<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="0.91"><channel><title>IPA Adriatic Cross-Border Cooperation Programme</title><description>News archive</description><link>http://www.adriaticipacbc.org</link><language>en</language><item><title><![CDATA[15/02/2010 - TOURISM: CROATIA, ARRIVALS IN DECLINE, -3% IN '09]]></title><description><![CDATA[ZAGREB - According to data provided by the Croatian Tourism Agency, in 2009 tourist arrivals totalled 10,750,318, a 3% decline on 2008, while overnight stays increased by 1% to 58,980,813.The number of foreign tourists, which increased by 1%, caused the number of overnight stays at tourism accommodation structures in Croatia to increase. However, these businesseslast year reported a 4% decline.&amp;nbsp; The Italian Trade Commission Office in Zagreb reports that in 2009, there was increased tourism from the Ukraine (+22%), Japan (+11%), Austria (+10%), Poland (+8%), and Italy and Germany (+2%).&amp;nbsp; However, the numberof tourists from Russia (-23%), the United States (-22%), Hungary (-13%), Bosnia Herzegovina (-9%), Slovenia and Great Britain (-4%), and France (-8%) declined.The greatest number of tourists and overnight stays was reported by the county of Licko-Senjska in Istria. (ANSAmed).]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=61]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[15/02/2010 - ENVIRONMENT: 16 NEW LANDFILLS IN HERZEGOVINA BY 2011]]></title><description><![CDATA[SARAJEVO - By 2011, sixteen regional landfills will be built in Herzegovina. &amp;nbsp;In particular, reports the Italian Trade Commission (ICE) office of Sarajevo, the facilities will be built in central and western Herzegovina and in the towns of Prozor-Rama and Tomislavgrad.The project should be financed with World Bank funds, through the investments of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).&amp;nbsp; The entire value of the project is about 2 million euros.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=62]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[15/02/2010 - TOURISM: CROATIA, BRAC ISLAND FOCUSES ON HEATH AND WELLNESS]]></title><description><![CDATA[ZAGREB, - About 1.1 million square metres dedicated to the health and wellness of their clients: four specialised clinics (paediatrics for children with handicaps or delays in development, internal medicine, surgery, and gynaecology), as well as single-family villas and small four and five-star hotels.This will be offered by Medis Brachia, the new resort operating in the medical-treatment field that Swiss group Verica Trust &amp;amp; Capital Management Ag will complete by 2015 in Nerezisce, on Brac Island in Croatia.A new wellbeing centre, sports, recreational and refreshment facilities, stores, and a heliport will be built at the new complex. The new structure dedicated to the elderly will accommodate 850 people, and will be open year-round.Of the near 400 million euros estimated to complete the entire project, writes the Italian Trade Commission (ICE) office in Zagreb in a statement, 22 will be spent for the urbanisation of the area, while another 9 million will be allocated to planting exclusively indigenous or Mediterranean flora.The new resort, which will be constructed about 6km from the coast, will employ about 875 people.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=63]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[15/02/2010 - SERBIA: ELECTRICITY PRICE TO RISE BY 10% IN APRIL]]></title><description><![CDATA[BELGRADE - Serbia will increase its electricity price by 10%&amp;nbsp; as of April 1, the country's Energy Ministry has announced.The increase was originally scheduled for January 1, but the Economy Ministry opposed the measure. The 10% rise will be applied from April to the end of the heating season. ]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=64]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[15/02/2010 - SERBIA: EIB SIGNED TWO LOANS TOTALLING 45 MILLION EUROS]]></title><description><![CDATA[BELGRADE, - The European Investment Bank (EIB) signed in Serbia today two loans totalling 45 million euros with two different local financial institutions in support of the projects of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and infrastructure schemes promoted by local authorities, reports Emportal.The loans are designed to assist Serbia in its efforts to integrate into the European Union. A first finance contract for 25 million euros was signed with Erste Bank Novi Sad. This loan aims at financing SME projects, small and medium-sized infrastructure schemes promoted by local authorities and industrial investments in the fields of the knowledge economy, energy, environmental protection, health and education.The EIB will finance up to 100% of the total project cost for SMEs (with a maximum of 12.5 million per project) and up to 50% for other types of project. A minimum of 70% of the loan will be allocated to SME lending. The EIB also signed an operation for an amount of 20 million euros with KBC Banka with the same features as the one just mentioned. These operations constitute the first direct lending to the two borrowers and represent a major contribution to the development of projects in the respective economic sectors.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=65]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[15/02/2010 - FOREIGN TRADE: ITALY-BALKAN INVESTMENT FORUM IN VERONA]]></title><description><![CDATA[ROME, FEBRUARY 9 - Italian exports to the Balkan area fell by 27.2% in 2009, much more than the average decline of Italian exports (-18%). The Italian Economic Development Ministry wants to take action against this poor result, starting at the forum that will take place in Verona on Thursday and Friday. Representatives of Italy's internationalisation (the ministry, Simest, Customs office, Finest, Italian Trade Commission) and of ten Balkan countries will be present at the forum.The forum was presented today at the Foreign Press headquarters, by Vice Minister for Economic Development in charge of Foreign Trade, Adolfo Urso. Urso explained the choice for Verona as location for the meeting, saying that it is the North-Eastern production hub that is most dedicated to internationalisation, also to the Balkan area. More than 30,000 Italian companies are active in the region. In the past, these companies moved in like ''the infantry'', he added, mentioning the example of the Romanian Timisoara region. Today, the Vice Minister added, this presence should change, it should become more systematic.At the Verona forum there will be representatives - mainly from the Development Ministries -&amp;nbsp; from Albania, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia and Slovenia. Four hundred Italian companies will have a chance to talk with these representatives. Urso underlined that five topics will be discussed by the Italian entrepreneurs and the representatives of Balkan countries: food; infrastructure and environment; logistics and transport; financial instruments and European integration; international trade. This first step, Urso continued, will be followed on the other side of the Adriatic Sea, by meetings and events in which the Italian companies will be assisted and which could be the start of a more structural presence of our investments. 'It is an opportunity', Urso concluded 'we can't afford to miss. It will allow us to turn things around already this year, starting to grow again in the Balkan area after the drastic decline of exports recorded in 2009. Our goal is to increase exports by at least 15%, to more than 10 billion euros'. ]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=66]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[15/02/2010 - MONTENEGRO: CROATIAN COMPANIES TO BUILD MAIN MOTORWAY]]></title><description><![CDATA[ZAGREB - Three of Croatia's biggest construction companies have been able to obtain the necessary bank guarantees to qualify for the construction of the motorway between the northern and southern part of Montenegro. The project is expected to cost 3 billion euros.The press has called the project ''Montenegro's contract of the century''. The contract was won six months ago by the Konstruktor consortium from Split and by Igh and Tehnika from Zagreb. In the past ten years these companies have built hundreds of kilometers of motorway in Croatia.The companies had difficulties getting bank guarantees due to the financial crisis. The government of Montenegro was considering the idea of offering the project to another bidder.Yesterday, one day before expiration, the Croatian companies managed to obtain the necessary guarantees. They will built 170km of motorway between Bar (on the Adriatic Sea) and Boljari (in the north of Montenegro). The contract includes a concession for 30 years for the constructors. ]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=67]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[15/02/2010 - BALKANS: URSO, VERONA TO BE SEAT OF PERMANENT FORUM]]></title><description><![CDATA[VERONA - Today Deputy Economic Development Minister Adolfo Urso proposed for Verona to become the permanent location of the forum between Italy and the Western Balkan countries. Urso also said this at the start of the 'Italy &amp;amp; South Eastern Europe Investment' forum at Veronafiere, promoted by the ministry in collaboration with the customs agency, Finest, the Italian Trade Commission (ICE) and the Verona convention centre.'We have the intention of establishing an annual meeting to monitor the state of development of the partnerships,' explained Urso, 'in key economic sectors, from infrastructure to logistics, from energy to transport and trade show collaborations.'The idea of trade shows and conventions was supported by Veronafiere President Ettore Riello, who said that 'we are supportive of Urso's project to make increasing use of the trade show system as a bridge to penetrate new markets; we can act as an useful instrument to implement the government's economic and commercial policies.']]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=68]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[15/02/2010 - COOPERATION: "CBC IPA ADRIATIC 2007-2013" TO  PARTICIPATE IN INTERNATIONAL TOURISM FAIR]]></title><description><![CDATA[The countries and regions that are involved in the cooperation programme CBC IPA ADRIATIC will participate in the International Tourism Fair in Milan from February 18 to 21, to offer a global view on the opportunities of tourism development in the Adriatic area. 
    The presence will also be the occasion for the heritage of practical experiences and of cooperative intervention models of tourism development, implemented in the previous phase of community programming between 2000 and 2006, with reference to the Interreg IIIA Transfrontal Adriatic programme.
     The message is primarily aimed at institutions, but also to tourism operators, because they are potential beneficiaries of IPA Adriatic financing. 
   The participation of a community Programme at the Milan Fair is an absolute novelty. The initiative will be made part of the activities related to the Programme's communication plan. During the three days of the event &quot;IPA Adriatic'', there will be a dedicated corner, whilst the main event has been scheduled for the 18 February at 16,30 at the stand of the region of Abruzzo, a front-runner of the programme, where a workshop finalized to offer visibility to the programme and its potential activities in the tourism sector will be promoted. 
     The &quot;IPA Adriatic&quot; cross-border cooperation programme will involve eight states: Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Serbia and Greece; and seven regions: Abruzzo, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Veneto, Emilia Romagna, Marche, Apulia and Molise.  The programme has a total endowment of around 280 million euro and aims to harmonise the cross-border Adriatic area, in the name of institutional, economic, cultural touristic, environmental and infrastructural cooperation. 
  The tourism show expects 153.800 people, of which 101.000 professional operators and 52.800 travellers from over 150 countries.
]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=69]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[19/02/2010 - COOPERATION: TOURISM TO UNITE ADRIATIC SHORES. ADRIATIC CBC IPA PROPOSALS AT MILAN FAIR]]></title><description><![CDATA[&quot;The Adriatic Sea unites the countries of the two shores in a deep relationship of cooperation in which tourism represents one of the most effective instruments for economic, cultural and social development. The aim is one of the main objectives of the IPA community programme.&quot; This is the strong message that emerged from the workshop entitled 'The IPA Adriatic Programme for an integrated development of tourism of the Adriatic,' which took place at the International Tourism Fair (BIT) in Milan at the Abruzzi Region stand.All the speakers underlined the central role of tourism in the development of States and Regions involved in the IPA Adriatic Cross-border Cooperation Programme (2007-2013) which decided to participate in the world fair with a dedicated stand, with the aim of illustrating, in a total overview, the opportunities of the development of tourism in the Adriatic area, also in light of the possibility of participating in calls for proposals by the initiative, which involves 8 States and 7 Regions , and which has the Abruzzi Region as leader. .  Speakers at the event, the most important of the three days, were the councillor for Tourism and culture of the Abruzzi Region, Mauro Di Dalmazio, the head of the management authority of the programme, Giovanna Andreola, director of the Abruzzi Region, the head of the Cross-border Cooperation of the CroatianMinistry of Regional Development, Marjia Rajakovic, and the head of the Cooperation service of the Apulia Region, Bernardo Notarangelo. .  &quot;These community programmes represent an extraordinary opportunity on which politics must reason more, above all in a moment of reduced availability of ordinary funds with the aim of spending the precious resources in a better way in a framework that is strategic and functional to other initiatives in the field of the territories,&quot; explained Di Dalmazio. .  &quot;In particular, tourism in the IPA is fundamental forlinking the two shores and making an important driving force for development&#167;And the number of projects presented proves this.&quot; .  In illustrating the aims and the numbers of the programme &quot;considered fundamental by the EU for strategy, for the territories that it involves and the resources, some 280 million euros, which it puts into play,&quot; the management authority, Andreola, underlined that &quot;the IPA exists because the Adriatic Sea exists, which is not a dividing element, but one that unites countries that must continue to work together to strengthen cooperation, in a context in which tourism, in all its forms, can contribute to overall growth in a vision of cooperation.&quot; .  For Marjia Rajakovic, &quot;sustainable tourism is a priority in Croatia, the facts demonstrate that tourism is very important on both shores of the Adriatic, where there are similar problems and similar opportunities, where, thanks to IPA, an Adriatic identity can be created.&quot; .   For Bernardo Notarangelo, &quot;the IPA is a great opportunity, it promotes a great relationship between the two shores and thus it acknowledges in them the precious role aimed at unifying the territories. We must all continue to deepen every effort in the service of the people and population involved.&quot; .  The presence of the community programme at BIT, a complete innovation in experiences of this type, organised as part of the communication plan, also aims to present the wealth of experiences that are concrete and are models of cooperation of tourism development implemented in the previous phase of community programming 2000-2006, as part of the Interreg IIIA Adriatic Cross-border Programme. .  IPA Adriatic Cross-border Cooperation Programme involves eight States: Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Serbia e Greece; and seven Regions: Abruzzi, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Veneto, Emilia Romagna, Marches, Apulia and Molise. . It has total funding of around 280 million euros and aims to harmonise the Adriatic cross-border area in the names of cooperation that is economic, institutional, cultural, tourism-related, environmental and infrastructural. (ANSAmed). ]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=74]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[16/02/2010 - TOURISM: CBC IPA ADRIATIC 2007-2013 TO BIT]]></title><description><![CDATA[The main objectives at the basis of participation in the Program of Cooperation CBC IPA Adriatic are to present a general illustration of opportunities for the development of tourism in the Adriatic region.
The initiative was taken in the light of possibilities of participating in the competitions of the communitarian IPA Adriatic Cross-border Cooperation Programme &quot;CBC IPA Adriatic&quot; (2007-2013), as well as to present the heritage of concrete experiences and models of cooperative intervention for the development of tourism, implemented in the preceding phase of communitarian programming for 2006-2007, in the sphere of the Interreg III Adriatic Cross-border Operational Programme.
 Nations and regions will participate at this Program, at the International Travel Fair (BIT 'Borsa Internazionale del Turismo) held in Milan from February 18-21 of this year. The protagonists of the important program intend to direct their message mainly to the Institutions and tour operators, as potential beneficiaries of the financing of &quot;IPA Adriatic&quot;. Participation by a communitarian program in Milan's &quot;BIT&quot; is an absolute novelty in experiences of this type. During the three days of the &quot;IPA Adriatic&quot; world fair, there will be various corners that can be visited.
The main attractions are the initiatives regarding the plan of communication, and represented by the workshop under the title &quot;The IPA Adriatic program for an integrated development of tourism in the Adriatic&quot;, scheduled February 18 at 4:30pm in the stand set up by the Region of Abruzzo, which kicks off the program.
At the event, aimed at offering greater visibility to the Program and to its potential activities in the tourism sector, there will participate, among other groups, the regional assessor for Culture, Mauro Di Dalmazio, and the representatives of IPA Adriatic's foreign partners. Space will also be given for the exposition of the characteristics of some of the best tourism projects financed in the area of Interreg III A. On February 19, in the IPA space, the president of the Abruzzo Regione, Gianni Chiodi, will also make an appearance.
The INTERREG III Adriatic Cross-border Operational Programme, &quot;IPA Adriatic&quot;, involves eight states: Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Serbia and Greece, as well as seven regions: in addition to Abruzzo, there will participate Friuli Venezia Giulia, Veneto, Emilia Romagna, Marche, Apulia and Molise.

It has an overall endowment of roughly 280 million euro and aims to harmonize the Adriatic cross-border area in the name of cooperation, both economic and institutional, as well as in the areas of culture, tourism, the environment, and infrastructure. 153,000 visitors are expected to participate at the &quot;BIT&quot;, 101,000 of these professional operators and 52,800 tourists, from over 150 countries. (ANSAmed).]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=75]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[23/02/2010 - COOPERATION: CHIODI, IPA PILOT PROJECT AT BIT]]></title><description><![CDATA[&quot;It's great news to be able to think of an overall tourist package for the Countries on the two shores of the Adriatic. This is why Ipa's presence at Bit can be considered as a pilot and research program&quot; said the president of Abruzzo's regional council Gianni Chiodi, while visiting the stand dedicated to the common program &quot;CBC IPA Adriatico&quot;, set up at the Bit (International Tourism Exchange) hosted at the Fiera di Milano from the 18 th to the 21 st of February.
   &quot;Tourism is fundamental because Ipa involves eight Countries and seven Regions facing the Adriatic all of them with a very important tourist component in their respective economies&quot; he went on to say.
   Chiodi is the leader of the Ipa Adriatico program that includes Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Erzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Serbia and Greece, as well as the regions of Abruzzo, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Veneto, Emilia Romagna, Marche, Puglia and Molise. There are 280 million euro to finance projects that should harmonise the Adriatic area in the name of economic, institutional, cultural, tourist, environmental and infrastructural cooperation.
   Chiodi truly believes in Ipa: &quot;This program has innovative features that will make the EU take notice and watch for results. This method might become a system, Abruzzo has a heavy responsibility since it is the one handling the project. We must show that we are able not only to be worthy of this role with the EU, but also to ensure that the European programming method becomes valid for the territories to which it is to be applied. I think the Abruzzo Region is doing a great job in the matter of the planning and the international and community relations led by dottoressa Andreola and her staff&quot;.
   The president hopes this initiative may be the harbinger of development in the various territories. &quot;I hope that once Ipa is over financing won't have been only a distribution of money but the occasion to give room to projects that can help in the development of the relevant areas&quot;. In this respect, Chiodi thinks Abruzzo can certainly play a significant role: We the Abruzzo Region truly believe in this, and the change in pace of tourism is something that can be seen now. However, it is the strategy that is changing as well as the assessor's role, Di Dalmazio, on a national level, since he is now recognised as knowledgeable, dynamic and innovative rather than for his political strength and therefore for the representation of political alliance that may be present in the conference of Regions. This may be important also in the context of Ipa&quot; he concluded.
   Amongst other things, Countries and Regions have decided to participate to Bit in order to show the entire tourist potential of the Adriatic area, including the possibility of bidding for projects within the initiative. ]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=76]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[22/03/2010 - COOPERATION: 'IPA ADRIATIC' PROGRAMME, SUPERVISORY COMMITTEE TO MEET ON MARCH 25 AND 26 IN L'AQUILA]]></title><description><![CDATA[The  Supervisory Committee meeting of the European Cross-border Cooperation Programme &quot;CBC IPA Adriatic&quot; (2007-2013) will take place in L'Aquila on March 25 and 26. The important meeting will be held in the building of the Abruzzo Region, in Via Salaria Antica Est nr. 27. The session is scheduled to start at 10 a.m. on March 25 in the presence of all representatives of partner countries. &quot;IPA Adriatic&quot; involves eight States: Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Serbia, Greece and for Italy will participate the regions of Abruzzo, as leading region, and Friuli Venezia Giulia, Veneto, Emilia Romagna, Marches, Apulia and Molise. The programme has a total endowment of around 280 million euros. Its goal is to harmonise the Adriatic cross-border area in the name of institutional, economic, cultural, infrastructural and environmental cooperation and cooperation in the sector of tourism. ]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=77]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[26/03/2010 - COOPERATION: IPA ADRIATIC, AQUILA MEETING FOR REBIRTH TERRITORIES STRUCK BY EARTHQUAKE]]></title><description><![CDATA[&quot;The fact that such an important meeting for a cooperation program, relevant for the involved territories, will be held in Aquila has a great symbolic value: it makes us think, in fact, that these projects for development will contribute to the rebirth of Aquila and its territory, hit hard by the tragic earthquake on April 6.&quot;
This is one of the most striking passages from the speech by the councillor for Tourism of the Abruzzo Region, Mauro Di Dalmazio, during the meeting of the Surveillance Committee of the Cbc Ipa Adriatic cross-border cooperation for the communitarian program for the trans-border region &quot;CBC IPA Adriatico&quot; (2007-2013), which was held in Aquila, the headquarters of the Management Authority for the community initiative. 
The councillor from Abruzzo, who greeted participants in the name of the Abruzzo Region, thanked those present for their solidarity, underlining how the closeness between the regions, European countries and the rest of the world can transform the hoped-for rebirth into a reality. 
&quot;IPA Adriatico&quot; involves eight states: Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Serbia, Greece and Italy, in addition to Abruzzo, the leader-body, as well as Friuli Giulia, Veneto, Emilia Romagna, the Marches, Puglia and Molise. 
The program has a total budget of roughly 280 million Euros and aims at harmonize the Adriatic trans-border area in the name of institutional, economic, cultural, touristic, environmental and infrastructural cooperation. 
All the representatives of the partner countries for the program, in the first of the two days, visited the historic center of Aquila, where almost a year has passed since the earthquake, and signs of the tragedy are still visible. All were moved by the places visited ]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=82]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[10/04/2010 - COOPERATION: "IPA ADRIATIC CBC PROGRAMME": THE PROJECTS SUBMITTED TO THE EVALUATION OF THE JOINT MONITORING COMMITTEE]]></title><description><![CDATA[The first stage for projects admissibility, submitted by the eight Countries involved, was carried out by the Joint Monitoring Committee of the &#8220;IPA Adriatic CBC Programme&#8221; (2007-2013) in the meeting held in L&#8217;Aquila, seat of the Managing Authority, last March 25th and 26th. 
The representatives of the  Countries from Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Serbia, Greece and for Italy, the Regions of Abruzzo,  Friuli Venezia Giulia, Veneto, Emilia Romagna, Marche, Puglia and Molise decided to reconvene the meeting for the next 20th and 21st of April in order to define the operational rules to be applied for the quality assessment of the projects assigned to the Joint Technical Secretariat. 
