The submission of project proposals for the Program for Cross-Border Cooperation between Bulgaria and Turkey under the Preaccession Aid Instrument started on Monday, the Bulgarian Regional Development and Public Works Ministry said.

The managing authority under the programme is the General Directorate "Regional Development Programming". The purpose of the program is to promote sustainable economic development, to improve the overall social development and the quality of life, and to encourage the closeness between people and communities in the cross-border area.

The total amount of funding for the program for the period between 2007 and 2009 is 11,814,000 euro, including 10,042,000 euro in funding from the EU and the remaining 1,772,000 euro in national co-financing by the Bulgarian and Turkish sides.

The sum earmarked for the first invitation for project proposals is 6,294,000 euro. Funding for individual projects will range between 10,000 and 600,000 euro.

Source: BTA