Greece and Bulgaria sign 33.4 million euro Interreg project contracts

Funding contracts for 21 new projects, totaling 33.4 million euros, have been signed under the Interreg VI-A Greece-Bulgaria 2021-2027 program. The agreements were signed by Nikos Papathanasis, Deputy Minister of National Economy and Finance.

The projects are divided into four primary sectors:

• Green transition and circular economy: Six projects (9.7 million euros) focusing on sustainable resource management. • Environmental protection and biodiversity: Six projects (9.7 million euros) aimed at nature conservation and green infrastructure. • Education and social inclusion: Three projects (4.2 million euros) to improve access to quality education and lifelong learning. • Cultural heritage and sustainable tourism: Six projects (9.6 million euros) to leverage local cultural assets for economic development.

The initiatives cover several Greek regional units, including Thessaloniki, Serres, Drama, Kavala, Thasos, Xanthi, Rodopi, and Evros, as well as Bulgarian regions including Blagoevgrad, Smolyan, Kardzhali, and Haskovo. A total of 87 entities—48 from Greece and 39 from Bulgaria—are collaborating on these efforts. Including previously approved strategic projects, a total of 24 projects with a combined budget of 67.6 million euros are now being activated.