For the  first Calls for proposals  the allocation amounts to 75 million Euros, while  the IPA Programme has a total allocation of about 280 million Euros aiming to harmonize the Adriatic cross-border area for the benefit of the institutional, economic, cultural, tourist, environmental and infrastructural cooperation. &#8220;The work was  useful &#8211; remarked Mrs. Giovanna Andreola, as Managing Authority of the IPA Adriatic Programme and Manager of the International Affairs Service of Abruzzo Region &#8211; even if there are still disagreements between some States on some evaluation rules to be used&#8221;.
The European Commission representative for the IPA Adriatic Programme, Mrs. Fausta Corda, stressed the importance  of this Programme for the development of the territories involved. 
 

]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=83]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[07/04/2010 - SERBIA: EIB SUPPORTS SCIENCE AND RESEARCH WITH 200 MLN EUROS AGREEMENT SIGNED IN BELGRADE BY VICE PRESIDENT SCANNAPIECO]]></title><description><![CDATA[BELGRADE - The European Investment Bank (EIB) and the government of Serbia today signed an agreement in Belgrade for a 200 million euro loan to the Serbian science and research sector.
The deal will make it possible to invest around 420 million euros in the country's technological projects and infrastructures. The agreement was signed by EIB Vice President Dario Scannapieco and by Serbia's Finance Minister, Diana Dragutinovic. The operation, Scannapieco underlined, has three main goals: to develop infrastructures that support technological development and scientific research in Serbia; to create the right living and working conditions for scientists and researchers to enable them to collaborate and compete with the rest of the international scientific community; to persuade Serbian scientists who are currently working abroad to return to Serbia. 
In his speech, Serbia's President Tadic called the agreement with the EIB ''one of the most important investments in the country's economic development, which has the main goal of keeping young Serbian researchers from leaving the country.'' In Serbia there are around 8,500 scientists and researchers active in 58 scientific institutes and 114 university faculties. Most of these institutes are funded by the State.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=84]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[08/04/2010 - BOSNIA: 20 MLN EUROS CREDIT LINE FROM EBRD TO SME]]></title><description><![CDATA[SARAJEVO - The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has approved a line of credit, 20 million euros, to finance Small and Medium-sized Enterprise (SME) in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The credit line will be allocated through the Intesa Sanpaolo group, and is part of the EBRD support project to SME in Serbia, Hungary and Bosnia and Herzegovina through the Italian group. The total value of the project is 100 million euros.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=85]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[09/04/2010 - BALKANS: EIB;1.7 BLN LOANS IN 2009, BELGRADE OFFICE IN 2010]]></title><description><![CDATA[BRUSSELS - Loans by the European Investment Bank (EIB) to the  western Balkans reached around 1.7 billion in 2009. That is why it has been decided to open a regional office this year in Belgrade.
According to data from the financial statement, the main beneficiary of the EIB funds last year was Serbia, with 819 million. In particular, a large part of the resources went towards the completion of the trans-European network, with 384 million for the construction of a new section of 75 km of the Corridor motorway between Grabovnica and Levosoje, while SMEs received 360 million euros. Croatia received a further 419 euros to develop its transport, energy and communication infrastructures, the application of EU environmental standards, support for SMEs and investments in local organisation.  Loans worth a total of 153 million euros went to Bosnia Herzegovina, 111 million euros went to Montenegro, 100 million to Macedonia, 13 million to Albania, mainly for infrastructures and SMEs.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=86]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[12/04/2010 - ALBANIA: EU PROJECT WILL SUPPORT SMES WITH 2.2 MLN EUROS TIRANA]]></title><description><![CDATA[The development of Albanian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) will be supported by a European Union project backed by a 2.2 million euros.  The project's purpose is to help local businesses with technology investments.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=87]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[14/04/2010 - ROBOTICS: ITALO-BOSNIAN CENTRE SET UP IN SARAJEVO]]></title><description><![CDATA[A centre for new robotics technologies has been set up in Sarajevo following an technical and trade agreement between two companies in the sector: Bosnia's Grizelj and Italy's Evolut. The project will have an overall value of 6 million Bosnian marks (around 3 million euros), of which 80% is to be invested in the Bosnian company and 20% will go to the Italian partner.
One million euros have so far been invested.
The Centre is situated in the Stup zone and covers a total area of 3,200 square metres. It employs all the workforce of Grizelj and 5 new engineers in addition. The first robotised modules should be ready by the fourth quarter of this year.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=88]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[20/04/2010 - MED: CIVIL PROTECTION, ITALY 'MODEL' IN EU PROGRAMME]]></title><description><![CDATA[ROME - A strategic geographical position and a &quot;model of excellence&quot;: this is what Italy can boast of in the field of civilian protection. The country is committed on the front lines of the European sphere, in strengthening the cooperation and prevention of disasters in Mediterranean and Balkan countries.
One may even say that the Euro-Mediterranean cooperation in this sector began with Italy, which launched in 1998, together with Egypt, in the ambit of the Barcelona Process (also known as the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership), the EU 'Pilot' program, to improve the institutional cooperation between EU countries and partner countries.  Among the promoters of the project is Agostino Miozzo, general director of the Volunteer office for international and institutional relations of the Italian civil protection.
&quot;It has been the most responsive program of the Barcelona Process&quot;, Miozzo stated, despite difficult political contention marked by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, &quot;but we have not given up; we have held out&quot;. And so Italy has continued to play a primary role in the second EU program, 'Bridge', lead by France until 2008, and now finds itself at the head of the Euromed Program for prevention, preparation and response to natural and man-made disasters (Pprd South).  The program, financed by the EU with five million euros, is run by Italy in tandem with the Civil Protection of Egypt, France and Algeria together with Unsdr, the United Nations agency for the reducing the risk of disasters.
 &quot;Our priority this time is prevention&quot;, said Miozzo, who today opened a four day workshop in Rome on 'Geographical Information Systems (GIS) for Civil Protection' with experts from 14 partner countries (Egypt, Algeria, Bosnia-Herzogovinia, Crotia, Montenegro, Turkey, Israel, Tunisia, Morocco, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and the Palestinian territories).
 The GIS is modelled after the online system set up and currently used by the Italian Civil Protection, which contains the data bases of all the bodies involved and which permits one to create a map of &quot;at risk&quot; zones.
 &quot;We, the countries of the Mediterranean, are all confronted with the same problems&quot;, Miozzo explained.  &quot;Every week there is some disaster: earthquakes, such as the one yesterday in Turkey, landslides, flooding, without mentioning summer forest fires, a field where cooperation is already working very well&quot;.
It is fundamental to prepare those populations that are most exposed, to react in case of a calamity. &quot;It is necessary to create a link between information and territory&quot;, Miozzo insisted, &quot;to transform ultratechnological information into clear and simple messages to the population&quot;.
&quot;There is nothing secret about civil protection; we must accept to share our information, because our primary objective,&quot; Miozzo underlined, &quot;is the security of the citizens of the partner countries, but also that of so many Italians who take vacations in the Mediterranean area&quot;.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=89]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[22/04/2010 - ENERGY: BOSNIA; RS, 5.87 BLN FOR DEVELOPMENT SECTOR BY 2030]]></title><description><![CDATA[SARAJEVO - The new strategy presented by the local government of the Republika Srpska (RS, the Serbian majority political entity of Bosnia Herzegovina) to develop the energy sector by 2030 calls for total investments of about 5.87 billion euros.
The document  calls for the development of the electricity sector and improvements to production, distribution, transport and consumption of electricity in the next twenty years. In Banja Luka during the presentation of the strategy, the Minister of the Economy, Energy and Mining of the Republika Srpska, Slobodan Puhalac, stressed the importance of opening the energy sector in the RS to foreign investments.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=90]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[10/03/2010 - COOPERATION: BOSNIA; 100,000 EUROS FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT]]></title><description><![CDATA[ROME, The main goals of the programme &quot;Pilot projects for integrated rural development and the revitalising of land in Bosnia and Herzegovina&quot; are to boost the production capacity of small Bosnian farm associations and to promote environmental protection and rural tourism. The Italian Foreign Ministry has funded the programme that will be closed tomorrow morning, in Srebrenica, in a ceremony in which technical equipment and seedlings will be donated to some local associations.
During the ceremony, a statement issued by the Italian embassy to Sarajevo reads, six associations from the municipality of Bratunac (Propolis, Kesten, Maja-Kravica, Jadar, RSSBratunac, Podrinski Behar) and four associations of the municipality of Srebrenica (Osat, Skelanka, Srebrenica99, Mozaik) will receive technical equipment for apiculture, tillage and the production of jams and marmalade, as well as some seedlings (apple, pear and plum trees).
All this, the statement continues, &quot;in order to improve the quantity and quality of the production capacity of the members of these associations, which include vulnerable groups like women, young people and people returning from the Balkan conflict&quot;. The mayor , Osman Suljic; the town mayor of Brutunac, Nedeljko Mladenovic; the chairman of the Italian Cooperation, Silvano Tabbo' and the project coordinator, Stefania Fantuz, will participate in the ceremony in the town hall of Srebrenica. The value of the Italian gifts totals around 100,000 euros.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=91]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[26/04/2010 - ENERGY: CROATIAN-HUNGARIAN POWER LINE COMPLETED]]></title><description><![CDATA[ZAGREB - The long-distance power-line connecting the town of Ernestinovo, in Croatia and Pecs, in Hungary, will be operating from April. The final touches have been put on the new line, which will strengthen the stability of electrical energy systems in both countries and ensure that electrical energy reaches the North-Eastern part of Croatia.
With a total length of 86.4 kilometres (the Croatian stretch is 44.1 kilometres long), the power-line has the capacity to carry between 2200 and 2600 megawatts. The total construction cost is 39.5 million euros, 21.7 million of which have been provided by the Croatian HEP group.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=92]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[30/04/2010 - COOPERATION: IPA ADRIATIC CROSS-BORDER COOPERATION PROGRAMME, NEW MEETING OF THE JOINT MONITORING COMMITTEE IN AQUILA ON MAY 11th and 12th]]></title><description><![CDATA[A new meeting of the Joint Monitoring Committee of the EU Cross-border Cooperation Programme ''IPA Adriatic CBC Programme 2007-2013&#8221; is scheduled in Aquila on May 11th and 12th. The previous meeting, planned for April 20th  and 21st, was cancelled due to the Iceland&#8217;s volcanic ash that halts flights across Europe.  
The important  meeting will take place at the premises of Abruzzo Region, 27 Via Salaria Antica Est. The activities will start at 10 a.m. on May 11th  with the representatives from all the programme partner countries and will end in the afternoon of May 12th.  It represents the follow-up of the meeting held on March 25th  and 26th , that had to be adjourned to keep on working on the complex and delicate assessment work for admissible projects. The IPA Adriatic CBC Programme  involves 8 countries Slovenia, Croatia,  Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Serbia, Greece and Italy, that, Abruzzo apart, where the Managing Authority is located, includes Friuli Venezia Giulia, Veneto, Emilia Romagna, Marche, Puglia and Molise too.  The total  programme budget amounts to 280 million euros that aims to coordinate the cross-border Adriatic area in the institutions, economy, culture, tourism, environment and infrastructures cooperation fields.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=93]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[13/05/2010 - JMC APPROVES THE LISTS OF ADMISSIBLE PROJECTS]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Joint Monitoring Committee of the Programme, on the meeting of 11th and 12th May 2010,  approved, for each Call for ordinary projects (Priority 1, Priority 2 and Priority 3), the lists of admissible projects that passed the formal assessment and are then admitted to the quality assessment.
The project are listed in alphabetical order. 
 
The JTS - on behalf of the Joint Monitoring Committee &#8211; will require to the Lead Applicants of projects marked with an asterisk further information in order to proceed with the Quality Assessment.
 
Projects marked with double asterisks are admitted under condition 
 
Lead Applicants of not admissible projects will be informed in the next few days through an official letter of the JTS about the reasons of rejection.

Priority 1
Priority 2
Priority 3
]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=94]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[13/05/2010 - COOPERATION: RECOGNITION FOR ABRUZZO REGION MANAGER]]></title><description><![CDATA[ The region of Abruzzo has earned a prestigious recognition.  The Manager for the Region's International Activities Service, Giovanna Andreola, the manager of the cross-border EU cooperation programme IPA Adriatic, has received one of the three special prizes awarded by the associations 'Mareamico', CENIS and Salpare, the last of which is responsible for the 'Alghero Woman' prize. 
Awards are given to figures from the female world who have distinguished themselves with their commitment to the 
protection, defense and promotion of the sea. The awards ceremony took place in Alghero, with the other two prizes given to Maria Gloria Giani, chair of the Wista International association, and Anna Mario Geli, a Rector of the Spanish university of Girona.
  The reasons behind the choice of Ms. Andreola as winner are linked to the work finalized on the EU programme 'IPA Adriatic', which is designed to strengthen  Adriatic relations and geared towards commitment to supporting protection and promotion initiatives concerning the Adriatic sea.  For the three traditional categories of narrative, poetry and journalism, prizes were awarded to Lia Levi, Gabriella Sica and the SKY TG24 journalist, Paola Saluzzi respectively. ]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=96]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[10/06/2010 - COOPERATION: "IPA ADRIATIC" PROGRAMME ADMISSIBLE PROJECTS WERE FORMALIZED  BY JULY THE RANKING LIST ON FINANCED PROJECTS]]></title><description><![CDATA[The admissibility of a first list of 134 projects, submitted by the eight States involved, was formalized by the Joint Monitoring Committee of the IPA Adriatic Cross border Cooperation Programme  (2007-2013) during the meeting held in L&#8217;Aquila on last 11th and 12th of May.  
The same table &#8211; the prosecution of that updated during the meeting of the last 25th and 26th of March &#8211; defined the procedures for the quality assessment, whose task was entrusted to the Joint Technical Secretariat. According to an estimation,  a ranking list on the projects admitted to the financing is likely to be drawn up by the end of July. The representatives of the States Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Serbia, Greece, and for Italy of the Regions of Abruzzo,  Friuli Venezia Giulia, Veneto, Emilia Romagna, Marche, Puglia and Molise decided to convene again in Croatia in order to finalize the work aiming to approve the first list of projects to be financed. 
The first Call for proposals of  the IPA Adriatic Programme covers the axes on culture, tourism, infrastructures and environment, and allocates about 75 million Euros. 
We remind that the IPA programme has a total financial allocation of about 280 million Euros and aims to harmonize the Adriatic cross-border area in the name of institutional, economic, cultural, tourist, environmental and infrastructural cooperation. ]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=97]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[15/06/2010 - MEDITERRANEAN: BARI HOSTS CONFERENCE ON STRATEGIC PROJECTS]]></title><description><![CDATA[&quot;Territorial cooperation in the Mediterranean basin: strategic projects and directions of the new programming post 2013&quot; is the title of the conference organised in Bari on June 17 by the Mediterranean Service of the Apulia Region in collaboration with the Ministry for Economic Development (Department of Development Policies) and the Tuscany and Campania Regions. Nichi Vendola, President of the Apulia Region, will open the conference together with Silvia Godelli, councillor for the Mediterranean, Tourism and Culture. 
There are two sessions planned: the first focuses on the issue &quot;Strategic projects in the Mediterranean area - a comparison of experiences underway&quot;, coordinated by Bernardo Notarangelo, director of the Mediterranean Service.
 The second focuses on &quot;macroregional strategies&quot;, coordinated by Rossella Rusca, director at the Ministry for Economic Development - Department of Development Policies.&quot;Strategic projects&quot; represent the new type of operations developed during the 2007-2013 programming on the basis of the desire that has been repeated by Member States and the Commission to concentrate efforts and resources on objectives that are shared, significant and capable of producing lasting effects in territories that are subject to Cooperation Programmes. Italy has shown itself to be very receptive to this direction, making itself a promoter of strategic projects that are largely projects in which the country participates, both cross-border and transnational. These include cooperation programmes that regard the area of the Mediterranean: it is thus interesting to promote a comparison between the different methods and experiences conducted in the implementation of the programmes, each of which have tried to interpret the generic concept of &quot;strategic project&quot; according to the necessities and specific aims of the cooperation area. The conference, which is part of the MED Transnational Programme 2007-2013, aims to compare the issues and experiences of strategic planning promoted in the Mediterranean area, finding convergences and complementarities, strengths and critical situations, with the aim of starting a first comparison that facilitates the identification of synergies and strengthens the coordination and integration of the different experiences, the capitalisation of results, the spread of good practices, also as part of the future of the cohesion policy.
 The aim is also to stimulate an informed reflection amongst players working in the Mediterranean regions on the new &quot;macroregional&quot; approach promoted by the EU. The implementation of European strategy for the macroregion of the Baltic Sea is in fact underway and a European strategy for the macroregion of the Danube is also being drawn up.
 The development of this new approach also naturally involves the role of European territorial cooperation and in particular that of the Transnational Cooperation Programmes, which in fact offer a framework for reference and intervention that is suitable for the development of European macroregions ]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=98]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[16/06/2010 - AGRICULTURE: SERBIA-ALBANIA-CROATIA FREE TRADE AGREEMENTS]]></title><description><![CDATA[ BELGRADE - New free trade agreements are in sight for Serbia's agricultural sector. The country's Chamber of Commerce is in fact close to making a deal with Albania and Moldavia, and the liberalisation process with Croatia is expected to be completed in two separate stages.
In the first stage preferential customs duties will be lowered by 50% and the volume of tradable goods will be increased by 100%. In the second stage, in 2011, customs duties will be eliminated all together and the volume of goods will be raised by another 100%, except for tobacco and sugar. Serbia has already reached liberalisation agreements for the trade in agricultural products with Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia and the ad interim government of Kosovo. With Albania, Moldavia and Croatia the country has signed deals on several levels of liberalisation. 
According to Serbia's Economy Ministry, the biggest obstacle to the free circulation of goods is formed by the long and complex border procedures. These obstacles include problems of technical, veterinary and medical nature, the fact that certificates are often not recognised and the lack of institutions responsible for issuing these certificates within a short matter of time. ]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=99]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[18/06/2010 - COOPERATION:  ABRUZZO REGION SET OUT FOR A SERIES OF EVENTS IN MONTENEGRO]]></title><description><![CDATA[ ROME. A delegation of the Abruzzo Region set out for Montenegro on an institutional mission with the aim of assessing strategic agreements for the creation of mutual employment opportunities, training and cooperation schemes between the two countries.
The series of events, which will also be attended by businessmen from the Abruzzo, will begin with a meeting between Gatti and the Montenegrin Minister for European Integration, Gordana Djurovic. Healthy relations with the Montenegrin government were created during the Welfare Commission for the Adriatic Euroregion (EA), which was held in Forli' in May, and of which Montenegro and the Abruzzo are both members.  
At the time, initial contact was made for verifying the chance to carry forward initiatives geared towards employment and economic benefits for businessmen from the Abruzzo operating on the eastern side of the Adriatic]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=100]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[20/06/2010 - COOPERATION: AGREEMENT BETWEEN ABRUZZO REGION AND MONTENEGRO]]></title><description><![CDATA[PESCARA - The councillor in charge of employment in the Abruzzo Region, Paolo Gatti, and the regional director, Giovanna Andreola, have held talks in the Montenegrin capital Podgorica with Gordana Djurovic, Montenegro's Minister for European Integration. The meeting was part of an institutional mission geared towards expanding strategic agreements on the activation of mutual opportunities for employment, training and cooperation between the two countries.     
The meeting opened with analysis of Montenegro's prospects of entering the European Union in the next few years.
   Gatti underlined the similarities between the Abruzzo and the Balkan state, indicating that one of the priorities was development of cooperation between the two sides. Particular attention was given to the chance to use EU resources for the IPA Adriatic programme for the development of cooperation projects favouring employment advantages.
   Minister Djurovic highlighted the importance for the Montenegrin government of projects financed as part of the IPA Adriatic programme, in that they are an element facilitating the country's entry into Europe. The Minister also thanked the Abruzzo region for its positive collaboration thus far. Both sides confirmed their commitment towards working together on forthcoming opportunities provided by EU resources planning.
   Gatti later met the national chairman of the Montenegrin Employers' Union (MUE), Predrag Mitrovic, with whom he discussed a number of different initiatives concerning the launch of collaborations between industrialists from both countries.  Mitrovic will soon travel to the Abruzzo to continue the positive collaboration activity  already underway.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=101]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[21/06/2010 - STRATEGIC PLANNING AND MACRO-REGIONS OBLIGATORY ROUTE FOR POST-2013 PLANNING]]></title><description><![CDATA[BARI - The Conference organised in Bari by the Mediterranean Service as part of the MED Transnational Programme of Cooperation was imbued with one spirit: to plan for tomorrow with the highest degree of urgency and in the light of experience being gained through the 2007-2013 Planning. 
''Although the Objective 3 Programmes for local-level cooperation during 2007-2013 have only just been activated, we are now in a fast-moving and hectic situation which forces us to think about planning for the day after tomorrow''.
So said Silvia Godelli, Apulia Region Councillor for Culture, Tourism and Mediterranean Affairs, in opening the conference on 'Local-level Cooperation in the Mediterranean Basin: Strategic Projects and Signposting the New Post-2013 Programme'. The event was organised in Bari by the Apulia Region's Mediterranean Service in collaboration with Italy's Ministry of Economic Development (DPS) and the Tuscany and Campania regions as part of the MED 2007-2013 Transnational Programme of Cooperation. In laying out the main themes which the meeting went on to elaborate, the Councillor stressed the importance of strategic planning as an ''axis of development for processes of integration,'' within the framework of the EU's new policy of cohesion. She defined it as the ''dominant ratio'' for the future planning period 2014-2020; alongside the theme of the macro-regions, this is ''of the greatest importance, as it introduces elements of development into an incremental process and corresponds to a robust increase in policies of cohesion that have been proposed by Europe: it is a choice that will change the face of European regional policies''. 
