The Managing Authority of the Interreg IPA South Adriatic Program announced the approval under conditions of 43 new projects, out of a total of 198 applications received in the call for standard project proposals, with the executive Determination N. 31 of 17 March 2025.
These initiatives will strengthen cooperation between the two shores of the Adriatic, linking Puglia and Molise with Albania and Montenegro. With a total funding of € 41 million, these projects will involve 223 beneficiaries from the South Adriatic area; they will focus on crucial topics such as climate change adaptation, circular economy, natural resource management, sustainable economic growth, innovation, and skills development.
In compliance with Chapter 8 of the standard project call, the ranking resulting from the selection process is provisional.
The 43 funded projects are divided into different thematic areas:
Specifically, 10 projects have been allocated to the Smart priority, aiming to improve conditions for the growth and competitiveness of SMEs and micro-enterprises. These initiatives focus on topics such as sustainable blue economy, energy transition, SME development, and digitalization.
The Green topic has received the highest number of funds, with 16 projects focusing on climate change adaptation and risk prevention, biodiversity, pollution reduction, and energy efficiency. These proposals address critical issues such as disaster management, the use of artificial intelligence for environmental monitoring, marine pollution mitigation, and wildfire prevention.
For the Connected priority, 6 projects have been approved with the goal of developing sustainable, resilient, and intermodal mobility, improving access to the Trans-European Transport Networks (TEN-T).
Finally, 11 projects have been funded under the Inclusive priority: some aim to enhance cross-border skills and training, while others focus on inclusive tourism, strengthening the role of culture and tourism in economic development and social innovation.
The approval of these projects is the result of the collaborative work of the Monitoring Committee, the program's decision-making body, co-chaired by the Managing Authority and representatives of the three participating countries – Italy, Albania, and Montenegro – as well as the European Commission.
"Puglia Region plays a leading role in this call," stated Alessandro Delli Noci, Regional Minister for Economic Development. "More than 65 beneficiaries from Puglia are involved in the funding, with 30 of them acting as lead partners, for a total investment of approximately €20 million in the Apulian territory. Apulia is increasingly investing in its international growth path, supporting the EU accession process of Albania and Montenegro, with whom we continuously work to build cohesion policies that address the real needs of citizens, young people, and businesses."
"We focused on quality", emphasized Claudio Polignano, Managing Authority of the Program, "both in the eligibility verification and in the qualitative evaluation of project proposals, carried out through a thorough cross-checking process by the Joint Secretariat of the program. The qualitative analysis, in particular, paid great attention to the innovativeness of the proposals, their feasibility, territorial impact, partnership solidity, and long-term sustainability." The Managing Authority congratulates all selected beneficiaries on being awarded a grant under this first call for proposals, a remarkable achievement, especially given the competition, with 198 applications submitted. We also extend our appreciation to those who were not selected, encouraging them to continue their efforts in developing competitive proposals for future opportunities. By the end of this call, the program will have committed over 98% of the available resources for the 2021-2027 period and is preparing to define proposals and the program's role beyond 2027, in line with the requirements of the Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy (DG REGIO) of the European Commission."
“Albania’s next step toward strengthening regional cooperation and aligning with EU standards is embodied in the implementation of the new 62 projects under the IPA South Adriatic Program, emphasized Eridana Çano, Head of Saspac.The investment of 13 million Euros is not merely a sign of the European Union’s support for our country but a testament to its ongoing commitment to guiding Albania’s reforms and enhancing the quality of life for all Albanian citizens.”
"We are proud to see 49 Montenegrin beneficiaries participating in innovative cross-border projects that will contribute to a smarter, greener, better connected and more social South Adriatic region - said Miloš Marković, Director-General of the Directorate for European Territorial Cooperation at the Ministry of European Affairs of Montenegro. Institutions and organizations from Montenegro will benefit from over € 13 million, driving positive impact across our entire country in joint efforts with partners from Italy and Albania. We wish all the partners success in project implementation and look forward to tangible improvements in the quality of life for our citizens"
To further reinforce the spirit of collaboration and common ambition, the official hashtag #inspiredbythesea was launched, symbolizing the collective commitment for a better South Adriatic region. The hashtag will accompany the implementation of the all funded approved projects, serving as a distinct and recognizable brand for the programme’s community of projects.
The lead partners of the projects approved under conditions will be notified shortly from the Managing Authority. The notification letter will provide details on the detailed instructions for the negotiation phase.
Download the Standard Call Ranking List
Download the Standard Call List of non admitted projects
Download the Determination N. 31 of 17 March 2025.