedonia Relevant In the Republic of North Macedonia: authorities in the • Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs, National IPA participating Coordinator (NIPAC)and Operating Structure established under beneficiaries the IPA III legal framework [operating structures] In the Republic of Albania: • National IPA Coordinator (NIPAC) and the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs Offices of the The JTS is located in Struga, Republic of North Macedonia, with an Joint Technical Antenna in Elbasan, Republic of Albania. Secretariat (JTS) Page 3 of 106 IPA-III Cross-Border Cooperation Programme 2021 – 2027 between Republic of North Macedonia and Republic of Albania List of acronyms BRD Bureau for Regional Development (North Macedonia) CBC Cross-Border Cooperation CBIB+ Cross-border Institution Building Plus Phase III CC Consultative Council CfP Call for Proposals CRD Centre for Regional Development CSF Common Strategic Framework ERP Economic Reform Programme EUSAIR European Union Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region GDP Gross Domestic Product GfA Guidelines for Applicants GVA Gross Value Added INSTAT Statistical Institute of the Republic of Albania IPA Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance JMC Joint Monitoring Committee JTF Joint Task Force LP Lead Partner (Lead Partner Principle) MoU Memorandum of Understanding MoLSG Ministry of Local Self-government MFF Multiannual Financial Framework NIPAC National IPA Co-ordinator NGO Non-Governmental Organisation NUTS Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics OS Operating Structure RDI Research, development and innovation SME Small and medium enterprise SWOT Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats analysis TC Thematic Cluster TP Thematic Priority WTTC World Travel and Tourism Council Page 4 of 106 IPA-III Cross-Border Cooperation Programme 2021 – 2027 between Republic of North Macedonia and Republic of Albania Section 1: Programme summary This is the (draft) Programming Document of the IPA-III Cross Border Cooperation Programme between the Republic of North Macedonia and the Republic of Albania 2021- 2027. The programme will be implemented under the framework of the Instrument for Pre- accession Assistance (IPA III). IPA III supports cross-border cooperation with a view to promoting good neighbourly relations, fostering EU integration and promoting socio- economic development. The legal provisions for its implementation are stipulated in the following pieces of legislation: (>>>) 1.1 Summary of the programme The 2021-2027 Cross-border Cooperation Programme North Macedonia – Albania is the third generation of the cross-border cooperation programmes between the two countries and is supported by the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance of the European Union. It will incorporate the lessons learnt under the implementation of the 2014-2020 cross- border cooperation programme with the same participating countries to further strengthen and extend the scope of cooperation between beneficiaries. Taking into account that both North Macedonia – Albania are geographically covered by the EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region, this programme will seek to contribute to the relevant strategies’ priorities thus creating synergies between programme actions and their interventions. The programme was designed on the major findings of the situation