The two themes were developed over two sessions. The first of was coordinated by Bernardo Notarangelo, head of the Mediterranean Service, who stressed the word 'strategic' in order to define ''a new way of planning beginning with shared objectives which have been identified via a systematic and integrated approach. On the subject of renewable energy sources, this draws its inspiration from the first strategic project which is getting under way in the Adriatic area and which sees the Apulia region in the front line''. The exchange of ideas and of experience was fuelled by contributions from representatives of bodies of Programme Management for Transnational Cooperation currently under way in the Mediterranean basin. These included: MED (Carmela Cotrone and Gianluca Ferreri), CBC IPA Adriatico (Giovanna Andreola), CBC ENPI MED (Anna Catte), CBC Italy-France Maritime (Maria Dina Tozzi), CBC Italy Tunisia (Antonio Piceno). 
 During the second session, the subject was strategy at the macro-regional level, under the coordination of Rossella Rusca, an executive with the Ministry of Economic Development's Department of Development Policies: ''This event, which has arisen as part of the MED Programme, represents an important stage of sharing and dialogue between the various parties in order to kick-start an evaluation of projects, and not just of the programmes; it is also a consideration of the concept of what is a macro-regional strategy and so of what is a macro-region, to be understood as a European instrument for local-level cohesion''. Contributions for this session came from: David Sweet for the Baltic macro-region (DG Regional Policy), Margarita Jancic for the Danube macro-region (Slovenian Ministry of the Environment and Territorial Planning/Department of International Relations); Marco Rusconi for the Adriatic-Ionian macro-region (Ministry of Foreign Affairs /DG European Integration); Andrea Stocchiero (CESPI) and Jean-Claude Tourret (Istitute for the Mediterranean) for the Mediterranean area.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=102]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[21/06/2010 - AGRICULTURE: SERBIA-ALBANIA-CROATIA FREE TRADE AGREEMENTS]]></title><description><![CDATA[BELGRADE - New free trade agreements are in sight for Serbia's agricultural sector. The country's Chamber of Commerce is in fact close to making a deal with Albania and Moldavia, and the liberalisation process with Croatia is expected to be completed in two separate stages .
In the first stage preferential customs duties will be lowered by 50% and the volume of tradable goods will be increased by 100%. In the second stage, in 2011, customs duties will be eliminated all together and the volume of goods will be raised by another 100%, except for tobacco and sugar. Serbia has already reached liberalisation agreements for the trade in agricultural products with Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia and the ad interim government of Kosovo. With Albania, Moldavia and Croatia the country has signed deals on several levels of liberalisation .
According to Serbia's Economy Ministry, the biggest obstacle to the free circulation of goods is formed by the long and complex border procedures. These obstacles include problems of technical, veterinary and medical nature, the fact that certificates are often not recognised and the lack of institutions responsible for issuing these certificates within a short matter of time.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=103]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[23/06/2010 - ALBANIA: 50 MLN EIB LOAN FOR ROAD NETWORK BELGRADE]]></title><description><![CDATA[The European Investment Bank and the Albanian government have today signed an agreement in Tirana over a 50 million euro loan aimed at asphalting and generally improving the state of the local road network. It is the biggest ever operation carried out between the EIB and Albania.
The EIB was represented by the vice-chairman in charge of Italy, Malta and the Western Balkans, Dario Scannapieco, while the Albanian government was represented by the Finance Minister, Ridvan Bode.
The project is part of a programme that will see the restructuring and the restoration of 1,500 kilometres of roads throughout the whole of Albania, with the aim of improving connections, which in turn would favour economic opportunities and the development of the country's agriculture and tourism sector. The total cost of the project is around 140 million euros and is co-financed by the European Commission and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, as part of the Western Balkans Investment Fund (WBIF).
''We are very happy to contribute to this programme, and generally to intensify our activity with the authorities in Tirana,'' said the deputy chairman Scannapieco during the signing of the deal earlier today. ''This is an important way, together with the other institutions involved, of helping Albania along its road to European integration''.
The EIB has had a presence in Albania since 1995, with its total financial activity so far reaching almost 350 million euros.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=104]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[28/06/2010 - SERBIA: RESEARCH, 800 MN EUROS INVESTMENTS IN 5 YEARS]]></title><description><![CDATA[BELGRADE  - Serbia is to invest 800 million euros over the next five years for technological
research and development. So announced Deputy Premier and Scientific Research Minister, Bozidar Djelic.
Speaking at a conference in Belgrade, Djelic, also Government representative for Serbia's European Integration issues, specified that 400 million euros will be used to finance
specific projects, whereas the other 400 million will go toward developing infrastructures in the scientific and technological field.
This will allow, as Djelic emphasised, a doubling by 2015 of investments in the field of science and research, approaching 1% of GDP. 
At the Belgrade conference, attended by 3,500 sector specialists, researchers and entrepreneurs, Serb President, Boris Tadic, also took the stand to underline that investments in the scientific sector and research signify investing in the country's economic development and future.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=105]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[02/07/2010 - ADRIATIC-IONIAN INITATIVE: PRESIDENCY PASSES   FROM ITALY TO MONTENEGRO]]></title><description><![CDATA[ROME, PODGORICA - The presidency of the Adriatic-Ionian Initiative (AII) passes from Italy to Montenegro. The handover was made official during Foreign Undersecretary Alfredo Mantica's mission to Podgorica, during which the future of the Adriatic-Ionian Macro-region was discussed as well. Montenegro wants to continue its efforts to constitute a macro-region of 100 million people by 2014. The new macro-region should lead to the economic integration of the countries on both shores, in the prospect of the EU's enlargement to the Western Balkans. During Italy's presidency, two protocols were signed on small and medium-sized enterprises and agriculture, while another agreement on tourism is on its way. And a protocol on cultural cooperation may also be passed under Podgorica's aegis, leaving the chapters on the environment, transport and infrastructures to be studied in depth.
 Italy, Greece and Slovenia (the countries of the AII), meanwhile, are promoting the European institutions project. On June 8 of this year, the Regions' Committee gave the green light to Mantica to prepare an advice in the coming months, similar to the work that has already been done for the Baltic, Danube and North Sea macro-regions. Then, together with Slovenia's Foreign Undersecretary and Greece's Minister of Agriculture, Mantica asked for the support of the members of the European Parliament of these three countries. Montenegro is interested in acquiring the elements of this initiative; Italy wants to work in close cooperation with Podgorica, which also holds the presidency of the Central European Initiative (CEI), to make the initiative more visible and send a positive signal to Brussels.
 &quot;The Adriatic-Ionian macro-region is a method to accelerate the European integration of all AII countries&quot;, Foreign Undersecretary Mantica explained in Podgorica during the first meeting of high officials of Montenegro's AII presidency. Mantica pointed out that work is continuing on the liberalisation of visas for Bosnia and Albania, &quot;which will hopefully be completed by the end of this year, so that we will be able to talk from equal positions&quot;. Mantica also explained that the target to start the Adriatic-Ionian macro-region is 2014. Italy, Greece and Slovenia are supporting this battle at the European Union and the Montenegrin presidency &quot;must help us support this political goal&quot;, the Undersecretary added. This concept was made clear to Montenegro's Foreign Minister Milan Rocen as well. Mantica has explained to Rocen that Brussels has expressed doubts on this project, like the scarce integration in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the incomplete efficiency of the Albanian parliament. And still &quot;we need to point out how much progress we have made so far, for example in the area's economic and social development&quot;. The Montenegrin Minister agreed on the European prospects of his country and of the entire Western Balkans, and recognised Italy the role of sponsor for his country's EU accession.
 Under Italy's presidency, which came to an end in May of this year, two protocols have been signed: one on Small and Medium-sized Enterprises and one on rural cooperation. Under Montenegro's presidency, according to Mantica, &quot;the goal is to sign five protocols&quot;, including agreements on tourism, the environment and culture.
 Continuity is also the slogan of Montenegro and Serbia, which will take over the AII's presidency. In particular, Podgorica has pledged to finalise the protocols that have been promoted by Italy, and has selected tourism, SME, transport, environmental protection, cultural cooperation and cooperation between universities as its own areas of interest. The Italian regions play a crucial role in the initiative's success. According to Mantica, these regions have &quot;the organisation and the means to support the project&quot;. Therefore the Undersecretary wants to organise a meeting in September between Italian regions and AII members. &quot;The AII&quot;, Mantica underlined, &quot;is a successful initiative because all its members are equal, they are all European with three countries already in the EU and five other hoping to join the Union&quot;.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=403]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[05/07/2010 - ENERGY: MONTENEGRO, CALL FOR TENDERS FOR 10 PLANTS]]></title><description><![CDATA[PODGORICA - By September the Montenegro government will be publishing the calls for tender for the construction of ten hydroelectric plants in the northern part of the country, announced the Economy Minister Branko Vujovic,adding that the preparation of the final list ranking the offers has entered the decisive phase, and that a survey is being elaborated for the building of two wind power plants.
The two wind power plants will most likely be built in Mozur (near Ulcinj) and the Krnovo plateau between Niksic and Savnik. Spain's Fersa has already expressed interest in the 46-MW plan in Mozur, with an expected investment of approximately 65 million euros.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=404]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[06/07/2010 - CALL FOR PROPOSALS ON THE STRENGTHENING AND DEVELOPMENT OF BOSNIA HERZEGOVINA'S CIVIL SOCIETY]]></title><description><![CDATA[Within the framework of the IPA programme, the instrument for pre-accession instrument addressed to the Eastern Balkans and Turkey, a call for proposals for the strengthening and development of civil society in Bosnia Herzegovina has been published.  The time-limit of the call for proposals expires on July 30th 2010. European Flag (rockcohen - Flickr) Source: P.O.R.E. - Progetto Opportunit&#224; delle Regioni in Europa (Opportunities Project for the Regions in Europe).  The document on 2007 enlargement strategy underlined the importance of civil society for the democratic process and the development towards European integration. It recognised that civil society still remains relatively weak in the region and that further efforts are necessary to increase freedom of association, to create regulatory framework and public incentives for the development of non-governmental organisations. The strategy document also includes further measures for promoting the development of civil society and dialogue with IPA as an essential part for e focusing the fundamental issues on the construction of the state, good governance and socio-economic reforms in order to challenge the EU's enlargement process. 
 The overall objective of this call for proposals is to contribute to democratic stabilization, reconciliation  and further development of Bosnia Herzegovina through the strengthening of civil society, participating to decisions and decisional processes at all levels of government and in all sectors of the governance.  The specific objective is to stimulate and strengthen the issue on the basis of OSC networks, cooperation, the exchange of knowledge and experience in order to become the strongest partners in dialogue with government authorities. 
Documents of the call for proposals 
To read the entire text of the call for proposals  and all of the documents necessary for submitting the project proposals, go to the special page on the European Commission website.
To be entitled to a subsidy, candidates must:
be legal  persons 
be non-profit making subjects 
be non-governmental organisations
come from a European Union member state, or a country that adheres to the IPA pre-accession instrument (Croatia, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Albania, Bosnia- Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, Kosovo), from  a country that enjoys a European neighbourhood partnership (Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Egypt, Georgia, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Moldova, Morocco, Palestinian Authorities of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, Russian Federation, Syria, Tunisia and Ukraine) or from a member state of the European Economic Area (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway).


Initially for this call for proposal only the concept notes must be submitted for the evaluation. Later on, candidates whose concept notes have been pre-selected will be invited to submit a complete application form.  After the evaluation of the entire application, an admissibility check will be carried out for those temporarily selected.  This check will be made according to the supporting documents requested by the relevant awarding authority. 
The total financial assets amount to 2 million euros.  Any subsidy granted according to the present call for proposals must range from a minimum (200,000 euros) to a maximum (300,000) sum settled. 
Requests to receive information can be sent by e-mail or fax no later than 21 days prior to the deadline for the submission of the concept notes, and clearly indicating a reference to the call for proposals to the following address: 
e-mail: Delegation-BIH-Procurement@ec.europa.eu
fax: +387 33 666 037]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=407]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[12/07/2010 - TOURISM: CROATIA, FOCUS ON UNDERWATER SAFARI, 150,000 DIVERS VISIT WRECKAGE FROM THE TWO WARS YEARLY ROME]]></title><description><![CDATA[While the beaches of the jagged Croatian coastline fill up  with tourists during the summer period, those who can, escape into  the silence and darkness of the abysses, amidst the archaeological  sites and sunken wreckage from the two world wars. 
About 150,000 scuba divers search for peace and emotions in the Croatian waters each year. A group of clients that the country is now eyeing closely thanks to so-called ''underwater safaris''. With about 400 underwater archaeological sites counted by the Croatian Ministry of Culture, including 200 dating back to prehistoric times, Croatia is the fourth country in Europe for its number of underwater archaeological sites. And to protect this immense patrimony, the Croatian ministry has declared 92 cultural heritage sites, placing them under protection. No diver can travel alone among the wreckage and archaeological sites. Individual dives are prohibited, but they are allowed in groups. 
In 2009-2013 alone, the Cultural Ministry issued 25 permits to organise underwater activities at protected sites. These are the  four archaeological areas around the island of Mljet, Lastovo and  Vis and in the area of Cavtat. In these areas there are 35 sites.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=408]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[12/07/2010 - MEETING BETWEEN THE MANAGING AUTHORITY AND THE DIRECTORATE FOR EUROPEAN INTEGRATIONS IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA]]></title><description><![CDATA[The meeting was held in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, between the Managing Authority of the IPA Adriatic Programme and the Directorate of European Integrations.  The focal point of the meeting with the newly appointed director Ms. Nevenka Savic was the implementation of the Programme and the improvement of the cooperation among the countries. The Managing Authority, Ms. Giovanna Andreola stressed the importance of having quality projects in the spirit of true collaboration.  The establishment of the Info Point for the IPA Adriatiac Programme in BH and the First Level Control Office was agreed. The First Level Control will be under the responsibility of the Ministry of Finance and Treasury in BH, whose representative was also present.  The meeting was supported by the Italian Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina that regards the development of the South-East European countries as one of its priorities.   Participants:  For Managing Authority: Ms Giovanna Andreola,  For JTS: Ms Bojana Slijepcevic, Ms Francesca Visione For DEI: Ms. Nevenka Savic, Ms.Zara Halilovic, Ms.Nada Bojanic, Ms.Jelena Kesic For Ministry of Finance and Treasury: Ms. Slavica Srdanovic For Italian Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina: Luca di Gianfrancesco]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=410]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[17/07/2010 - CROATIA: ICE-CROINVEST; DEAL TO PROMOTE TRADE EXCHANGE MILAN]]></title><description><![CDATA[In 2009, Italy exported to Croatia for a value of 2.2 billion euros, of which only 512 million came from Lombardy, while imports reached 1.4 billion. With the aim of further developing trade between the two countries, the Institute of Foreign Trade today signed a bilateral agreement in Milan with Croinvest, the Croatian agency that promotes trade and investments. The deal was signed during the Italian-Croatian Economic Forum, which took place at Milan's Chamber of Commerce and which saw the meeting of 110 Italian companies and 30 Croatian SMEs.  ''Italy is the Croatia's leading commercial and economic partner and there are dozens of success stories among Italian companies that have brought investments and excellence to Croatia. The message we want to send to our SMEs is that they should consider south-eastern Europe as a natural area of influence,'' said Umberto Vattani, the chairman of the Italian Trade Commission. ''Consolidating relations between Italy and Croatia is fundamental for a solid economic and social tightening,'' said Pier Andrea Chevallard, secretary general of Milan's Chamber of Commerce and director of Promos, the chamber company for internationalisation.  ''For some time the Chamber of Commerce has been committed to furthering relations with the area, as proved by the deal signed in October with the Croatian Chamber of Economy for the joint promotion of business initiatives, which is showing excellent results''.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=412]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[19/07/2010 - EUROMED: 757.6 MLN EURO FOR ENPI INTER-REGIONAL COOPERATION]]></title><description><![CDATA[BRUXELLES - The European Commission is making available 757.6 million euros across six priority areas under its ENPI Inter-regional Programme (IRP) for the period 2011-2013, up from 523.9 million euros for the period 2007-2010. The IRP provides effective support for the European Neighbourhood Policy and the Strategic Partnership with Russia through activities best organised and implemented at interregional level: &amp;quot;It will support initiatives which by their nature or size cannot be effectively supported through bilateral, regional or thematic programmes, while enabling specific commitments towards particular areas of policy interest.&amp;quot; The Indicative Programme 2011-2013 confirmed IRP priorities for the period, as support for investment, higher education and regulatory reforms were still medium term objectives. Funding for the Indicative Programme for 2011-2013 will amount to 757.6 million euros, breaking down as follows: 450 million euros for promoting large-scale investment in energy and transport infrastructure, the environment, social sectors and small and medium enterprise development in partner countries; 249 million euros for promoting higher education reform, institutional cooperation and mobility of students; 30 million for support for the reform processes in the partner countries through European advice and expertise; 15 million euros for promoting mutual understanding and cooperation between local actors in the EU and in the partner countries; 10 million euros for promoting Inter-Regional Cultural Action (People to People), with a particular focus on the indipendent cultural sector and the promotion of contacts between people; 3.6 million euros for promoting cooperation between partners countries and EU agencies.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=413]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[20/07/2010 - ENTERPRISES: SERBIA; 6 MLN EUROS FOR DEVELOPMENT OF 320 SMES]]></title><description><![CDATA[BELGRADE  - Serbia's National Agency for Regional Development has granted about 6 million euros in financing for about 320 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). 840 SMEs competed for the financing and 70% of the requests granted concern the adaptation of enterprises to higher production standards in terms of quality. According to data released by the Economy and Regional Development Ministry, in 2008 and 2009 the Serbian government had granted about 18 million euros in financing to 749 SMEs by way of SME support plans. The statement noted that in Serbia there are about 300,000 SMEs which account for 60% of GDP and 45% of products exported by the country, employing 45% of the overall workforce. ]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=416]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[21/07/2010 - TRANSPORTS: EU, FOUR BALKAN COUNTRIES IN SAFEMED PROJECT]]></title><description><![CDATA[BRUSSELS - The European Commission decided to involve Albania, Bosnia Herzegovina, Croatia and Montenegro in the Eu funded SafeMed II project, now in the second phase (2009-2011), which aims to protect Mediterranean against the risks of accidents at sea and marine pollution, especially promoting a uniform application of the maritime rules. The news is in the project's bulletin. Until now SafeMed II involved Eu's partners as Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Lebanon, Palestinian Territories, Jordan, Morocco, Syria, Tunisia and Turkey. The participation of the four western Balkans countries, that are also pre-accession countries, is the signal that today several countries bordering the Mediterranean are working to achieve a high level of maritime safety and protection of the maritime environment in the region. Furthermore, the initiative is in line with the objectives of the Union for the Mediterranean. These four countries will participate to the SafeMed's training programme and could win scholarships for courses at the World maritime University (WMO) and at International Maritime Law Institute. ]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=418]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[27/07/2010 - ENERGY: ITALY - SERBIA, AGREEMENT FOR IBAR RIVER POWER STATIONS DEAL BETWEEN SECI ENERGIA AND EPS, WORTH 285 MLN EUROS]]></title><description><![CDATA[BELGRADE - The Italian group Seci Energia, from the Maccaferri group,  and Elektroprivreda Srbije (ES), the biggest electricity company in Serbia, have signed an agreement in Belgrade today for the creation of a joint venture aimed at building ten hydroelectric power stations on the Ibar river, in the central southern Serbia.    The agreement, the first step in the implementation of the strategic agreement on energy between Italy and Serbia, was signed on the Italian side by Gaetano Maccaferri and Luciano Scipione, the head of Seci Energia, and on the Serbian side by Dragomir Markovic, the general director of EPS. Serbia's Energy Minister, Petar Skundric, and Italy's ambassador to Belgrade, Armando Varricchio, also attended.     The new mixed company, of which 51% of annuity will belong to Seci Energia and 49% to EPS, will build ten hydroelectric power stations on the Ibar with a total capacity of 103 megawatts and an annual production of 450 gikawatts per hour. The total value of the investment is 285 million euros. It was explained that the energy produced by the nine power stations will initially be channeled towards Montenegro, from where it will be directed to Italy.    In the future, the building is planned of another three power stations along the river Drina with a capacity of 150 megawatts each, and with an annual production of 1,500 gikawatts per hour, with a further investment of 650 million euros. The energy agreement signed between Italy and Serbia in the last few months by the former Minister for Economic Development, Claudio Scajola, means that a total production of around a thousand megawatt will be produced.  At the moment, 103 will be produced on the Ibar, a little over 400 on the Drina, with the rest coming from other hydroelectric micro-power stations, all of them under 10 megawatts, which will spring up in various parts of Serbia.    The signatories of the agreement in Belgrade and the Serbian Energy Minister underlined the importance of the projects, which mark a concrete beginning of collaboration between Italy and Serbia in the energy sector, a union decided during the inter-governmental summit held last November in Rome.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=419]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[28/07/2010 - ALBANIA: 50 MLN EIB LOAN FOR ROAD NETWORK]]></title><description><![CDATA[BELGRADE - The European Investment Bank and the Albanian  government have signed an agreement in Tirana over a 50 million  euro loan aimed at asphalting and generally improving the state of  the local road network. It is the biggest ever operation carried out  between the EIB and Albania.    The project is part of a programme that will see the restructuring and the restoration of 1,500 kilometres of roads throughout the whole of Albania, with the aim of improving connections, which in turn would favour economic opportunities and the development of the country's agriculture and tourism sector. The total cost of the project is around 140 million euros and is co-financed by the European Commission and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, as part of the Western Balkans Investment Fund (WBIF).]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=420]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[29/07/2010 - ALTERENERGY - THE JOINT MONITORING COMMITTEE WELCOMES THE STRATEGIC PROJECT ON RENEWABLE ENERGIES]]></title><description><![CDATA[PORE&amp;#262; &amp;ndash; A meeting of the Joint Monitoring Committee of the CBC IPA Adriatic Programme 2007-2013 was held in Pore&amp;#263;, Croatia, last 27 and 28 July.   The Vice Minister of Regional Development of the Republic of Croatia, Mr. Karlo Gjurasi&amp;#263;, opened the working session, along with the President of the Istrian Region, Mr. Ivan Jakov&amp;#269;i&amp;#263;.  Both of them highlighted the need to adopt a strategy of the Adriatic Sea, which, as is being done for the Baltic Sea, would catalyze the Community resources and encourage an agreed and synergic development of the involved territories.  Among the important results of the two-day meeting there is the approval of the Memorandum of Understanding among the Partner Countries, which unblocks the funds of the European Community, ensures the Partner Countries&amp;rsquo; co-funding quotas and gives the green light to the finalization of the list of the funded standard projects, which has to be approved by the JMC at the end of the quality assessing phase in October 2010.   