EGD & Cross-border Cooperation Programmes

Under the Cross-border Cooperation Programmes, support is provided to projects developed in the field of green transition. In this context, financing and grant support are provided to projects implemented jointly with counterparts in other participating countries in priority areas identified by non-profit institutions and organizations such as local and regional authorities, educational institutions, civil society organizations, and professional chambers, as well as limited private sector entities and SMEs.

Within the scope of the "Bulgaria-Türkiye IPA Cross-border Cooperation Programme", a total of 26 projects related to the green deal were implemented during the 2007-2013 period, with approximately 6 million euros allocated to these projects. In the 2014-2020 period of the Programme, support amounting to approximately 11 million euros was provided to a total of 30 projects in the provinces of Edirne and Kırklareli within the priority of environmental protection. For the 2021-2027 period, the total budget of the Program is 34.5 million euros, with 6.6 million euros in funding allocated to SMEs presenting projects on energy efficiency and transitioning to a circular economy where resources are used efficiently, under the priority of "a greener and low-carbon Europe".

Another Cross-border Cooperation Programme in which our country participates is the "Black Sea Basin Cross-border Cooperation Programme", which includes the priority of "a greener and low-carbon Europe". With the participation of 7 countries including Türkiy, Bulgaria, Armenia, Georgia, Moldova, Romania, Ukraine, and Greece, a budget of 38 million euros was allocated for the 2007-2013 period of the Programme, with a total of 18 projects with a budget of 11.1 million euros involving Turkish coordinators and partners implemented within the scope of the green deal. For the 2014-2020 period, with a total budget of 53.9 million euros, Turkish partner projects received 6.53 million euros in financing for a total of 12 projects under the priority of environmental protection. The budget for the 2021-2027 period of the Program is 94 million euros, with approximately 24 million euros allocated to the priority of "a greener and low-carbon Europe". Under the first call for proposals ending on July 4, 2023, 22 million euros were allocated to projects under the relevant priority. The second call for proposals was announced in the second half of 2024.

Additionally, the "Mediterranean Basin Cross-border Cooperation Programme" is a multi-country program providing financing to projects with cross-border impact, which our country has participated in for the first time in the 2021-2027 period. Besides Türkiye, the programme involves France, Greece, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Spain, the Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus, Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon, and Tunisia. With a total budget of 281 million euros for the 2021-2027 period, the programme is one of the EU's highest-budget Cross-border Cooperation Programmes. Within the programme, 96 million euros will be allocated to the priority objective of a more resilient Mediterranean, aiming towards a greener, zero-carbon economy and lower carbon consumption between 2021-2027. The first call for proposals was announced in December 2023 with a budget of 103 million euros, providing 43 million euros in support for the priority of "a greener and low-carbon Europe".