1. KICK-OFF CONFERENCE for the IPA CROSS-BORDER COOPERATION PROGRAMME ROMANIA-SERBIA 8th of May Timişoara

2. Eligible area 3 counties from România (Timiş, Caraş-Severin, Mehedinţi) 5 districts from Serbia (Severno-Banatski; Srednje- Banatski; Juzno-Banatski; Branicevski; Borski)

3. Programme’s budget 2007-2009: Total budget of which: IPANational co-financing 23,010,661 euro 19,559,062 Euro 3,451,599 Euro Priority axis 1: Economic and Social Development 50% Priority axis 2: Environment and Emergency Preparedness 26% Priority axis 3: Promoting “people to people” exchanges 14% Priority axis 4: Technical Assistance 10%

4. Key features of the eligible area The Danube as a defining and common feature of the eligible area should not be seen as a dividing factor but rather as the key element and resource of the border eligible area. Any economic development or environmental issues such as flooding and pollution, linked to the Danube clearly require joint action; Strategic location near three major TEN corridors (Existing international connections that could be exploited); Major natural resources for tourism development: national and natural parks, thermal springs, protected natural areas of outstanding natural beauty.

5. The Strategic Goal of the Romania-Serbia Cross-Border Programme is to achieve on the basis of joint cross-border projects and common actions by Romanian and Serbian stakeholders a more balanced and sustainable socio-economic development of the Romanian-Serbian border area. Specific objectives: Increase in the overall competitiveness of the economy in the border area; Improvement of the quality of life for the communities of the area.

6. Priority Axis 1 : Economic and Social Development Support for local/regional economic and social infrastructure; Develop the tourism sector, including the strengthening of the regional identity of the border region as a tourist destination; Promote SME development; Support increased levels of R&D and innovation in the border region.  11.5 mil euro (IPA +national co-financing)

7. Priority Axis 2 Environment and Emergency Preparedness Improve systems and approaches to address cross-border environmental challenges, protection and management; Develop and implement effective strategies for waste and waste water management; More effective systems and approaches to emergency preparedness.  6 mil. Euro (IPA +national co-financing)

8. Priority Axis 3 Promoting “people to people” exchanges Support the development of civil society and local communities; Improve local governance in relation to the provision of local services to communities in the border areas; Increase educational, cultural and sporting exchange; Enhance social and cultural integration of border areas.  3.2 mil. Euro (IPA +national co-financing)

9. Priority Axis 4 Technical Assistance  2.3 mil. Euro (IPA +national co-financing) Measures: Support for the implementation, overall management and evaluation of the Programme; Support for the publicity and information activities of the Programme;

10. Eligible beneficiaries In order to be eligible for a grant, applicants must fulfill the following criteria:  Be non-profit making bodies/organizations, legally established according to national legislation of Romania/Serbia;  Be non-governmental organizations (associations and foundations), public sector operators, local/regional authorities;  Be directly responsible for the preparation and management of the action together with their partners, not acting as an intermediary;  Fulfill all eligibility criteria described in the Applicant Guide.

11. Project partnership  At least one partner from each participating state in the programme;  All Partners are responsible for their own expenditures and activities, including the reimbursement in case of irregularities in the expenditure which it has declared;  Project beneficiaries shall appoint a Lead Beneficiary among themselves.

12. Lead Beneficiary shall lay down the arrangements for its relations with the other beneficiaries participating in the operation. This agreement shall comprise provisions guaranteeing the sound financial management of the funds, including the arrangements for recovering amounts unduly paid; shall be responsible for transferring the Community contribution to the other beneficiaries; it shall ensure that the expenditure presented by the other beneficiaries has been paid for the purpose of the project and corresponds to the activities agreed; it shall verify that the expenditure presented by the final beneficiaries participating in the operation has been validated by the controllers

13. Type of projects The Programme shall finance both soft projects and small scale investment projects; All projects should have a clear cross-border effect/ impact; Projects should be in line with the Priority Axes, measures and indicative operations under each measure and must prove a clear added value.

14. COOPERATION at project level Projects must meet at least one of the following cooperation criteria: 1Joint development 1Joint development – involvement of all partners from the initial phase of the project and choosing the Lead beneficiary, which will coordinate the activities. 2Joint implementation 2Joint implementation – all partners must contribute to achieving the project objectives; necessity of clear connection between activities and permanent contacts between partners. 3Joint staffing 3Joint staffing – avoiding the duplication of functions. 4Joint financing 4Joint financing – a single account for the project; balanced allocation between partners, according to the planned activities.

15. Comprising of representatives of both partner countries Joint Monitoring Committee Comprising representatives of both partner countries Joint Technical Secretariat Within the Regional Office for Crossborder Cooperation in Timişoara Audit Authority within the Court of Accounts Serbian National Authority Ministry of Finance Managing Authority Ministry of Development, Public Works and Housing Certifying Authority Ministry of Economy and Finance Antenna of the JTS Within the Local Cross-Border Cooperation Office in Vršac Group of Auditors Representatives from both partner states First Level Control Unit

16. Milestones –The Programme has been approved by the European Commission on ……………………….….……………………………………. 27th of March 2008 –First meeting of the Joint Monitoring Committee ……. Second half of 2008 - Estimated first call for proposals ……………. Second half of 2008 –Info days ………………………………………..between launching the Applicant’s Guide and submission of project proposals –Help desk ………………………………………………… Permanent –Info events for potential beneficiaries (2 events /county, district)………….………………………………………………………Second half of 2008 –Seminars for Lead beneficiaries …………. After contracting phase

18. Contact details Managing Authority - Ministry of Development, Public Works and Housing 12 Libertăţii Blvd., Bucharest, sector 5, ROMANIA Tel.: +40.372.111.366 Fax: +40.372.111.456 E-mail: romania-serbia@mdlpl.ro www.romania-serbia.net www.mdlpl.roromania-serbia@mdlpl.ro www.romania-serbia.net www.mdlpl.ro National Authority - Ministry of Finance Sector for Programming and Management of EU funds and Development Assistance Kneza Milosa 20, Belgrad Tel.: +381.11.36.11.360 Fax: +381.11.36.12.203 REPUBLIC OF SERBIA E-mail: cbc@mfin.sr.gov.yu www.mfin.sr.gov.yucbc@mfin.sr.gov.yu www.mfin.sr.gov.yu Joint Technical Secretariat - Regional Cross-border Cooperation Office 5 Proclamaţia de la Timişoara Street, 300054, Timişoara, Timiş county ROMANIA Tel.: +40.356.426.360 Fax: +40.356.426.361 E-mail: cristina.imbri@brct-timisoara.rocristina.imbri@brct-timisoara.ro Antenna of the Joint Technical Secretariat Centar Millennium, Poslovna Kula, III Floor 17 Omladinski Trg St., Vršac REPUBLIC OF SERBIA Tel.: +381.13.800.115 Fax: +381.13.800.113 E-mail: marcel.bajka@mfin.sr.gov.yu www.evropa.sr.gov.yumarcel.bajka@mfin.sr.gov.yu www.evropa.sr.gov.yu