A second success was the approval, on first reading, of the Strategic Project ALTERENERGY, focused on the exploitation of an Adriatic Community based on the principles of low carbon economy, production of renewable energy and energy efficiency.   The Project, leaded by Puglia Region and co-promoted by the Republic of Albania, involves all partner Countries of the IPA Adriatic Programme: Slovenia, Greece, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro and Serbia, and all Italian regions of the Adriatic coast: Friuli Venetia Giulia, Veneto, Emilia Romagna, Marche, Molise and Abruzzi, this last being the Managing Authority of the Programme.   ALTERENERGY, which will definitely be admitted for funding, along with the standard projects, during next meeting of the JMC, paves the way for the strategic projects&amp;rsquo; planning, the actual novelty of the 2007-2013 EU Territorial Cooperation.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=421]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[03/08/2010 - CROATIA: ICE-CROINVEST; DEAL TO PROMOTE TRADE EXCHANGE]]></title><description><![CDATA[MILAN - In 2009, Italy exported to Croatia for a value of 2.2 billion euros, of which only 512 million came from Lombardy, while imports reached 1.4 billion. With the aim of further developing trade between the two countries, the Institute of Foreign Trade today signed a bilateral agreement in Milan with Croinvest, the Croatian agency that promotes trade and investments. The deal was signed during the Italian-Croatian Economic Forum, which took place at Milan's Chamber of Commerce and which saw the meeting of 110 Italian companies and 30 Croatian SMEs. ''Italy is the Croatia's leading commercial and economic partner and there are dozens of success stories among Italian companies that have brought investments and excellence to Croatia. The message we want to send to our SMEs is that they should consider south-eastern Europe as a natural area of influence,'' said Umberto Vattani, the chairman of the Italian Trade Commission. ''Consolidating relations between Italy and Croatia is fundamental for a solid economic and social tightening,'' said Pier Andrea Chevallard, secretary general of Milan's Chamber of Commerce and director of Promos, the chamber company for internationalisation. ]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=422]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[15/09/2010 - INNOVATION FESTIVAL IN APULIA, NEW IDEAS FOR BIG BUSINESSES FROM DECEMBER 1-3 DIALOGUE BETWEEN SCIENCE AND SOCIETY ]]></title><description><![CDATA[BARI - A multi-regional event dedicated to possible innovation and that already in place is the menu for the second edition of the Innovation Festival, which is to be held in Bar&amp;igrave;s Fiera del Levante from December 1-3.    The show, which has a slogan of 'New ideas for big businesses', was presented today at the Bari Fair by the President of the Apulia region, Nichi Vendola. There are to be four thematic macro-areas within which the festival will take place: Innovention (which includes themes dedicated to mechatronics, aeronautics, IT and new materials), Land (featuring biotechnologies, life sciences, farming industry, energy and environment), Imagination (on innovation linked to creative industry, tourism, cultural assets, training, communication and public administration) and Innovabilia (focussing on innovations towards quality of life, following on from the theme of the 'Festival of innovations for the differently abled', which was held in Foggia in December 2009). The Innovation Festival aims to create opportunities for introductions and contacts between research and businesses, to facilitate dialogue between science and society and create a shop window-laboratory  for young people and students. The event will feature a continuous stream of displays, exhibitions and meetings.     These will take place across a range of exhibition areas, workshops, conferences, international seminars, demonstrations and spectacular events that all strive towards innovation. The initiatives include the 'Puglia Innovation Jam', which is for students and young people under the age of 29 and aims to stimulate and group together ideas for innovative products and services) and the Investment Forum (in which new spin-off business plans and new Puglia-based innovative businesses will be presented to potential investors). The Festival will also play host to the third edition of Public Camp, the national meeting of public communicators, which is being put on by the Apulia region, with a scientific programme dedicated entirely to the issue of 'Islands in networks'. Two exhibitions are scheduled, the first on office activity for technological transfer (ILOs) by universities and public research bodies, while the second focusses on patents and the results of research by businesses.    More details about the 2010 Festival can be found at www.festivalinnovazione.puglia.it  , where the innovation community can also be joined. The Festival is partnered by the Apulia region, the five regional universities, CNR and ENEA is being held in collaboration with Fiera del Levante. The event is part of activities in the 'Creating businesses and spreading technology from research - ILO2' programme, which is financed by the FESR Operational Programme 2007-2013. ]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=423]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[20/09/2010 - ENERGY: CROATIA, FIRST HYDROELECTRIC PLANT IN 20 YEARS]]></title><description><![CDATA[ZAGREB - The first hydroelectric power plant constructed in Croatia  in the last 20 years was put into operation yesterday. It will reduce the countries dependence on imported electricity by 7-8 %.    The hydroelectric plaint, built in Lesce on the Dobra River, in central Croatia, has 42.3 megawatts of power and will annually produce 98 gig watt/hour. The structure cost the Croatian government 90 million euros.    Croatia up until now imported 20% of its required electric energy and thanks to the new plant this figure should decrease to 12-13%. Croatia's energetic strategy foresees the attainment of complete independence in 2020.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=424]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[27/09/2010 - SERBIA: EU; 157 COMPANIES IN PROJECT OF SUPPORT TO SMES]]></title><description><![CDATA[BELGRADE - The European Union invested the total of 1.5 million EUR in the recently finalized two-year project of support to entrepreneurship and innovativeness development in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Serbia, the Ministry of Economy and Regional Development announced summing up the results of the project.    The project, which involved 157 companies, was aimed at assisting SMEs in sale of products and services at the foreign market and at increasing employment and productivity in the companies.    EU assisted the SMEs sector in Serbia with about EUR50 million in the period 2001-06 while the total of EUR9.5 million were allocated for the same purpose from IPA funds in the same period, reports VIP Daily News Report.(ANSAmed). ]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=425]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[01/10/2010 - SERBIA-CROATIA-SLOVENIA:JOINT COMPANY'S FIRST TRAIN IN OCT.]]></title><description><![CDATA[BELGRADE - Serbian Infrastructure Minister Milutin Mrkonjic said  that the first train of the joint railway enterprise of Serbia, Croatia and Slovenia is likely to start operating from October 1. Mrkonjic told Tanjug news agency that in the next few days it will be known how much each country will invest in the joint railway enterprise which could increase Serbia's foreign exchange inflow by about EUR50 million already by the end of 2011.    The minister pointed out that after the company is established there will no more be crowds at the borders, because the goods will be passing the police, customs and sanitary controls in all the three countries faster. According to him, the company will be financed by its own revenues.    The Declaration on the establishment of a joint railway company was signed by Serbia, Slovenia and Croatia in late July, on which occasion it was announced that the simpler border procedures should facilitate faster goods and passenger transportation on Corridor 10.    On the same occasion, Mrkonjic pointed out that the current traffic flow on the railway Corridor 10, from Ljubljana via Zagreb, Belgrade and Istanbul to Dimitrovgrad, is about 700 trains, while on the much longer Corridor 4, through Hungary, the traffic flow is 7,000.    The freight train line from Ljubljana to Istanbul takes about 60 hours today, and the travel time is planned to be reduced to 40 hours. ]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=426]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[04/10/2010 - ENVIRONMENT: MONTENEGRO, COMPETITION FOR WASTE TREATMENT]]></title><description><![CDATA[ROME - Montenegro's Environment Ministry has begun procedures  for the drawing up of announcement of competition for the  collection, management, recycling and disposal of special waste (batteries, storage tanks, tyres, vehicles, electrical and electronic waste).    With this public pitch, the government hopes to find more competitive operators capable of offering the best possible service. the length of the concession for the collection, management, recycling and disposal of the waste has been established as a minimum of 5 years and a maximum o 10. ]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=427]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[06/10/2010 - COOPERATION: IPA ADRIATIC AT EU REGIONS AND CITIES WEEK]]></title><description><![CDATA[PESCARA, OCTOBER 6 - IPA Adriatic is also taking part in the eighth edition of OPEN DAYS - European Week for Regions and Cities in Brussels, which is set to run until October 7: the IPA Adriatic Cross-Border Cooperation Programme is present with a stand at the event sponsored every year by the European Commission and the EU Regions Committee. On the first day, the exhibition space was visited by Apulia regional president Nichi Vendola. In the 2010 edition of OPEN DAYS, over 6,000 representatives of regional and local bodies have taken part. Under the slogan ''Europe 2010: competitiveness, cooperation and cohesion for all regions'', OPEN DAYS will act as a forum in which to exchange ideas on the role of European regions and cities as part of the Europe 2010 strategy. The managing authority of IPA  Adriatic wanted to take part since the values and aims of the Community programme are in line with the principles of OPEN DAYS. IPA, which has a total endowment of about 280 million euros, aims to harmonise the social level of a large Adriatic cross-border area in the name of economic, institutional, cultural, touristic, environmental and infrastructural cooperation, and involved eight States: Slovenia, Croatia,  Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Serbia and Greece, as well as seven regions - Abruzzo first of all, followed by the Friuli Venezia Giulia, Veneto, Emilia Romagna, Marche, Puglia and Molise regions. However, the event underway in Brussels will also see a number of other correlated events: all across Europe, as part of OPEN DAYS, about 260 other local events will be taking place, including a round table discussion on the role of football in bringing peace to divided communities. In the ''meeting place'' of the Regions Committee building, projects and programmes will be presented and a fair will be held with over 50 stands on such themes as the ''Green Economy'' and ''Territorial Cooperation'', alongside 36 seminars. However, OPEN DAYS does not just revolve around Brussels. As part of ''Europe in my region/Europe in my city'', between September and November 35 countries will see about 260 local events held by partner regions and cities. In addition to raising awareness on how the EU invests in projects with wide-ranging effects on the daily lives of EU citizens, the initiative will also spread future cohesion policy themes among the public.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=428]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[11/10/2010 - SLOVENIA, FIRST BIO-FUEL PLANT OPENED ]]></title><description><![CDATA[LJUBLJANA - The Slovenia's first power plant running on biodiesel was opened in the town of Benedikt, in the north of the country. The 950 kilowatt plant has cost 1.3 million euros. It is owned by a local agricultural cooperation, and is expected to consume 1.8 million litres of biological fuel based on seed oil per year.  ]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=429]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[15/10/2010 - ENVIRONMENT: MONTENEGRO, COMPETITION FOR WASTE TREATMENT]]></title><description><![CDATA[ROME - Montenegro's Environment Ministry has begun procedures  for the drawing up of announcement of competition for the  collection, management, recycling and disposal of special waste (batteries, storage tanks, tyres, vehicles, electrical and electronic waste).    With this public pitch, the government hopes to find more competitive operators capable of offering the best possible service. the length of the concession for the collection, management, recycling and disposal of the waste has been established as a minimum of 5 years and a maximum o 10. ]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=430]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[19/10/2010 - SLOVENIA, FIRST BIO-FUEL PLANT OPENED ]]></title><description><![CDATA[ LJUBLJANA - The Slovenia's first power plant running on biodiesel was opened in the town of Benedikt, in the north of the country. The 950 kilowatt plant has cost 1.3 million euros. It is owned by a local agricultural cooperation, and is expected to consume 1.8 million litres of biological fuel based on seed oil per year. ]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=431]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[25/10/2010 - TRANSPORT: CROATIA, NEW RAILWAY CARGO TERMINAL IN PLOCE]]></title><description><![CDATA[Croatian railway company HZ will make a start with the construction of a logistics centre in Ploce for a total of 10 million euros. It is one of the four cargo terminals that will also be built in Slavonski Brod, Zagreb and Rijeka. The terminal in Ploce is the result of an agreement between HZ and the company Novi Plobest, which has made its installation of 63,000 square metres in the centre of the port available, a solution that is considered to be the best for the location of the new structure. Global Wood Service will be one of the first clients. This company transports 1.35 million tonnes of biomass per year to Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The total value of the contract is 5 million euros. ]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=432]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[25/10/2010 - ENERGY: MONTENEGRO, 18.8 MLN IN INVESTMENT FOR 5 PLANTS]]></title><description><![CDATA[ The Montenegrin Economy Minister and the Kroling firm from Danilovgrad (central Montenegro) have underwritten an accord for the building of 5 mini hydroelectric plants in the Plav and Savnik zones for an overall investment of about 18.8 million euros. The agreement - signed by Economy Minister Branko Vujovic and Kroling's executive director Zeljko Miskovic - calls for the concessionary use of the Tusina waterway in Savik for 30 years. The contractor will be tasked with building 4 hydroelectric plants and will have to give 5.7% of the overall annual production value to the government. For the Komaraca waterway near Plav, the concession decided on is 25 years. ]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=433]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[26/10/2010 - COMMUNICATION: ADRIATIC IPA AWARDED EUROCOMMUNICATION 2010 ]]></title><description><![CDATA[PESCARA - The multiannual communication plan of Ipa-Adriatico's cross-border cooperation programme, and especially the dedicated website adriaticipacbc.org, was awarded the &amp;quot;Eurocommunication2010&amp;quot; international prize. The Special Prize in the Web Communication category is provided in the context of COM.Lab 2010 - General States of Public Communication in Italy and Europe. The website was considered one of the most interesting examples of web design and content at the cross-border cooperation level, a point of reference and a model for Public administration in continuous evolution. The award ceremony was carried out in Bologna and the award was handed to the leaders of the Interregional cooperation and development observatory (Osservatorio Interregionale Cooperazione e Sviluppo), which has technical assistance duties in the context of the Cooperation Programme. This is the fourth edition of the prize sponsored by the Italian Association of Public and Institutional Communication which has the purpose of highlighting examples and excellencies of public and institutional communication at national level. Abruzzo is the leader of Ipa which also involves Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Serbia and Greece, as well as the Regions of Abruzzo, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Veneto, Emilia Romagna, Marche, Apulia and Molise. Assets amount to 280 million euros to finance projects aimed at harmonising the cross-border Adriatic area in the name of economic and institutional, touristic, environmental and infrastructural cooperation. Gianni Chiodi, president of the Regional Council of Abruzzo, expressed his satisfaction stating that &amp;quot;I make my compliments to the protagonists of the Adriatico Ipa programme for the great results that have been achieved, the COM.Lab 2010 prize is further proof of it. I must emphasise the fact that in this case the acknowledgement comes for communication, a very important element because at the base of the success of a programme there is also a correct and efficient capacity of making the initiative known, disseminating its results, aside from guaranteeing transparency in paths. I am also pleased about the effective coordination role played by Abruzzo, another proud moment after that our Region came out the first in the centre-south in the use of structural funds&amp;quot;.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=434]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[09/11/2010 - WATER: CROATIA; 30 MLN ALLOCATED FOR WATER GRID]]></title><description><![CDATA[ ZAGREB - The Croatian Ministry for Regional Development, Silviculture and Water Management has signed an agreement for the financing of a project for the development of a water supply system worth 30 million euros in the city of Slavonski Brod. The agreement was signed with the public company for Croatian water (Hrvatske Vode), local authorities and executives from the Vodovod company. It is the most important project in the Croatian water management sector and will be carried out with European Commission financing as part of the IPAS programme for regional development.  Out of the total 29.65 million euros the IPA programme will cover 50% (15.34 million), while the rest (12.3 million euros) will be allocated through the state budget and that of the Slavonski Brod Municipality for a value of 2 million euros. One of the main elements of the project will be the construction of machines for water purification and new connections on the water supply grid.  ]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=435]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[17/11/2010 - BOSNIA: EUR50 MLN FROM EIB FOR MODERNISATION OF WATER SYSTEM]]></title><description><![CDATA[The European Investment Bank (EIB) has announced the granting of a loan of 50 million euros to support the modernisation of the water and infrastructure system relating to waste water in the Republika Srpska, one of the two entities that make up Bosnia and Herzegovina. The EIB specified in a statement that the agreement was signed with the Agriculture and Forests Minister of the Republika Srpska. It is underlined that this will contribute to improving the citizens' quality of life and at the same time bring Bosnia and Herzegovina towards the harmonisation with EU law on the environment. The aim is to protect public health and the environment from pollution linked to waste water. It was specified that the project will regard interventions in 24 municipalities of the Republika Srpska (RS), with a total population of some 250,000 inhabitants. In 2008, the EIB financed a similar project in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the other entity making up Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a loan of 60 million euros.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=437]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[25/11/2010 - EIB: SERBIA, 40 MLN EUROS FOR BELGRADE RING ROAD DEAL SIGNED FOR SECOND TRANCHE OF 180 MLN EURO LOAN]]></title><description><![CDATA[The European Investment Bank (EIB) signed an agreement in Belgrade for the concession of the second tranche of 40 million euros for the construction of a ring road around Serbia's capital.    Today's signing releases the second tranche of a loan of 180 million euros to Serbia, approved by the EIB in 2007. Its goal is the construction of a ring road of 20 km around the capital. The road will have a capacity of 60 thousand vehicles per day and will decongest traffic in the city.    A 27 km long motorway with four lanes will be built in the south-west of Belgrade.    The release of a first tranche of 60 million was approved in 2007, the agreement on the final 80 million will be signed in 2011.    The ring road is part of Corridor 10, an important pan-European artery that will link Salzburg (Austria) to Thessaloniki (Greece) via Ljubljana - Zagreb - Belgrade - Nis - Skopje - Veles.  ]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=442]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[29/11/2010 - COOPERATION: 	"IPA ADRIATIC CBC PROGRAMME" 1st, 2nd and 3rd December in L'Aquila NEW MEETING  OF THE JOINT MONITORING COMMITTEE ]]></title><description><![CDATA[A new meeting for the Joint Monitoring Committee of the &amp;ldquo;IPA Adriatic CBC Programme&amp;rdquo; (2007-2013): the meeting is planned in L&amp;rsquo;Aquila from next 1st to 3rd December. The important meeting will take place at Abruzzo Region&amp;rsquo;s premises, Via Salaria Antica Est n. 27. Among the topics on the agenda there are the approval of 134 projects to be financed, after the quality assessment carried out by the Joint Technical Secretariat, and the approval of the Subsidy Contract that the admitted applicants will have to sign.  The &amp;ldquo;IPA Adriatic CBC Programme&amp;rdquo; involves eight Countries: Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Serbia, Greece and for Italy, behind Abruzzo Region, that is the Managing Authority of the Programme, also Friuli Venezia Giulia, Veneto, Emilia Romagna, Marche, Puglia and Molise Regions.  The total financial allocation of the Programme amounts to about 280 million euros and aims to harmonize the cross-border Adriatic area in favor of an institutional, economic, cultural, tourist, environmental and infrastructural cooperation.  ]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=443]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[09/02/2011 - COOPERATION: "IPA ADRIATIC CBC PROGRAMME" A TOTAL AMOUNT OF 75 MILLION EUROS HAVE BEEN ASSIGNED TO THE FIRST 32 ORDINARY PROJECTS ]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Joint Monitoring Committee of the &amp;ldquo;IPA Adriatic CBC Programme&amp;rdquo; (2007-2013) approved the first 32 ordinary projects for a total funding of 75 million, 25 for each of the three priorities. The decision was taken during the meeting held in L&amp;rsquo;Aquila from last 1st to 3rd December. These projects have been chosen among the 134 considered admissible at the end of the quality assessment performed by the Joint Technical Secretariat: 11 submitted on the first priority concerning the economic, social and institutional cooperation, 10 on the second priority concerning the natural and cultural resources, 11 on the third priority concerning the accessibility and networks. After an intense work the Committee identified the first projects within the Community cooperation programme with a total allocation of about 280 million euros aiming to harmonize the Adriatic cross-border area  in favor of an institutional, economic, cultural, tourist, environmental and infrastructural cooperation.  &amp;ldquo;We are satisfied with the work carried out by the members of the table &amp;ndash; explains the representative of the Managing Authority, Giovanna Andreola, manager of the International Activities sector of Abruzzo Region -, we faced with a complex task considering the diversity of the objectives and strategic planning of the Countries and territories involved in the Programme &amp;ndash; continued Giovanna Andreola.  The result obtained testifies the capabilities of consulting with the territory&amp;rsquo;s actors  of the whole Adriatic area&amp;rdquo;. The &amp;ldquo;IPA Adriatic CBC Programme&amp;rdquo; involves eight Countries: Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Serbia, Greece and for Italy, behind Abruzzo Region, that is the Managing Authority of the Programme, also Friuli Venezia Giulia, Veneto, Emilia Romagna, Marche, Puglia and Molise Regions.Provisional funded projects and ranking lists]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=444]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[06/02/2011 - COOPERATION: NEW REGULATIONS FOR 2010 PRACTICAL GUIDE (PRAG)]]></title><description><![CDATA[The 2010 Practical Guide (PRAG) is a working tool which explains the contract procedures applying to all EU external contracts financed by the EU general budget and by the 10th European Development Fund (EDF).  An updated version of the guide has just been published.  The principal changes include clarifications regarding applying and new eligibility regulations for the EDF.  Updated basic regulations involve management modes, with changes to the rules on elaborating associated texts concerning indirect centralised management and common management, in addition to mentioning the possibility of using country procedures in decentralised management.  Other essential points involve an explanation of conflicts of interests, the non-retroactivity and record keeping, explanations of joint procurement with a member state and ex-post publication of beneficiaries.  New ethical clauses are also contained in the guide, with a clarification that the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) must be notified in case of suspected cases of fraud, corruption and other irregularities that involve EU funds.  Clarifications were also included in regards to appeals, with reduced response times in case of appeals down to 45 days.  The update also discusses grants, the new approach to co-financing and the characteristics of the standard grant contract (in addition to specifying the maximum amount and a maximum percentage of eligible costs, a percentage of total accepted costs can also be used. The chapter regarding relations with international organisations, member states, beneficiary counties and other donors regarding delegated cooperation and co-financing has been removed.  The update can be found at http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/work/procedures/implementation/services. (YB1 - Paolo Magrone)]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=449]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[07/02/2011 - SERBIA CONTINUES ON ROAD TO EU MEMBERSHIP]]></title><description><![CDATA[The approval of the stabilisation and association agreement between the EU and Serbia means that the country has come closer to joining the European Union. After the approval of the Parliament, now all member States have to ratify the agreement, which lowers trade barriers, before it can take effect. With the ratification of the agreement, Serbia is &amp;quot;encouraged to take further steps in its historic journey towards the EU, recognising the results that were obtained by the country in the past year. &amp;quot;Belgrade&amp;quot;, as was said in Parliament, &amp;quot;will have to fully collaborate with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia and guarantee that the agreement's ratification process will continue without problems&amp;quot;. The European Parliament has asked the remaining 15 countries to proceed with the ratification: so far 12 member States, including Italy, have ratified it. Serbia's journey to EU membership will also allow the country to join the World Trade Organization, sch  eduled at the end of 2011. (YB1 - Paolo Magrone)]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=450]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[08/02/2011 - EU-CROATIA: ZAGREB GETS CLOSER TO MEMBERSHIP]]></title><description><![CDATA[Croatia is getting closer to EU membership, which could become a reality  by the end of 2012 if the negotiations are concluded by June this year.  This is only true of ''the country continues on the right track of  reforms'', as demanded in a resolution that was passed by the Foreign  Affairs Commission. EU membership had already come a step closer after  the 11th intergovernmental conference in which the EU and Zagreb managed  to close another eight negotiation chapters, including three that are  considered to be crucial ones regarding justice, freedom and security;  the environment; foreign policy, defence and security. The challenges  that still have to be faced for EU accession are the reform of the  public administration, the fight against corruption, support for the  return of refugees and the adoption of reorganisation and privatisation  plans for the country's shipyards. Croatia will also have to organise a  referendum for EU membership.  &amp;nbsp; Meanwhile the country is trying to recover from the economic crisis  and does so by focusing on tourism. In fact 5 tourism projects (of the  30 government projects) should contribute in this perspective, with a  planned cost of 13.8 billion euros: they are called 'New deal' and  include hotel projects. The Croatian tourism board (HTZ) foresees that  around 30 million euros will be spent in 2011 on advertising and  communication. (YB1 - Paolo Magrone) ]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=451]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[16/02/2011 - TOURISM: IPA ADRIATIC CBC AT INTERNATIONAL TOURISM EXCHANGE ]]></title><description><![CDATA[The countries and the regions involved in the IPA Adriatic Cross Border Cooperation Programme will be present at the International Tourism Exchange (BIT), scheduled to take place in Milan on February 17-20, with the goal of providing a comprehensive explanation of the opportunities for the development of tourism in the Adriatic area, with the final objective of promoting tourism in the Adriatic region. After taking part in the event last year for the first time, the initiatives adopted as part of the activities relative to the communication plan for the programme have been confirmed. IPA Adriatic will have a dedicated corner that can be visited during the three days of the global event: on February 18 a seminar attended by representatives from the countries and regions will be held, entitled &amp;quot;IPA Adriatic: eco-tourism to protect and promote the sea&amp;quot;. The goal, underlined the organisers, is to promote tourism itineraries for the Adriatic area in an integrated way, and at the same time, to explain the projects approved with the first contract for tourism, the environment and the local territory. The IPA Adriatic cross border cooperation programme involves 8 states: Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Serbia and Greece, as well as seven regions: Abruzzo, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Veneto, Emilia Romagna, Marche, Apulia and Molise. Its overall funding amounts to about 280 million euros and aims to harmonise the Adriatic area in the name of economic and institutional, cultural, tourism, environmental and infrastructural cooperation. The BIT is expected to be attended by over 150,000 visitors, including about 100,000 operators in the sector.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=452]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[18/02/2011 - CROATIA: 178 MILLION TO REVIVE EMPLOYMENT ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Croatia is attempting to revive employment with a two-year national plan that is expected to provide work for 150,000 people, with 178 million euros allocated for 2011 and 2012. The Croatian Prime Minister, Jadranka Kosor, explained that the measure is part of IPA collaboration programmes with the European Union and with a number of Ministries. At the end of December, unemployment in Croatia reached its highest level in the last five years, registering 18.7%, 2 percentage points higher than in the corresponding month of 2009. The two-year plan has 9 main strategic objectives and will see Croatia invest 61.6 million euros in the reconstruction of buildings damaged during the war, 27.4 million euros for the development of the islands, 23.2 million for programmes in the placement office, 22 million euros on initiatives supporting entrepreneurship and 20.5 million euros for employment for war veterans. The Italian Trade Commission in Zagreb says that the plan is aimed at resolving long-term unemployment issues, by increasing the number of jobs for women and young people and by improving the adaptation of workers to the needs of companies. Zagreb is also investing in tourism and has made 8 million euros available for tourism agencies and airlines, as part of the &amp;quot;Wings of Croatia&amp;quot; programme), with which it hopes to increase the number of tourists visiting the country. Croatia, which is drawing ever closer to EU membership, could obtain a date for the end of membership talks in April, and conclude the talks in June.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=454]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[18/02/2011 - TOURISM: IPA ADRIATIC OPENS STAND IN BIT MILANO]]></title><description><![CDATA[This morning saw the inauguration of the display corner dedicated to the Community Programme of Cooperation IPA CBC Adriatic inside the International tourism market (Borsa internazionale del Turismo, Bit), a world event that opened today in Milan. This is Ipa's second appearance in the Milan fair following the one last year.  The objective is to illustrate in a wider scenario the opportunities to develop tourism in the Adriatic area in order to promote the local realities. The initiative is part of the Programme's communication plan and includes representatives of the States and Regions involved in Ipa. The programme schedule states that tomorrow February 18 at 10.30am there will be a workshop called &amp;quot;Ipa Adriatic: ecotourism to protect and promote the sea&amp;quot;. The event moderator will be Rai journalist Attilio Romita, chief editor of Tg1, one of the most loved faces in public TV news reports. The event will be attended, among others, Ipa's management authority, Giovanna Andreola, director of the International activities sector of the Abruzzo Region, and Bernardo Notarangelo, in charge of communications for the Ipa Programme, Sanda Simic, head of the Programme for Serbia and Maja Radisic Zuvanic for Croatia, and also Martna Gamboz for Slovenia. The workshop will be denoted by the presence of major tour operators, buyers especially, who will be introduced to the local attractions and tour routes of the Adriatic identified through projects financed in the context of the first Ipa tender that assigned 25 million to the sector: 50 Cral were also invited, and there will also be Assotravel representatives. The Community Programme of Cooperation IPA CBC Adriatic involves 8 States: Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Serbia and Greece; and seven Regions: Abruzzo, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Veneto, Emilia Romagna, Marche, Apulia and Molise. It has a budget amounting to approximately 280 million euros and plans to harmonise the Adriatic cross-border in the name of economic, institutional, touristic, environmental and infrastructural cooperation. According to estimated 150,000 people will visit the Bit event, 100,000 of which work in the sector. ]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=455]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[21/02/2011 - COOPERATION:TWO SHORES UNITED BY THE SEA, IPA ADRIATIC ]]></title><description><![CDATA['The Adriatic Sea is not a barrier, but instead unites the countries on the two shores in a deep relationship of cooperation which represents one of the most effective tools for economic, cultural and social development. For this reason, IPA's aim is to promote integrated tourism within the Adriatic area centred on its natural and cultural environment, the so-called ecotourism.'' This is the most widely-shared and salient statement to have emerged from the seminar ''IPA Adriatic: ecotourism for the safeguarding and promotion of the sea'' which was held yesterday in Milan's exhibition centre as part of the Borsa Internazionale del Turismo (Bit), in which countries and regions involved in the CBC IPA Adriatic Cooperation Programme took part for the second year in a row. The works were chaired by RAI journalist Attilio Romita, managing editor of TG1, one of the most popular figures of public news programmes. During the seminar the beauty and tourist routes in the Adriatic were also presented, which had been identified in the projects financed in the first IPA public call for projects, which concerning the sector assigned a total of 25 million euros. On this subject lively interest was shown by some important buyers, who were in attendance alongside many from CRAl and some representatives of Assotravel. ''Tourism is a transversal, strategic element. In particular, the safeguarding and protection of the environment are fundamental elements to develop eco-compatible tourism and to promote cohesion and economic and work opportunities in the Adriatic area,'' said the IPA management authority, Giovanna Andreola, director of the International Sector of the Abruzzi region. ''Focusing on the natural and cultural environment is not only a current aim but also a future one and, after 2013, on behalf of the EU.'' In reference to the tourism projects financed, Andreola underscored the good level of the proposals ''even if the issues do not meet all the highlighted critical areas, for which there is the need for further initiatives and synergies.'' Speaking at the seminar on their experience were Sanda Simic, head of the IPA programme for Serbia, Maja Radisic Zuvanic for Croatia and Martna Gamboz for Sloovenia. The cross-border Cooperation Programme ''IPA Adriatico'' involved eight states: Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Serbia and Greece, as well as seven regions: Abruzzi, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Veneto, Emilia Romagna, Marche, Puglia and Molise. Bernardo Notarangelo, head of IPA communications, stressed the need for communications initiatives based on more immediate contact with the populations. ''The latter are the most effective to promote authentic relations and therefore peace, brotherhood, friendship and exchanges of knowledge between states and regions that are taking part in the IPA programme, concluded Notarangelo. Romita underscored that ''tourism is an instrument facilitating working together and working as part of a system with significant advantages at the human and psychological level, as well as at that of economic and business relations.'' IPAS has an overall endowment of over 280 million euros and aims to harmonise the cross-border area in the name of economic, institutional, cultural, touristic, environmental and infrastructural cooperation.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=456]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[01/03/2011 - TOURISM: IPA ADRIATIC, ]]></title><description><![CDATA[The &amp;quot;Shape&amp;quot; project features in the list of plans admitted for financing as part of the first pitch for IPA Adriatic.  The project was made public for the first time through the tourism catalogue presented by the IPA Adriatic programme during the 31st edition of the international tourism exchange in Milan, and aims to promote the reinforcement of institutional capacities in the preservation and management of the area's natural resources, the prevention of potential environmental risks and the support of a more rational use of the Adriatic's resources, partly in an attempt to resolve conflicts caused by various methods of exploiting the basin. The project concentrates on the integrated management of coastal areas and maritime space planning and, over a period of 3 years, will involve 13 partners from 6 countries from the IPA Adriatic cooperation area (Italy, Albania, Bosnia Herzegovina, Slovenia, Croatia and Montenegro).  The aim is to develop a global vision of the Adriatic basin and to undertake unequivocal development action from all sides.  Through its activities, the project plans to promote and successfully implement the Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) Protocol, which is the current governance instrument for marine and coastal areas, and wants to develop plans for Marine Spatial Planning (MSP), which is considered a fundamental aspect of the European Union's Integrated Maritime Policy.  The project aims to ensure concrete coordination between institutions and the authorities in charge of the management of the coasts and sea by rebuilding existing government tools.  As a result, better integration of intervention can be targeted, as well as more effective cooperation and the strengthening of relations between stakeholders and institutions.  This is turn would lead to an improvement in the participation of the public system in the project, through open workshops and a plan of effective communication.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=457]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[02/03/2011 - TOURISM: IPA ADRIATIC, 'ARCHEO.S' PROJECT]]></title><description><![CDATA['Archeo.S' is one of the projects that has been granted financing through the IPA Adriatic's first  announcement for proposals for standard projects.  Made public for the first time in the tourism catalogue presented by the IPA Adriatic Programme at the 31st International Tourism Exchange (BIT) in Milan, the project seeks to overcome the problems associated with promoting the  cultural heritage sites in the area as well as improving cultural policies and the development of the Adriatic area.  The first task of the 'Archeo.S' project is to establish a partnership agreement between the beneficiaries (local agencies and authorities, producers of art and culture, and cultural distribution networks) and the cultural heritage sites involved in the project.  The agreement will seek to create a system capable of truly promoting and making the most of the territory through the joint promotion of cultural sites, by improving support to the art and cultural sector and by providing technical support for public events at the sites involved in the project.  The network that will be created will allow for expertise and know-how to be exchanged between the different beneficiary countries, and will promote the development of public and private sector partnership as well as local and cross-border collaboration, and joint experimentation with new methodological approaches concerning the management of cultural sites.  The project also assures a good level of sustainability: after funding has ended, those in charge of the cultural sites involved in the experiments will already be engaged in activities and will have the responsibility of involving other institutions in the area. 'Archeo.S' will encourage local administrations to develop innovative governance models to improve the management of their cultural heritage by supporting cultural activities as tools to promote and make the most of the sites, and more in general, for sustainable development in the area.  The project will also encourage the circulation of artistic and cultural products and areas specific areas of expertise in different countries, while promoting inter-cultural dialogue at the same time.  Planning strategies that will allow for the promotion and preservation of environmental and cultural heritage sites will also constitute an important element in the project.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=458]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[04/03/2011 - IPA, PUBLIC SECTOR REFORMS CRUCIAL FOR RECOVERY]]></title><description><![CDATA[The reforms of the public sector and the observance of the agreements with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will be crucial for economic recovery of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The economy could grow by 2.2% in 2011 thanks to the resumption of foreign demand, according to the forecasts of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. However, the country's sustainable growth is also at stake. The European Union will allocate 92 million euros in aid, which will be used for infrastructure projects and for the development of reforms. Part of these funds, allocated in the framework of the EU Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA), will be used in the water sector, in projects against corruption and to strengthen legal institutions and the police force.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=459]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[07/03/2011 - TOURISM: IPA ADRIATIC, AOGRPSL PROJECT]]></title><description><![CDATA[The AOGRPSL project is one of those which have been granted financing as part of the first competition for IPA Adriatic standard projects. For the first time made public through the catalogue on tourism submitted by the IPA Adriatic Programme in the 31st edition of the International Tourism Exhibition in Milan, the project aims to deal with the situation of olive groves in the Adriatic, promoting innovative practices to bulk up the efficiency and sustainability of Adriatic productions. The landscape of Adriatic olive groves depends on the area, in line with the different production models and techniques employed, the type of olive, the productivity and the economic weight of oil growing at the local level. In Adriatic zones there is no single, homogeneous and efficient production practice and there is the need to deal with problems of an economic, technological, environmental and legal nature in the areas involved. Ever greater competition, incompetent management, the overuse of pesticides, frequent low-quality final production and the refusal of olive pressing constitute threats that risk transforming a source of material and immaterial wealth into a problem for the local economies and populations, In order to prevent these problems from reducing the value of the shared heritage of Adriatic olive growing, with its degradation to the point of local populations becoming disenchanted with this part of their culture, AOGRPSL intends to promote innovative production and economic valorisation practices through awareness raising among the young and professionals in other sectors etc. and lead to an inversion in the current state of degradation and rational exploitation of olive groves. Through the project (in which the Tirana and Corfu universities and the Rimini provincial government are beneficiaries) data will be gathered on the olive groves in the areas concerned and information will be exchanges, initially at the research level, which will go towards enriching the experience of the target groups of these areas on issues such as the prevention of natural and technological risks.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=460]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[10/03/2011 - TOURISM: IPA, 'KEY Q' PROJECT]]></title><description><![CDATA[The 'Key Q' project is one of the proposals that has been accepted to receive financing under the first call for proposals for IPA Adriatic standard projects. Laid out for the first time in the tourism catalogue presented by the IPA Adriatic Cross-Border Cooperation Programme at the 31st edition of the International Tourism Exchange (BIT) in Milan, the project intends to promote integrated and sustainable development in the Adriatic area, benefiting from a tourism standpoint from typical products and food and agricultural resources in connection with the area's environmental and cultural heritage (culinary culture and use of typical products).  The project also intends to capitalise on human capital (expertise and occupation) and to educate people about an intelligent consumption of quality food and agricultural products.  'Key Q' strives to support exchanges of experiences, expertise and professionalism, such as the mobility of workers and students, in order to develop an integrated tourism strategy among the territories based on quality food and agricultural products and the restaurant sector.  The project includes the formation of an international team of experts in training who specialise in capitalising on typical local products and creating common methods of training to strengthen human capital in the food and agricultural sector and to optimise the area's typical products.  Five training sectors will have different target groups: teachers-trainers, students, the general population and individuals in the sector, such as professional cooks, entrepreneurs, restaurant managers and people involved in the farm tourism sector.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=461]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[11/03/2011 - TOURISM: IPA, 'ADRISTORICAL LANDS' PROJECT]]></title><description><![CDATA[The 'Adristorical Lands' project is one of the initiatives that have been approved for financing in the framework of the first call for standard IPA Adriatic projects. For the first time made public through the tourism catalogue that was presented by the IPA Adriatic Programme at the 31st International Tourism Expo in Milan, the project promotes the use of cultural values and of the potential of tourism by creating local identities. These identities focus on the promotion and management of tourism based on the appeal of historic villages, walled cities, castles and cultural sites that are found on these territories. 'Adristorical Lands' supports the conservation of these areas as well as the use of historical and cultural elements that are crucial for the promotion of sustainable tourism as essential factor in the development of urban zones, with the surrounding rural areas. The programme's main goal is to strengthen the bond of common origin between the Adriatic cities through local cooperation, aiming to create and implement a joint across-the-border strategy that underlines local history and heritage, cultural tourism and other key factors for the economic revival of the historic centres.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=462]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[21/03/2011 - IPA: TOURISM, 'MEDPATHS' PROJECT]]></title><description><![CDATA[The &amp;quot;MedPaths&amp;quot; project has been included for financing as part of the first pitch for IPA Adriatic standard projects. Announced for the first time in the tourism catalogue presented by the IPA Adriatic Programme at the 31st edition of the Milan international tourism fair, the project aims to contribute to the protection and the revitalisation of local heritage - both cultural and natural - along the coast and in the Adriatic hinterland. The project will be of particular interest to Italy, with a number of towns in the Molise and Abruzzo regions involved, and Croatia, where several towns in the Split-Dalmatia area will feature. As a result, although only focused on the effective involvement of three Adriatic regions, the project aims to provide healthy practices in sustainable tourism and cultural development throughout the Adriatic area. In the meantime, the initiative has been inspired by three regions with a history of common cooperation, now and especial  ly in the past (the Molise region, for example, has an important Croatian minority) and there is a clear aim to promote jointly the main cultural and natural areas of the coast and the immediate hinterland. The rich cultural and natural heritage existing in inland areas often consists of sites that are spread out over some distance, poorly managed and without appropriate protection. There is a risk, therefore that these areas could be further destroyed and depopulated due to a lack of information, know-how and management coordination. To reduce this risk, environmental qualification intervention is needed, along with cooperation measures for conservation. These steps have the overall aim of contributing to the protection and the revitalization of cultural and natural heritage, making the most of protected areas and guaranteeing the sustainability, both political and institutional, of the solutions identified. The areas in question find themselves having to tackle the same pr  oblems and share the need for a single development strategy which, promoters believe, will serve as an example of healthy practice in other Adriatic areas, thanks to the development and the creation standards of quality for the management and tourism development of local assets.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=463]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[22/03/2011 - SERBIA-KOSOVO DIALOGUE RESUMES WITH EU MEDIATION]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo, under mediation from the EU, is expected to resume in Brussels before April. After initial talks that began in March, a new direct round of negotiations will be aimed at finding common ground allowing the situation of imports and exports and of land and civil registers to be regularised. The talks will also focus on Kosovo's participation in the European Free Trade Agreement. During the technical talks, which were held three years on from Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence, no reference was made to the country's new status. The guidelines for the meeting were laid down by the joint EU-Serbia resolution adopted last year by the UN's General Assembly. A little over a year before elections due in spring 2012, there has been a government reshuffle in Serbia aimed at arriving more rapidly at reforms necessary to accelerate European integration. With regards to international cooperation, in order to improve the cap  abilities of local governments on Serbia, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has allocated 21 million dollars to help 32 towns in the next 5 years.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=464]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[24/03/2011 - TOURISM, "POWERED" PROJECT]]></title><description><![CDATA[The &amp;quot;Powered&amp;quot; project is among the list of programmes to be financed as part of the first pitch for IPA Adriatic standard programmes.  The project was made public for the first time in the tourism catalogue presented by IPA Adriatic at the 31st International Tourism Exchange in Milan and is aimed at defining a host of shared strategies and methods for geared towards the development of off-shore wind energy throughout the Adriatic.  This choice of energy could allow a rapid increase in facilities, not least on account of a drop in problems linked to landscape, which are often the main obstacle to the creation of wind parks in areas with high population density or those with significant historical or landscape value.  Problems connected to the transport of large-scale wind turbines are also expected to diminish.  Industrial ports could play a decisive role in the development process, becoming clearing centres and producing technological components.  The main aim of the &amp;quot;Powered&amp;quot; programme is to draw up guidelines for the design of off-shore wind farms in the Adriatic Sea that are compatible with the planning and conservation policies shared by partners in the project.  At the same time, maritime basins for the development of this energy technology will also be identified, meaning that it will also be possible to define the characteristics of an electrical network project with underground connections that would be hugely helpful for the exchange of electrical energy between countries.  The project's goals will be reached thanks to the study of wind resources in the Adriatic basin, which will be confirmed with the installation of a network of coastal and marine weather stations.  At the project's end, the network will remain in function and support the weather services.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=466]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[24/03/2011 - TOURISM, AHVN PROJECT]]></title><description><![CDATA[The AHVN project is among those granted financing as part of the first public call for IPA Adriatic standard projects. For the first time made public through the catalogue on tourism presented by the IPA Adriatic Programme in the 31st edition of the International Tourism Expo in Milan, the project aims to foster growth in sustainable tourism in the Adriatic region through medical and healthcare tourism. All the region between Slovenia and Montenegro is able to offer European standards of healthcare assistance, combining this with a rich historical-cultural heritage and comfortable lodgings. Medical tourism in the Adriatic will include conventional healthcare centres, thermal baths, pensions and even alternative healthcare services, with open air and cultural activities as well as those linked with gastronomy. Specific services of medical tourism have already undergone assessment in some Adriatic regions (for example, dental tourism in Bosnia Herzegovina and general check-ups in Slovenia). However, while the quality and prices of medical-healthcare services are competitive, it is necessary - according to the project - to create a network and integrate supply in an attractive manner, focusing on a tourist experience of high quality for health and vitality.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=467]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[28/03/2011 - IPA: TOURISM, 'MEDPATHS' PROJECT  ]]></title><description><![CDATA[The 'MedPaths' project is among those granted financing in the context of the first tender for IPA Adriatico standard projects. For the first time made public through the tourism catalogue presented by the Ipa Adriatico Programme in the 31st edition of Milan's International tourism market, the project plans to contribute to the protection and revitalisation of the local (cultural and natural) heritage along the Adriatic coast and inland. More specifically it will interest Italy, with various municipalities in Molise and Abruzzo, and Croatia, with various municipalities in the Split/Dalmatia region. Even though it concerns the effective involvement of only three Adriatic regions, the project is imbued with the ambition of being able to offer practices for the sustainable development of tourism and culture to the whole Adriatic area. Meanwhile, in fact, it started from three regions that have a history of common cooperation, both now and in the past (for example, in Molise there is a substantial Croatian minority) and it identifies a method of joint appreciation for the main coastal and inland sites, cultural and natural. The rich cultural and natural heritage present in the inland areas behind the coast is in fact full of scattered, separated, badly run and unsuitably protected locations. In other words there is the danger that these areas will be further destroyed and depopulated because of the lack of information, knowledge and managerial coordination. To lower this risk there is the need for environmental pre-qualification interventions and interventions for their preservation. All with the general objective of contributing to the protection and revitalisation of the natural and cultural heritage by reclaiming protected areas and guaranteeing the sustainability - political and institutional included - of identified solutions. Then again the areas have to deal with the same problems and share the need for a single development method which, according to the intentions of the sponsors, will serve as an example of good practice even in other Adriatic areas, thanks to the development and the creation of quality standards for the management and touristic exploitation of the local heritage.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=468]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[28/03/2011 - SEA-R MEETING STARTS IN CESENA (ITALY)]]></title><description><![CDATA[This week, on the 31st of March and 1st April 2011, the SEA-R kick-off meeting will take place in  Cesena &amp;ndash; Italy. SEA-R project (Sustainable Energy in the Adriatic Regions: Knowledge to Invest) is leaded by Pesaro Municipality (Italy) and it deals with the promotion of the &amp;ldquo;green economy&amp;rdquo; in the Adriatic region and aims at promoting the development of investment-oriented knowledge on sustainable and competitive energy patterns. These main objectives will be achieved by the 7 partners involved (3 from Italy, 1 Albania, 1 from Bosnia Heszegovina, 1 from Croatia and 1 from Slovenia) will be achieved through a complex but coherent set of activities touching different energy field specific of the Adriatic area: SUN ENERGY about the solar energy, especially in public and private buildings SEA ENERGY about the energy coming from seaweeds KNOWLEDGE, to establish Info Energy Points/Initiatives to foster the energy efficiency and the use of renewable energies in the Adriatic area.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=469]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[29/03/2011 - TOURISM, 'SEA-R' PROJECT]]></title><description><![CDATA['Sea-R' is one of the projects that have been granted financing in the first call for standard IPA Adriatic projects. For the first time announced in the catalogue on tourism presented by the IPA Adriatic Programme at the 31th International Tourism Expo in Milan, the project wants to promote awareness of investments based on sustainable energy and competitive models (in terms of energy saving and renewable energy) in the Adriatic regions. 'Sea-R' has selected three main sources of sustainable energy for the Adriatic: sun, sea and knowledge. Sun and sea characterise the region and could be used more effectively; knowledge is a strategic 'fuel' for spreading the use of these sources, since it gives operators and users with 'Best Available Technologies' options to invest. In that prospect 'Sea-R' is made of three sub-projects regarding the three identified energy sources, all with specific targets. The use of solar energy (thermal and photovoltaic) is limited, with differences between the areas. In Italy, large-scale application is already a reality and attempts are being made to integrate this in urban planning. Slovenia has an adequate potential but the use of thermal solar energy is limited, and photovoltaic applications are still in an experimental stage. In Albania, only some applications in the thermal solar energy sector have been recorded. 'Sea-R' wants to create instruments to map buildings with characteristics that allow the use of solar energy. The project will start with energy-saving measures to create instruments and pilot applications in photovoltaics. Focusing on energy from the sea, the problem of algae (in the coastal areas of important tourist destinations in the Western Balkans and Italy) could be turned into an opportunity for producing biogas. The goal of this project is to analyse the feasibility of an economic use of this waste material, in an environmental prospect. The possibilities of producing biogas from algae will be tested in a pilot plant which will be built in Ferrara. After that, an industrial business plan will be drafted.    The third pillar, knowledge, will focus on involving companies and convince these to adopt sustainable energy models. More in general, people will be informed about conserving energy and renewable sources. Information centres will be set up that will give advice and show practical demonstrations of energy-saving measures. This goal will be further developed through the Energy Road Show that will tour the Adriatic region.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=471]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[31/03/2011 - EU WANTS FURTHER EFFORT FROM CROATIA FOR JUSTICE SYSTEM]]></title><description><![CDATA[In order to meet the targets for EU membership, more effort is needed as concerns the justice system and fundamental rights, even though Croatia has made significant progress. In particular, according to the latest report by the European Commission on the situation as concerns the country's justice system, there are four points on which Zagreb must still work. There is the need to improve efficiency of the courts, the State Council and the State Prosecutor's Office, explained EU enlargement commissioner Stefan Fule, and convincing precedents must be set in recruiting and appointing judges and prosecutors, in addition to demonstrating self-regulatory abilities. As concerns cooperation with the International Criminal Court, the EU expects to receive the latest report from head prosecutor Serge Brammertz in May. Concerns remain over the issue of war criminals, and progress if needed in the fight against corruption and the protection of minorities and refugees.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=473]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[01/04/2011 - Project KEY Q-Kick off meeting]]></title><description><![CDATA[AZRRI-Agency For Rural Developed of Istria Ltd Pazin is lead partner for the project KEY Q-&amp;bdquo;A Key for the Quality in the development and responsible value build up of agro-food resources from both Adriatic coasts&amp;ldquo; financed by the IPA-Adriatic Cross-Border Cooperation Programme.   The project goal is to support the exchange of experiences, competences, expertise, and professionals, as like as the mobility of workers and students for the development of an integrated tourist offer among territories based on quality agro-food products and catering.   We would like to inform You that the project Key Q, is approved  and the first Kick off meeting will be organized on 11th and 12th of April 2011. in Rovinj &amp;ndash; Istria (Croatia).]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=474]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[06/04/2011 - BARROSO & FULE IN WESTERN BALKANS MAKING SEVERAL STOPS FOLLOWING FORMER YUGOSLAV 3-WAY SUMMIT]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Western Balkans and European integration will be at the top of the agenda for the meetings which have been scheduled between EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule. The two high-level representatives will meet in Zagreb, then Sarajevo, Podgorica and Skopje. The importance of the entire region's integration was already underscored at meetings held between Serb, Croatian and Slovenian leaders, which highlighted the improving relations among the countries created from the former Yugoslavia. Of those countries, only Slovenia has so far joined the EU. Croatia is looking to finalise accession negotiations; the process is scheduled to be brought to term by June, in order for the country to be added to the list of candidate countries by the end of the year. Bosnia, however, is gripped by a political stalemate, which hinders the prospect of European integration. This issue must be tackled since, as Mr Fule and EU Chief Diplomat Catherine Ashton pointed out, the country cannot afford to waste any time. Other issues to be addressed in light of a potential future loosening of EU accession negotiations include reform in Montenegro and Macedonia overcoming disputes with Athens over the country's name.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=475]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[08/04/2011 - SERBIA-KOSOVO DIALOGUE UNDER EU MEDIATION CONTINUES]]></title><description><![CDATA[After the resumption of dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo under EU mediation, direct talks are also continued to find common ground to allow the normalisation of imports and exports, of civil registries and cadastral data, as well as Kosovo's participation in the European free trade agreement (EFTA).    A joint workgroup, chaired by the EULEX mission, will complete the information contained in Kosovo's civil registry. Guidelines have been drafted for the cadastre and the issue of free movement of people will be discussed in future. The next round of talks between Kosovo and Serbia will be held in mid-April, but the resumption of dialogue has also triggered a discussion on telecommunication and electricity.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=476]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[12/04/2011 - IPA: INTERVIEW WITH ABRUZZO PRESIDENT CHIODI]]></title><description><![CDATA[IPA Adriatic is a valuable and effective European cross-border cooperation programme, not only for the strategic and political integration and development of the territories that are part of the programme that represents the Adriatic area, but also for the future of the EU itself, stimulating the growth of emerging countries for example. The opinion of the President of the Abruzzo Region, Gianni Chiodi, on the EU initiative ''CBC IPA Adriatic&amp;quot; (2007-2013) is based on this important statement. The Abruzzo Region plays a leading role in the programme, as it did in the previous Interreg IIIA programme (2000-2006). The views of the young ''leading'' governor who guides a centre-right coalition are presented in this interview.    What is the most important strength of IPA Adriatic and what do you think of the initiatives taken so far by the EU cross-border cooperation programme, particularly in the light of the selection of the first 32 development projects that have been financed with a total of 75 million, 25 for each of the three categories?     ''The most important strength of IPA is its systematic action and the achievement of financial interventions, both with Structural and National Funds in the Adriatic Area, in strategic sectors like transport, SMEs, tourism and most importantly the environment. Particular attention is given to the sea, which represents the element that defines cooperation in the Adriatic Area''. What are the expectations regarding the present EU programme, particularly regarding the 2007-2013 IPA Adriatic Trans-border Programme? ''The expectations of the Programme in the current EU programme are based on the possibilities of integration with the Cooperation objective in European context, in which the IPA Adriatic Programme is funded as to other political EU and member State political structures''. What has been the impact on regional level of the 2000-2006 Cooperation Programmes in your opinion, the Adriatic Trans-Border programme in particular? ''The impact of the Cooperation programme, the Trans-Border programme in particular, has not so much been a financial one, despite the fact that it was considerable, I underline that the Programme has a value of around 290 million euros, but it has been particularly important for the strategic and political integration of the involved territories, which are the seven Adriatic regions and the seven States on the Adriatic shore, of which two Member States and five States in a phase of accession and pre-accession''.  Referring to the EU2014-2020 Programming, what is the position of the Region you lead on the important issues of the Adriatic Euro-region, the Adriatic-Ionian Macro-region and the new implementation instruments? ''The Abruzzo Region has played the important role  of Management Authority in the previous 2000-2006 programming, and again in the current 2007-2013 period. It defines the Programmes and coordinates their strategic goals with the other States. The most important goal since the start of the Interreg Programme, and confirmed by the IPA Programme, is the constitution of an Adriatic Macro Region, so in some way we have been the forerunners of what has later become the EU's enlargement policy, much-discussed ahead of the future of cohesion policies, that is the Adriatic Macro Region. My Region has believed in these territorial and strategic developments since the beginning, actively participating in the constitution of the Euro Adriatic Region, but most of all guaranteeing that, through the implementation of the IPA Adriatic Programme, the strategic goal of the Adriatic Macro Region is reached and consolidated in the eyes of the various territories. The Adriatic Macro Region will be the ideal place for the future of political cohesion, as indicated in Europe 2020, to define and implement cooperation and neighbourhood policies for better geographical and economic integration of the involved territories, but also resolving aspects of marginality of these territories, like the border and inland areas that suffer more than others from a lack of social-economic cohesion''. What is ''your'' Region's stance on the prospects of EU enlargement (new memberships and relative added value on Adriatic territory)? ''The experience we have gained in this period and the continuous daily work with the other member States that are involved in the IPA Adriatic Programme has made giant leaps forwards in a logic of European integration. I think for example of the progress made by Albania rather than by Montenegro, compared with the other States that were already in an advanced pre-accession phase. I believe that the three member States that participate in the Programme must make sure that the EU will become a joint element amid all Adriatic territories, in order to make this cooperation more durable. Only that way we will be able to consolidate the cooperation achieved in these programme periods and avoid dispersing the results that have been obtained in terms of integration and economic cohesion''.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=477]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[12/04/2011 -  IPA: WBIF AND EU RENEW EFFORTS IN BALKANS  ]]></title><description><![CDATA[BARI - Aid for small and medium-sized enterprises and the fight against climate change are among the priorities for the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF), the joint instrument of subsidies and loans for financing priority investments in the Balkans.  In 2010, there was particular focus on infrastructure , with 73 projects approved for a total value of 6 billion euros in Albania, Bosnia Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Kosovo, Montenegro and Serbia.  The projects were supported, through the WBIF, by the European Commission, the European Investment Bank (EIB), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB).  As part of this, Serbia, where 10% of the entire population (around 700,000 people) lives below the poverty line, is attempting to attract further investment.  This could lead to a new deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) without further debt for Belgrade.  In the energy sector, Croatian businesses are also attempting to attract new investments, as part of the &amp;quot;intelligent energy in Europe&amp;quot; programme.  Between 2006 and 2010, Croatia put forward 236 projects, of which 50 were accepted, and carried out with financing worth 4.5 million euros. ]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=478]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[18/04/2011 - IPA ADRIATIC: SET UP OF FINANCIAL PROJECTS  ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Projects financed in the context of the first three tenders of the Ipa Adriatic Programme are becoming operational. On April 6, 7 and 8 the management authority held three days in L'Aquila dedicated to workshops reserved to the beneficiaries of the projects that were granted financing during the first call of the Ipa Adriatic CBC Programme. On the occasion, the Programme's management authority signed a number of financing agreements.     The workshops are very well articulated: a first section focuses on Project Management, and in particular on the responsibility of the beneficiary leaders, in other words the project leaders or those who have been identified as proposing beneficiary party, eligibility of expenses, information and advertisement, first level controls; a second section focuses on the Programme Management and Information System (MIS) through the general description of the System, online reporting, demonstration of the use of the System; and a third focuses on Public Procurement.     The Management authority, Giovanna Andreola, director of the international policies department of the Abruzzo Region, explained that &amp;quot;Our work on the programme is continuing according to schedule, the workshops were followed with great interest by the interested parties who are about to implement the actions related to the financed projects&amp;quot;.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=479]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[18/04/2011 - NEW MEETING OF CBC IPA ADRIATIC SURVEILLANCE BOARD]]></title><description><![CDATA[The two day meeting involving representatives of Regions and States to deal with major issues started yesterday in Venice. The order of the day included the examination and launch of the second tender for ordinary projects and the &amp;quot;Alter Energy&amp;quot; projects that sees Apulia as the leading partner.  Preparation of the strategic projects was the main focus of a Task Force that was held yesterday morning. &amp;quot;IPA Adriatic&amp;quot; interests eight States: Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Serbia, Greece and, for Italy, in addition to Abruzzo, the leading region, there are also Friuli Venezia Giulia, Veneto, Emilia Romagna, Marche, Apulia and Molise. The programme has total assets worth approximately 280 million euros and aims to harmonise the Adriatic across-the-border area in the name of institutional, economic, cultural, touristic, environmental and infrastructural cooperation.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=480]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[19/04/2011 - ALBANIA DIALOGUE AND INSTITUTION RESPECT ON ROAD TO EU ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Respect for institutions, the resumption of political dialogue and the rebuilding of a relationship of trust between Parliament and citizens will take Albania down the right road towards European integration, with the European Commission insisting on the need to see decisive steps forward on 12 key points.  The appeal was made during a meeting in Tirana attended by Miroslav Lajcak, the envoy of the EU's High Representative Lady Catherine Ashton, the head of state Bamir Topi, the Prime Minister Sali Berisha and the leader of the socialist opposition, Edi Rama.  The forthcoming local elections due to be held on May 8 are surrounded by a climate of tension and strong suspicion by the opposition over the electoral process, which Lajcak says must instead be transparent and in line with international standards.  The political crisis has indeed slowed down Tirana's journey towards European integration, to the extent that Stefan Fule has also made a recent trip to Albania.  The EU Commissioner for Enlargement held talks over the action plan to tackle the main issues regarding Albania's integration, which Brussels highlighted in their latest report on enlargement.  The EU wants to facilitate the solution to the crisis, but it must be found by local political leaders.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=481]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[19/04/2011 - Transnational cooperation in psychiatry]]></title><description><![CDATA[A new stage is underway in the process to reform the psychiatric system in Albania, with steps taken towards the deinstitutionalisation of mental health centres and the development of a treatment programme based on community mental health.  The process, which has featured the collaboration of psychiatrists from Puglia and Sardinia, is part of the &amp;quot;Welfare and Health Cooperation in the Balkans&amp;quot; (WHCB) project, which in turn is included in the support framework programme for decentralised regional cooperation in the Balkans.  An Albanian delegation (including the Ministry of Health's head of mental health, Eljesa Harapej, and the director of the Valona psychiatric hospital, Antonela Agai, among others) recently travelled to Puglia, where it directly observed the activity of local mental health services.  The deinstitutionalization of patients in psychiatric hospitals, the increase in knowledge and competence in the field of mental health and its promotion all figure high up on the list of priorities for the Albanian delegation, which gave its thanks to the Puglia region for the support provided to the country, where reform of mental health services began in 1996 and continued with the 2003-2005 action plan, through to the WHCB project, which as well as the Puglia and Sardinia regions, also includes Molise (region leader), Emilia Romagna, Sicily, Abruzzo and Liguria.  It also emerged from the meeting that the course begun by Puglia in 2007 has continued with the creation of the first family centre.  With help from the Sardinia region, two new family centres housing 24 former patients from the psychiatric hospital have been opened.  A corporate course that includes the building of a photovoltaic greenhouse has also been launched, as has a training course featuring grants for 40 patients from the three family centres and users of the mental health community centre.  All of the measures are aimed at reproducing the experience, allowing knowledge to be transferred to other areas.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=482]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[20/04/2011 - Technical Assistance Services and Support to the activities]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Audit Authority of the IPA Adriatic CBC Programme 2007 &#8211; 2013 has published the service procurement notice related to &#8220;Technical Assistance Services and Support to the activities related to the application of EC Regulations No. 1085/2006 and No. 718/2007 of the Audit Authority of the IPA Adriatic Cross Border Cooperation Programme 2007 - 2013&quot;. Tender documents can be downloaded from the following website:  http://gare.regione.abruzzo.it
Time-limit for receiving the tenders: by 13:00 of 27th May 2011]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=483]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[20/04/2011 - NEW CUSTOMS REGIME TO ACCELERATE INTEGRATION]]></title><description><![CDATA[Albania, Bosnia Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro and Serbia, all countries involved in the ''IPA Adriatic'' cross-border cooperation project, have reached a compromise on the simplification of customs rules to be applied on products from the 22 partner countries from the southern Mediterranean and the Western Balkans (including Macedonia and Kosovo). The ''Pan-euromediterranean cumulus'' area currently includes the European Union, EFTA countries (Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein), signatories of the Barcelona Process (Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, Palestinian Territories) and the Faroe Islands. All countries are part of a convention project. Since the creation of this cumulus system, difficulties in managing the current system of individual protocols have grown, according to the text of the European Council proposal on the signing of the convention. Any changes to an existing protocol between two partner countries in the area carries an identical change to all protocols applicable in the area. As a result, the European Commission has decided to base the original diagonal cumulus on a single legal instrument assuming the form of a regional convention on preferential rules of origin, and regulating the individual free trade deals in force between the area's countries. A convention of this kind had already been discussed in 2003, but was never followed up. During the conference of Euro-Mediterranean Trade Ministers held in Lisbon in 2007, the idea of such a convention was again mooted, with ministers agreeing to begin drafting a single convention on the preferential rules of origin for the pan-euromediterranean area, with a view to substituting the current network of protocols on rules of origin. A steering group was subsequently set up to carry out the necessary technical tasks and at this point, Euro-Mediterranean Trade Ministers decided to include the in the cumulus areas the countries taking part in the stabilization and association agreement (Albania, Bosnia Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Kosovo, the latter according to resolution 1244/99 of the United Nations Security Council).  The inclusion of these countries in the pan-euromediterranean cumulus system will occur as part of the convention. The EU has overcome the obstacle represented by the recognition of Kosovo by member states, ruling in a statement attached to the agreement that the deal does not jeopardise the positions of individual countries on the matter. Goods exchanged in the pan-euromedioterranean area enjoy preferential treatment in terms of customs rates. This new system is aimed at stepping up the economic integration of partner countries through the creation of a shared economic space.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=484]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[21/04/2011 - EU AND WORLD BANK INVEST IN "ALBANIA SYSTEM"]]></title><description><![CDATA[Between now and 2012, the central banks of both Italy and France will help the Bank of Albania to implement a project financed by the European Union to the tune of 1 million euros, which is aimed at adapting the country's systems to European norms.  The aim of the plan to provide assistance geared towards meeting the Copenhagen criteria is to ensure the effective implementation of the monetary policy aligned to the European system of central banks.  Meanwhile, the development of the private sector and investments in infrastructure needed by the country will also be supported.  The World Bank, together with the International Finance Corporation, has intervened in the energy sector, to end the standoff in concessions.  In the next few years, 30-40 million dollars are expected to be invested annually, with the renewable energy sector among the financial institution's priorities.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=485]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[22/04/2011 - BALKANS IN CENSUS TEST ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Attempts to provide information on the make-up of the Serbian population were made as early 2002.  Today, countries from the western Balkans have also been asked to supply new and more precise data on their populations.  Operations in Serbia have been postponed until October (as they have in Macedonia), while there have been protests against the census in Kosovo (where the operation will be internationally monitored).  Croatia and Montenegro have begun their own research according to the agreed schedule, while the process in Bosnia Herzegovina is not expected to begin this year, due to the political and institutional crisis in the country, which is preventing the formation of a central government.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=486]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[26/04/2011 - ALTERENERGY PROJECT FOR ADRIATIC REGIONS APPROVED]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Strategic Project Alterenergy, led by the Apulia Region (Mediterranean Service) and part of the CBC IPA Adriatic Programme 2007-2013 has been approved. Alterenergy was initiated to define an Adriatic sustainable energy community, involving all Adriatic regions of Italy, Albania (co-organiser of the initiative), Slovenia, Bosnia, Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro and Greece. The project is meant to have an impact on institutional, political, technical and scientific level on the energy planning and development capabilities in the Adriatic area. It will also implement pilot projects in small municipalities that are typical for the Adriatic region, promoting energy development, sustainability and efficiency.        After a long period of project preparations and the definition of the partnership, the Strategic Project Alterenergy has been officially admitted for funding by the Supervisory Committee of the IPA Adriatic Cooperation Programme. A statement issued by the Apulia Region underlines that this is a success for the region's delegation, led by the director of the Apulia organisation area, Bernardo Notarangelo. The Regional agency for technology and innovation (ARTI), which has contributed to the project's definition, will support the Mediterranean Service in the initiativ&amp;eacute;s implementation in the coming four years.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=487]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[26/04/2011 - Kick-off meeting of  "The Adriatic Port Community - APC" ]]></title><description><![CDATA[On The 29 th of April in the Venice Port Authority in Venice- Italy,  will take place the kick-off meeting of  &amp;ldquo;The Adriatic Port Community &amp;ndash; APC&amp;rdquo; code 111.  The APC project will develop a system based on the principle of the &amp;ldquo;Single Window&amp;rdquo;, namely a facility that allows parties involved in trade and transport to lodge standardized information and documents with a single entry point to fulfill all import, export, and transit-related regulatory requirements. The project aims at improving the effectiveness of the procedures for the clearance of freight flows in port areas, through the design, development and testing of a support instrument for ship arrival and departure, customs clearance and cargo logistic. The objectives of the project APC  will be achieved through  the tight cooperation among partners from  Italy, Greece and  Croatia. ]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=488]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[26/04/2011 - COOPERATION: ADRIATIC-IONIAN MACRO-REGION AND PRICE PROJECT ]]></title><description><![CDATA[&amp;quot;In the prospect of Europe 2020 a macro-regional dimension that could take on the geographic feature of an Adriatic-Ionian macro-region necessitates the search for cooperation strategies that go beyond financial, political, economic and social limits, as imposed by the current model backed by target 3 of the European programme for the 2007-2013 period&amp;quot;. This was explained by councillor for the Mediterranean of the Apulia Region Silvia Godelli, who spoke at the concluding conference of the Integrated Project PRICES (regional integrated economic and social cooperation programme), in the presence of Sanjin Halimovic, Development Minister of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Zoran Malic, of Serbia's Economy Ministry, and others. The conference was hosted by Matera and Bari: two days of discussion, organised by the Basilicata and Apulia Regions, on 'instruments and prospects for economic cooperation with the Balkan countries', a search for opportunities and instruments for future collaboration between the partners of the PRICES project, focusing on cross-border cooperation (South East Europe and Cbc Ipa Adriatic programmes), Italian development cooperation and direct EU funding. PRICES is financed by the Ministry of Economic Development and coordinated by the Foreign Ministry, in the context of the regional cooperation support programme and the following framework agreement programme with Balkan countries. ''The macro-regional dimension'', Godelli explained, ''can become an instrument defined in Europe and shared with non-EU partners within Europe. It could become a contractually strong process inside the EU, particularly in the case of an alliance between the Italian regions and the countries of the Western Balkans down to the south (Albania and Greece). The regions feel capable of representing the entire country system in their shared will to bring this type of model to the heart of the European Union's decision-making bodies''. The PRICES Project, in which 14 Italian regions, led by Apulia, and three Balkan countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia) are involved, is part of project Line 2.1 'Social-economic development' of APQ Balkans.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=489]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[26/04/2011 - Adriatic Economic Cluster Club]]></title><description><![CDATA[On the 3 rd and 4th of May  in the premises of the Unioncamere del Veneto, Parco Tecnologico VEGA building LYBRA &amp;ndash; Via delle Industrie 19/C  in Venice- Italy,  will take place the kick-off meeting of the project  &amp;ldquo;Adriatic Economic Cluster Club &amp;ndash; Cluster Club code 189&amp;rdquo;.  The Cluster Club project aims to improve the innovation&amp;rsquo;s possibility of territorial and productive system through cooperation, business opportunities and market research. It aims also to accelerate the creation and reinforcing of cluster&amp;rsquo;s system, in particular the creation of SMEs network, Public Administration, public and private institutes of research, consumers and potential products and services purchasers and related associations of the Adriatic Basin. Through the partnership composed by different institutions: Chambers of Commerce and Chambers of Economy, Regional Development Agencies from Croatia, Albania, Bosnia Herzegovina, Greece and Serbia, the project intends to valorize the different information of the development skills of clusters in a strategic cross-border integrated framework. ]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=490]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[29/04/2011 - COOPERATION:' SEE PROGRAMME' OPPORTUNITY FOR IPA COUNTRIES]]></title><description><![CDATA[&amp;quot;Making use of the partnerships that have already been created is a first step towards the new programming, since a fixed point for the European Commission should be territorial cooperation,&amp;quot; said Lodovico Gherardi, the National Coordinator for the South East Europe (SEE) Programme.  Gherardi was speaking in Bari at the final conference of the integrated project PRICES (Regional integrated economic and social cooperation programme), attended by Sanjin Halimovic, the Minister of Development for the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Zoran Malic, the Serbian Economy Minister.  The Emilia-Romagna region is the head of the National Coordination Committee of the SEE Programme, which involves a complex and diverse area that includes Austria, Bulgaria, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia as member countries and Bosnia Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, Albania, Croatia and the Republic of Macedonia as IPA countries, in addition to third party ENPI countries the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine.  Territorial cooperation programmes are an integral part and priority objective of the EU's political cohesion policy.  &amp;quot;These months before the programme's last calls for tenders are important for joint projects.  Two ordinary calls for tenders have been developed until today.  At the start of May,&amp;quot; explained Gherardi, &amp;quot;there will be a European Regional Development Fund call for tenders worth 30 million euros together with another for the IPA worth 9 million euros.  Partnership networks activated in the projects that are already underway are helpful in this process to create dialogue between partners in the different IPA nations and the regions in Italy.  Using the partnerships that have been established is a first step towards the new programming and providing support now to the elements of the Adriatic-Ionian strategy, starting with common projects, can be helpful. I do not have definitive dates, since the union of IPA and ERDF funds is complex, but in May,&amp;quot; added Gherardi, &amp;quot;a call for tenders associated with SEE will be launched, with five main points: SME clusters, climate change (seen as management and not fighting), accessibility (passenger and cargo railway transport) and demographic change (migration internally and between countries within the area).  The Italian committee has begun a long selection process of the regional priorities and interests.  In October the last call for tenders for ordinary projects should be launched, which will be open and not limited to the five points of reference.  It is necessary to keep in mind that only three Italian partners per project can be approved&amp;quot;.  In Gherardi's view, &amp;quot;it is necessary to have strong partnerships in these fields also in the IPA countries.  It will be a good test for 2014-2020&amp;quot;.  The PRICES Project, in which 14 Italian regions are involved led by Apulia and three Balkan countries (Albania, Bosnia Herzegovina, Serbia), is part of Line 2.1 of the Balkans Framework Agreement Programme for 'Socio-economic development'.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=493]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[04/05/2011 - SERBIA: COLLABORATION WITH ITALY MORE OPEN TO AGRICULTURE ]]></title><description><![CDATA[&amp;quot;After two years of collaboration I can say that PRICES has been very useful to Serbia&amp;quot;.  These are the comments of the Serbian Minister for Economy and Regional Development, Zoran Malic, who has been speaking in Bari at the closing conference for the integrated regional programme for economic and social cooperation (PRICES).  &amp;quot;Cooperation between Italian and Serbian companies is very important, but the transfer of know-how has been equally so,&amp;quot; Malic continued.  &amp;quot;These aspects of regional development are proof of good relations and guarantee future success in our collaboration.  Italy is our most important partner country in the European community.  There are 313 Italian companies in Serbia and more than 800 million euros has been invested in the country.  Such a successful collaboration continues to open the doors of the Serbian market to Italian companies.&amp;quot; &amp;quot;There is a strategic partnership between Serbia and Italy and summits between the two countries will be held soon,&amp;quot; Malic added.  &amp;quot;I am thinking especially of agriculture, which is one of the main branches of our collaboration.  The international fair is to be held within the next month and we hope that Italy will also partner us in this field in the coming years&amp;quot;.  The PRICES project, which has involved 14 Italian regions led by Puglia and three Balkan countries (Albania, Bosnia Herzegovina and Serbia), is part of the &amp;quot;socio-economic development&amp;quot; 2.1 scheme of &amp;quot;APQ Balcani&amp;quot; (the Balkans Framework Agreement).]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=498]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[04/05/2011 - COOPERATION: REGIONS UNITE TO PROMOTE ITALIAN SYSTEM    ]]></title><description><![CDATA[&amp;quot;In regional cooperation there is much insistence on the concept of macro-region. However, in addition to the ability of regions to join together and present  projects, there is also a need to develop the ability of the Italian system to promote a system within the Balkan area&amp;quot;, said Roberto Orlando, Vice Chair of  Director of the Balkans Unit, CEI and IAI, speaking in Bari at the final conference of the Integrated Prices Project (integrated regional programme for economic and social cooperation). ''There is the need for continuity of Italy's presence in all Balkan countries. Our country has been their neighbour in times of the greatest crisis and is present with a high level of investment in the international organisations active in the Balkans. Our trade position is in general between the first and third top places in all of these countries. Not only continuity,'' he said, ''but also future prospects are needed, looking at regional cooperation and at that European centre which brings together many state already part of the EU, which are not or which aspire to become part. Italy supports the completion of the path to European membership of these countries, seeing it as a completion of Europe to the Balkans.''  Going into depth on issues linked to the economy and development, the coordinator of De-Centralised Cooperation of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, Francesco Catania, then said that ''our choices must go in the direction of economic and political cooperation with neighbouring countries, considering the sea not as a border. Prices is an important project, with 14 Italian regions involved, a very large number. It is therefore a sort of training ground for regional governments to learn how to cooperate with other countries and to create a system among themselves, presenting themselves as a whole alongside their individual characteristics. At the European level and the Mediterranean one Italy's interests are at stake. Within this context, Prices is a step forward.''. The Prices Project, which sees the Apulia region as the leader, with the involvement of three Balkan countries (Albania, Bosnia Herzegovina, Serbia), is part of the Socio-Economic Development Line 2.1 of the Balkans APQ .]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=499]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[05/05/2011 - BOSNIA: RISE IN BUSINESS PROJECT PARTNERSHIP REQUESTS]]></title><description><![CDATA[&amp;quot;I have great expectations and we would like this project to spread to other towns&amp;quot;.  This is according to Sanjin Halimovic, the Development Minister of Bosnia Herzegovina, who has been speaking at the closing conference of the integrated regional programme on economic and social cooperation (PRICES) in Bari.  &amp;quot;We must continue with our cooperation and are very similar in terms of regions too.  We intend to build a common land in the European Union and we are now in a very specific phase in which aid, through partnerships with our friends from other countries, is very useful and to be hoped in terms of the development of projects linked to business.  We also hope that Italy will help us to enter families in European countries&amp;quot;.  The PRICES project, which has involved 14 Italian regions, led by Puglia, and three Balkan countries (Albania, Bosnia Herzegovina and Serbia) is part of section 2.1 of the &amp;quot;Socio-economic Development&amp;quot; section of the Balkans Framework Programme Agreement (APQ)]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=500]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[05/05/2011 - COOPERATION:APULIA SUPPORTS ITALO-KOSOVO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Apulia region will support the creation of an Italo-Kosovar Chamber of Commerce, as came out during a meeting in Bari between the regional governor Nichi Vendola, the chairman of the Apulia regional council Onofrio Introna and Kosovo's ambassador to Italy Albert Prenkaj. Agro-food, water and energy grids and environmental and entrepreneurial activities were other issues focused on during the meeting.  ''We have very intense cultural, economic and political relations with the Balkans,'' said Vendola. ''We are the natural interlocutor for the Balkan area and the southern coast of the Mediterranean. For us, democratisation processes in the Balkan area are very important, and we are trying to do our part - even with Kosovo, a very young nation born from the ashes of conflict. Today we know that the more a climate of peace, dialogue and development in the Balkans grows, the more even Apulia will benefit. We have unceasing contact with some countries (Albania, Croatia, Macedonia and Montenegro), and today begins a journey with Kosovo. We will share competences in the agro-food sector, in the energy industry, in sectors which the Balkans would like to modernise.'' Introna said that it is ''a collaboration which will concern institutions as well, with dialogue between the regional council and Kosovo's parliament.'' Prenkaj added that is a ''relationship sought by Kosovo, which also hopes for more investment.'']]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=501]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[06/05/2011 - ADRIATIC PORTS PROJECT LAUNCHED IN VENICE]]></title><description><![CDATA[''We need to develop relations along the Adriatic corridor, activate new technologies, take advantage of the opportunities offered by digital systems and broadband in order to realise synergies between the ports''. Roberto Ciambetti, Veneto's councillor for trans-border cooperation was speaking in Venice during a meeting to launch the trans-border cooperation project IPA with other representatives of Adriatic ports. ''The Adriatic corridor, its regions and people who live on its coast, are a great resource for the entire Mediterranean Basin. We should also bear in mind that in order to look beyond present contingencies and the great economic recession that is reshaping many of our old convictions and changing the international balance of power. For example there is the rise of the BRIC nations, Brazile Russia, India, China and South Africa who will soon be overtaking the GDP of the present G7. This is the language of the future''. And two project have been launched from Venice: the Adriatic Port Community' (APC), headed by 'Port Authorities, developed and approved as part of the trans-border cooperation project IPA Adriatic, aims to promote information exchange between  the ports of the Adriatic and Ionian areas with special reference to present and future RO-RO traffic and short sea routes (the Maritime Motorways). There is also the Adriatic Economic Cluster Club', with Veneto's joint chambers of commerce - Eurosportello Veneto - as its lead partner, with funding from the IPA CCB Adriatic programme with the purpose of promoting the areas and network contacts in the harbour industries and their chains of supply (with an emphasis on the timber, engineering, plastic, rubber and textile sectors) through joint ventures between operators based in Italy, Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Albania and Greece, and with Slovenia and Montenegro soon to be included.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=502]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[06/05/2011 - "ADRIATIC PORT COMMUNITY" PROJECT]]></title><description><![CDATA[An enhanced information exchange system for ports, speeding up the administrative process for the arrival and departure of vessels and improved port efficiency and competitiveness: these are the aims behind the 'Adriatic Port

Community' (APC) project launched in Venice. The project was developed and approved within the framework of the IPA Adriatic Cross-border cooperation programme, which aims to foster information exchange among ports in the Adriatic/Ionian Sea area, with a special focus on Roll-on/roll-off flow and both existing and future  short-range lines (Autostrade del Mare: Sea Highways). Venice's port authorities are leading the project, which will develop a  'single window' prototype for all the ports involved and is working closely with the Igoumenitsa Port Authority (Greece), Ploce Port Authority (Croatia), the Epirus Technology Institute (Greece), and Athens' Polytechnic University. The project partners will analyse all the internal port procedures and mechanisms, identifying and testing the application  to arrival and departure management, customs systems and parking and arrival reservations systems for land vehicles which enter the ports.  The project should be operative by 2013. The total budget available to the partners amounts to 2,557,000 euros, of which over 1 million is earmarked Venice's Port Authority. The project could be an important initiative for the city's port to set up an IT system which could help establish direct links with Greece and Croatia, two countries which will be among the major clients of the new Autostrade del Mare dedicated terminal which is under construction in the  Fusina area.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=503]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[06/05/2011 - 'ADRIATIC ECONOMIC CLUSTER CLUB' PROJECT]]></title><description><![CDATA[Launched in Venice today, the 'Adriatic Economic Cluster Club', with finance from the IPA Adriatic programme, aims at promoting networking contacts in the harbour industries and their chains of supply (with an emphasis on the timber, engineering, plastic, rubber and textile sectors) through joint ventures between operators based in Italy, Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Albania and Greece, and with Slovenia and Montenegro soon to be included. With a duration of thirty months and a budget of around 2.5 million euros, the project will involve a total of fifteen partners including bodies attached to the chambers of commerce (Veneto's Unioncamere - Eurosportello as the lead partner) and research centres on the Adriatic coast. The project is a mult-faceted one: apart from supporting enterprises, it will map the industry clusters comprising the ship-building and services supply chain in the Adriatic area. The organisation of partnership events to be held in Venice, Ancona and Fiume; promotions in the local area featuring a traditional Adriatic vessel, the &quot;trabaccolo&quot;, which will be calling at the resorts of the countries involved. Pilot projects will also be financed to promote technology exchanges and innovation of processes and products, including  an experimental supply chain for the production of tourism vessels with low environmental impact. In the words of Gian Angelo Bellati, Director of Veneto's Unioncamere Eurosportello &quot;Cluster Club wants to contribute to gathering industries together and promoting cooperation, the use of sustainable materials and alternative energy among EU countries and applicant nations for exchanging information and experience.&quot;

Its target is to launch trans-border promotions through start-ups and project follow-ups, concentrating on clusters involved in research, innovation and training&quot;.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=504]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[11/05/2011 - GENDER RESOURCES CENTERS FOR ORIENTATION AND PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATION OF EXCLUDED WOMEN IN ALBANIA AND MONTENEGRO]]></title><description><![CDATA[On the 16 of May 2011, in the headquarters in Tirana of the Independent Forum for the Albanian Women, will take place the kick of meeting of the project &quot;Gender Resources Centers for Orientation and Professional Qualification of Excluded Women in Albania and Montenegro&quot; -  code 093. The project  is a concrete action, which will contribute to the women social cohesion in Albania and Montenegro. 
The project will  create 2 regional training and professional centers in Durres (Albania) and Ulcinj (Montenegro), that will be not only spaces for delivering direct professional skills and work opportunities to the most marginalized women in both mentioned above districts, but also will help them to be socially included in their societies. 
On the other side, the project intends to increase the knowledge of the women regarding their role and status within the society, gender balances, equal opportunities, constitutional rights, reproductive rights, civil, social and other fundamental rights for women, in Albania and Montenegro. 
The project aims to improve women economic situation, as one of the key factors of women empowerment. The project will be a combination work of the 4 partners : Independent Forum for the Albanian Women , Women of Mediterranean, East and South European Network,   Municipality of Ulcinj,  Albanian Gender Institute of Research and Studies.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=505]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[11/05/2011 - BALKANS-ITALY: ANTIMAFIA CARAVAN, LEGALITY TORCH PROCESSION UNDERWAY]]></title><description><![CDATA[The journey of the European Anti-Mafia Caravan has come to an end, which from the Apulia region crossed Albania, Bosnia and Serbia with a number of stops organisers say were intended to help build a European network, both at the community level and outside of it, to bring together experiences and work and intervention methods between European and national institutions, civil society and NGOs. Underway, on the other hand, is the Remembrance and Legality Torchlight Procession, which from Montenegro's Budva has reached Italy with an itinerary to include Bari, Mola di Bari, Foggia, Pescara, L'Aquila, Ancona, Rimini, Bologna, Padova, Sommacampagna (Verona), Turin, Pont Saint Martin and Aosta to then go on to Sicily from Civitavecchia on the ''Legality Ship'' with about 2,000 Italian and European students, and end the journey in Palermo during the celebrations of the 19th anniversary of the Capaci and Via D'Amelio killings.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=506]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[12/05/2011 - MONTENEGRO: ADRIATIC AND IONIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FORUM]]></title><description><![CDATA[Integrated European maritime policies are at the center of the eleventh Forum of Adriatic and Ionian Chambers of Commerce. The cross-border which brings together 38 territorial bodies has arranged to meet in Budva, Montenegro. Beginning the meetings works of the associations bodies and the meetings of the issue-based round tables (agriculture, transport, fisheries and the environment, female entrepreneurship and tourism) and of the group on community planning. There will also be a plenary session on the theme of &amp;quot;Blue Growth' and the main axes of Europ&amp;eacute;s integrated maritime policies (safeguarding of the marine environment, fisheries, tourism, transport and maritime security to ensure safe usage of the sea). All of the events are preparatory for the creation in 2014 of an Adriatic-Ionian Macro-region, an instrument to foster integration processes, to increase territorial cooperation in line with European objectives.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=507]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[13/05/2011 - SMEs: NEW STAGE OF 'AMICO-11' PROJECT IN WESTERN BALKANS]]></title><description><![CDATA[In order to increase the presence of Italian businesses in the markets of the Western Balkans, &quot;Fiera del Levante Servizi&quot; has organised a support mission to the Macedonian capital Skopje as part of &quot;AMICO-11&quot; (Albania, Macedonia, Italy: Operational Collaborations - 2011), a development project for international relations between Italy and the Balkans.  One mission in particular is reserved for companies interested in the Macedonian government's pitch for &quot;Water concessions for the production of electrical energy from 44 small hydroelectric power stations according to the DBOT model&quot;.  The AMICO-11 project is financed by the Ministry for Economic Development.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=508]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[16/05/2011 - Days of the Regional Development
23 - 25 May 2011
Sibenik, Croatia]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Ministry of Regional Development, Forestry and Water Management is organizing, from 23 - 25 May 2011 in Sibenik, Croatia, the Days of the Regional Development. The purpose of this event is to promote the importance of regional development in the Republic of Croatia, in a broader context of the Republic of Croatia's rapprochement with the EU. One of the objectives is to encourage local communities to prepare projects that could be financed from EU funds, by highlighting positive examples of the use of EU funds based on the experience from  EU Member States and Croatia itself.
Participants in the Days of Regional Development will include representatives of the European Commission, Croatian national institutions in charge of managing EU funds, central and local authorities, current and future potential beneficiaries of the EU funds in Croatia and many other invitees from Croatia and abroad, including guest lecturers for the Programmes IPA Adriatic and MED.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=509]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[17/05/2011 - COOPERATION: ITALY-BOSNIA, MUNICIPALITY/CITY AGREEMENTS]]></title><description><![CDATA[A memorandum of understanding was signed between  Anci (the National Association of Italian Municipalities) and 'Sogfbih', the  association of the cities and municipalities of Bosnia Herzegovina, to make  official forms of cooperation between the two bodies through the SeeNet  Programme that aims to strengthen the network of See Local Bodies. It is the  tenth agreement that Anci signs with associations working in the seven Balkan  countries involved in the SeeNet Programme, including their 'umbrella  association' Nalas.   The  'Sogfbih' association is the leader of a work group linked to NALAS on the  topic of sustainable tourism, to which Anci provides expertise, that is  developing a strategic vision of tourism in the area, focused on the concepts  of sustainability and appreciation of local resources. The work group will  draw up a joint position paper of the associations of See local bodies on the  development of sustainable tourism that will be presented to the respective  national governments and to the European institutions on occasion of an  international conference set up by Anci in Rome in November  2011.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=510]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[18/05/2011 - CROATIA: PROJECTS FOR YOUTH EMPLOYMENT &  INFRASTRUCTURE]]></title><description><![CDATA[In Croatia in order to deal with youth  unemployment which reached 30% last year, 23 projects have been initiated with  2.73 million euros in financing as part of the EU IPA Component IV Programme  centred on human resource development.  The country is also working on  reducing its budget deficit which should be cut in half in the next two  years.  Meanwhile, according to figures reported by the government, in  2010 the fiscal deficit amounted to 4.7% of GDP and foreign debt reached 46  billion euros.    Economic development should stabilise in 2011 and 2012 at an  average of about 4.5%.  Meanwhile Croatia is working in the  infrastructure field, especially for the islands.  In this sector the  Ministry of Sea, Transport and Infrastructure developed a proposal for a new  project for a loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB) which should lead  to the construction of one hundred new works in the next four years.  In  2010 the Croatian government invested about 178.08 million euros into the  development of the islands, and in the last 8 years over 976 contracts have  been signed for the construction and renovation of infrastructural works on  the islands.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=511]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[19/05/2011 - COOPERATION: NEW CROATIA, SLOVENIA AND SERBIA AGREEMENTS ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Croatia and Slovenia, following the signing of an agreement on Economic and trade initiatives with other markets, have also reached an agreement on a &amp;quot;Single European Sky&amp;quot;. The two countries, which subscribe to the  IPA Adriatic Cross-border Cooperation Programme, have indeed signed a deal with Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary on the  &amp;quot;Functional Airspace Block - Central Europe&amp;quot; (FAB CE). This is the fourth block of its type to have been created. As for trade, the agreement also included Serbia and will specifically target the construction, defence industry, car, food, woodwork, transportation and communications  sectors.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=512]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[20/05/2011 - ENVIRONMENT: ITALY AND GREECE INTERESTED IN EU COMPETITION ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Greece and Italy are among the countries involved in the IPA Adriatic Cross-border Cooperation's  'Enpi CBC Mediterranean Sea Basin' Programme interested in the competition for environment-related strategic projects, worth a total of 62.4 million euros.  The projects put forward will have to cost between  2-5 million euros and last between 2 and 3 years.  The competition aims to target six sectors:  the agri-food industry; sustainable tourism; integrated management of coastal areas; waste management and recycling; water management; solar power.  Each project must promote a partnership involving at least 4 of the participating countries, at least one of which must hail from the north shore and another from the south shore. The  13 other countries involved in the  Cross-border Cooperation scheme are Cyprus, Egypt, , France, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Malta, Morocco, Palestinian Authority, Portugal, Spain, Syria and Tunisia.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=513]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[24/05/2011 - CROATIA: PROGRESS TOWARDS MEMBERSHIP  ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Croatia is coming closer to the end of negotiations for joining the European Union. The Country, after having wrapped up the closure of another two major chapters of the negotiation, those on agriculture and regional policies, aims to wrap up negotiations by the end of June. However to do so interventions are needed for the reform of the justice system, administration, protection of human rights, fight against corruption and organised crime, and also dealing with the situation of war criminals, aside from completing the reorganisation of the shipyard sector. That the path undertaken by Croatia is the correct one is shown by German chancellor Angela Merkel and by Hungarian premier and acting EU president Viktor Orban, who see ''clear progress'' in Croatia's path towards joining the European Union. Even the president of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, speaking in Zagreb during the first leg of a tour in the western Balkans, expressed his confidence that Croatia could soon become the EU's 28th Member Country. With the end of negotiations in June Croatia will be able to hold a referendum and there will be the ratification of the agreement in the parliaments of the Member Countries, in order to become a full member in the second half of 2012]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=515]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[24/05/2011 - ARCHEO.S. (SYSTEM OF THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES OF THE ADRIATIC SEA) KICK-OFF MEETING]]></title><description><![CDATA[On the 30 and the 31 of  May 2011 at the Palace Hotel in Bari (Italy) the Kick-off meeting of the Project Archeo.S. - System of the Archaeological Sites of the Adriatic Sea will take place.
The Project funded under the IPA Adriatic Cross-border Cooperation Programme, Priority 2. Natural and Cultural Resources and Risk Prevention, Measure 2.2 - Natural and cultural resource management and prevention of natural and technological risks, is the result of a synergy created by six Bodies located on the Adriatic Sea: &#8220;Teatro Pubblico Pugliese&#8221; (The Public Apulian Theatre Consortium, Italy) &#8211; Lead Beneficiary, the Municipality of Fier (Albania), the Municipality of Pazin (Croatia), the Municipality of Igoumenitsa (Greece), the Theatre Cities Foundation &#8211; &#8220;Teatro Stabile&#8221; of the Marche Region (Italy) and the Region Abruzzo (Italy). This synergy is intended to enhance those Italian Greek, Albanian and Croatian cultural sites that enshrine the history, art and natural heritage as showcases of myths and stories.
The Project is intended to make theatrical culture and cultural heritage a tool for territorial development.
Through the organization of artistic workshops, master class, theatrical productions, hosted during some Artistic Seasons as well as during an International Festival, through the exchange of knowledge created by a Network of the cultural heritage sites, the Project becomes a tool that enhances local economy turning this latter into a cultural asset. 
The Project wants to increment and foster long-lasting opportunities of cooperation in the field of live arts in the Adriatic area, to test an innovative method able to transform the sites of cultural heritage into attractive poles for tourism with the purpose to strengthen the sustainable development through the integration of the local-development policies; to organize a cooperative &quot;system&quot; between the different sites able to develop and to undertake a strategy of long term through a Memorandum of Understanding among the Partner. 
The Kick-off meeting foresees the attendance of the Councillor of Department for Mediterranean, Tourism and Culture Affairs of Puglia Region, Mrs. Silvia Godelli and Mrs. Giovanna Andreola, Responsible of the  Managing Authority of IPA Adriatic Cross-border Cooperation Programme. 
On the 30 of May 2011, h 11.30 at the Palace Hotel in Bari (Italy) it is foreseen the Press Conference to present Archeo.S.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=516]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[26/05/2011 - SERBIA: EU, AIM TO BE CANDIDATE COUNTRY IN 2011 ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Serbia's prospects for European integration have been at the centre of talks held between the President of the European Commission, Jos&amp;eacute; Manuel Barroso, the Commissioner for Enlargement, Stefan Fule, the Serbian Prime Minister, Mirko Cvetkovic and the country's President, Boris Tadic.  Barroso repeated the EU's commitment to the integration in the EU of countries in south-eastern Europe, and explained that the possibility of becoming a candidate country by the end of 2011 depends solely on Serbia.  The &amp;quot;key&amp;quot; is to satisfy the criteria for access, particularly in the field of legal and economic reforms and the fight against organised crime.  Serbia's cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICT).  Progress in the ongoing dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade is also vital.  The President of the European Commission is expecting results before the summer.  In terms of its future integration, Serbia can count on the support of Poland, which will take over the EU presidency on July 1.  Speaking in a meeting with his Serbian counterpart Mirko Cvetkovic, the Polish Prime Minister, Donald Tusk, said that the same support would be given to other countries in the Western Balkans.  One of the conditions necessary for the country's EU integration is the fight against crime, a journey already undertaken by Belgrade, with extradition agreements recently agreed with Slovenia (the first of its kind involving an EU country).  Serbia's Justice Minister, Snezana Malovic, says that this shows Serbia's unwavering commitment to the issue.  The country's deputy Prime Minister, Bozidar Djelic, who is in charge of the country's EU dossier, said that Serbian leaders are targeting the status of candidate country by the end of the year and that all government activity is focussed on reaching this objective.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=519]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[31/05/2011 - COOPERATION: INDUSTRY, AIMING FOR PRIVATE-PUBLIC PARTNER]]></title><description><![CDATA[The EU aims to reinforce the partnership between the private and the public sector in order to carry out the projects of the Union for the Mediterranan. The fact emerged during the conference of the Ministers of Industry of the Euro-Mediterranean area. There were talks in Malta regarding the need to upgrade efforts regarding investements due to regional projects. Among the latter there is 'Invest Med', the three-year program launched by the EU and part of a larger European project promoting Enpi (European Neighbourhood Partnership Instrument), aimed at encouraging a new flow of direct foreing investments and at reinforcing the promotion of current investments between the EU and partner countries in the Mediterranean. Effort is also being put towards agreements with neighbouring countries of the area regarding the compliance of industrial products, so as to ease the free movement of goods in view of the creation of a Euro-Mediterranean area of free trade.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=523]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[31/05/2011 - IPA: ECONOMIC CLUSTER CLUB PROJECTS LAUNCHED ]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Adriatic Economic Cluster Club project,  which is financed by the IPA Adriatic CBC programme, has been given its  official launch today.  The purpose of the Club will be to promote  networks connected with shipbuilding and ancilliary industries. The project,  led by Veneto's chambers of commerce (Unioncamere del Veneto - Eurosportello  Veneto) has a budget of around 2.5 million euros and will involve a total of  fifteen partners including chamber of commerce bodies and centres of research  of the nations bordering on the Adriatic Sea over a period of thirty months.  Especial emphasis is to be given to joint actions between operators in Italy,  Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Albania and Greece, with the an eye to  bringing in Slovenia and Montenegro at a future date. The project involves a  variety of activities: from support for enterprises and the mapping of the  industrial clusters making up the shipbuilding sector and related sectors in  the Adriatic area to the organisation of partnership events to be held in  Venice, Ancona and Fiume. Also planned are local promotional events using a  'trabacolo' a period craft of the Adriatic, which will be visiting the seaside  resorts of the countries involved and the development of pilot actions aimed a  promoting technological transfer and exchange of skills for innovation in  processes and products. The latter will include experimentation with a  ship-building chain aimed at producing vessels for tourism having a low  environmental impact, using ecologically sustainable materials and alternative  sources of energy.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=524]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[01/06/2011 - BOSNIA AND MONTENEGRO: PLANS IN WORKS FOR NEW RAILWAY LINE]]></title><description><![CDATA[The construction of a strategic artery for the Balkans and for development in Bosnia-Herzegovina through new possibilities to connect with Montenegro, Croatia, Macedonia, Albania and Greece.  With these objectives in mind, a feasibility study financed by the EU with 510,000 euros was conducted for a Capljina-Trebinje-Nika&amp;iexcl;ic railway line.  In the future, plans will focus on realising a network that can become part of the Adriatic-Ionian corridor, with the same standards enjoyed by passengers in the EU. ]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=526]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[06/06/2011 - EU: ADRIATIC-IONIAN AREA, MEETINGS FOR ITS RECOGNITION]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Committee of Regions has asked the European Council to entrust the development of a European strategy for the Adriatic-Ionian area to the Commission, and has asked the European Parliament for its cooperation.  Meetings will be held before July 4 with all stakeholders, MPs and European Commissioners, Ministers and ambassadors of the eight States of the Adriatic-Ionian Initiative, associations of regions and cities, European networks, the Forum of chambers of commerce, universities and cities in the Adriatic-Ionian region. The issue was presented to the Coter Commission (Commission for Territorial Cohesion Policy of the Committee of Regions) by the President of the Marches Region, Gian Mario Spacca, sponsor of the proposal to recognise the Adriatic-Ionian Macro Region. The strategy is meant to link the Macro Region's territory in order to promote its sustainable development, and at the same time to protect its fragile marine and coast environment.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=531]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[07/06/2011 - MANAGING AUTHORITY: SECOND CALL BY SUMMER]]></title><description><![CDATA[''We expect to close the second call by the end of this year, after the presentation of projects''. This statement was made by the head of the managing authority of the IPA Adriatic cross-border cooperation programme, Giovanna Andreola, during a conference in Bari on the launch of the Archeo.S project. ''The rapid continuation of this programme'' said Andreola, ''depends on the collaboration of all States. We expect to launch the second call before this summer''. The initiative is centred around the creation of the Adriatic-Ionian macro region: ''Efficient and effective projects allow us to develop cooperation in the Adriatic area in the context of the IPA Programme. Culture, economy and social questions'', Andreola continued, ''are the elements that will contribute to the realisation of this programme's strategic goal: the Adriatic macro region, which will be the future of European cooperation policies in the period after 2013''. ]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=534]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[07/06/2011 - COOPERATION: TOURISM, 'STAR' PROJECT LAUNCHED]]></title><description><![CDATA[The goal of the 'Star' (Statistical networks in Tourism sector of Adriatic Regions) cooperation project is to create a network of knowledge between the Adriatic regions, with an exchange of information on tourism that will be acquired during the check-in of tourists in accommodations and used to develop policies on tourism and to take more effective and timely measures. The project is financed by the 2007-2013 IPA Adriatic cross-border cooperation programme and was presented in Bologna in a conference. The partnership includes several partners in the Adriatic area: the Emilia-Romagna region, the province of Rimini, the tourism promotion body of the Abruzzo region, the tourism consortium of Apulia and the Marches and Veneto regions (COTUP), the Business Service Centre of Government of Zenica (Bosnia Herzegovina), the regional unit of Corfu (Greece), the Tourism Faculty of Opatija (Croatia), the Durazzo region (Albania). The project will continue for 3 years and includes the acquisition, development and experimental application of a system that has similar functionalities to the ones of the web application that has been developed by the province of Rimini for another European project aimed at technological innovation and administrative simplification. Companies active in tourism will be able to use the software, which can be downloaded without cost from the project website or the province's website. Special training courses will be organised to teach people how to use the programme.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=535]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[07/06/2011 - COOPERATION: TOURISM, 'TUR.GRATE 2' PROJECT LAUNCHED]]></title><description><![CDATA[The goal of the cooperation project 'Tur.Grate 2', financed by the 2007-2013 IPA Adriatic cross-border cooperation programme and presented in Mesagne in a conference, is to improve the promotion and use of cross-border cultural goods, food and natural resources while enhancing the competitiveness of tourist destinations in Italy, Albania, Montenegro and Greece. The project is meant to guarantee continuity and stability to local sustainable development processes that were started in the context of the first Tur.Grate and which have already had some success. The partnership, led by the municipality of Apulia, includes European partners from Italy and Greece, including the municipalities of  Nardo' and Latiano, material design and technology centre Cetma, the consortium of Apulia tour operators Cotup and the chamber of commerce of Thesprotia. Other partners come from States that are potential candidates to join the European Union including Albania, with the ministry office for tourist services, the municipalities of Durazzo and Tirana, and Montenegro, with the national tourism organisation (NTO) and the local tourist organisation of the municipality of Bar. The project will continue for three years, during which many activities will be developed for the promotion of sustainable tourism development in a spirit of cooperation. This will be done by trying to surpass the local dimension of policies for the development of tourism, through the creation of an international cooperation network for the development of a joint approach to the management of cultural and natural heritage. The activities that are developed include the promotion of sustainable and alternative tourism by the creation of new thematic products and the realisation of a programme of cultural events (art galleries with restoration workshops, dance and music performances and cultural exchange to promote historic origins and traditions).]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=536]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[08/06/2011 - ADRIATIC-IONIAN MACRO-REGION CENTRALITY REAFFIRMED ]]></title><description><![CDATA[The foreign ministers of the Adriatic-Ionian Initiative have reaffirmed the centrality of the macro-region. In the interventions held in Brussels as part of the annual meeting of the Regions Committee, discussion was held on the optimal use of community resources on projects covering large areas, the political importance of the Italian-Greek-Slovenian initiative and the progress towards EU membership of the other four states in the western Balkans (taking for granted Croatia's gaining EU membership). A few days prior to the meeting, in a meeting with EU Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Alfredo Mantica and Hungarian undersecretary Gergely Prohle, the Hungarian presidency supported the Italian position on macro-regions, calling it a potential new instrument for the EU at the territorial level in line with a new geo-political and strategic logic. The Adriatic-Ionic macro-region is one to be promoted, following the Baltic one and the Danube one heading for approval. Interventions at the annual meeting were held by representatives from Albania, Bosnia Herzegovina, Croatia, Greece,  Italy, Montenegro, Serbia and Slovenia. ''We have already received concrete signs of interest from the European Parliament and we have involved the State-Regions Conference fully. We are ready,'' said Mantica, ''to work in a collaborative spirit also with the European Commission. Our timeline, to be realistic, is 2014, the year in which Greece and Italy will hold the EU presidency.'']]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=537]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[09/06/2011 - CROATIA: SURVEY ON GREATER COMPETITIVENESS IN COUNTIES]]></title><description><![CDATA[Varazdin comes in first among Croatia's counties in terms of competitiveness, offering entrepreneurs the best conditions for their businesses, according to the report on regional competitiveness drawn up by the National Competitiveness Council and the UNDP in collaboration with the Croatian Chamber of Commerce. The survey shows the advantages and weaknesses of the 21 Croatian counties on the basis of regional differences, as well as supplying recommendations on how to best develop and strengthen competitiveness of the economy at a local level. The Varazdin country moved up from fourth place in 2007 to first place in 2010, and is followed by the City of Zagreb. In third place is Istriana, then Medjimurska and Zagabrese. In last place are Vukovar and Pozega. As concerns IPA funds - according to the Italian Institute for Foreign Trade (ICE) - Medjimurje is the second county in Croatia for the best results as well as the ability to attract IPA funds of the second component (which concerns regional and cross-border cooperation between Croatia and Hungary). For the 16 projects in which the Medjimurje county is taking part in, 1.7 million euros in IPA funds have been allocated. Recently a new Sprint project has been presented which aims to increase economic growth and competition with connections between firms (about 40) and scientific research institutes. It is a project (with 84% of financing from IPA) which is to last 2 years and worth an overall 641,109 euors. ]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=539]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[14/06/2011 - BOSNIA: RURAL DEVELOPMENT, PROJECT 'PREPARATION OF IPART SECTOR ANALYSES']]></title><description><![CDATA[The project Preparation of IPARD sector analyses has been officially launched in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Financed by IPA funds, the project's goal is to process analyses in the milk, meet, fruit and vegetables, wine and cereals sectors. The Faculty of Agriculture in Sarajevo and Banja Luka and the Agronomy Faculty in Mostar will give their contribution to the project. Data processing should be completed in December. The results should form the basis for future agricultural development policies in the country, which will give access to the IPARD funds (V component of the IPA funds) once Bosnia obtains the candidate status.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=541]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[14/06/2011 - VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN, GREECE AND MONTENEGRO ADOPT EUROPEAN COUNCIL TEXT]]></title><description><![CDATA[Greece and Montenegro are among the IPA Adriatic countries that have signed the 'Convention on prevention and combating violence against women', together with 11 European nations. The first internationally binding legal instrument taken to fight and prevent violence against women has also been signed by Turkey, Austria, Germany, Iceland, Portugal, Finland, France, Spain, Sweden, Slovakia and Luxemburg. Italy will ratify the convention when it passes a law on the issue in Parliament. The document includes the creation of a monitoring system with a group of independent experts who will assess the effective implementation of the measures against violence taken by the single member States, which have to adopt a series of measures to prevent violence, to protect the victims and prosecute perpetrators.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=542]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[14/06/2011 - COOPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT, 'ZOONE'  PROJECT]]></title><description><![CDATA[The spread of  livestock farming based on innovation and expertise in the Adriatic-Balkans  Euroregion is the goal for the IPA Adriatic Cross-Border Cooperation  Programme's 'Zoone' project, led by the Marche region and which received over  1.8 million euros in funding from the EU.    The project also involves Slovenia,  Bosnia, Croatia, Serbia and Albania.  Based on the experience of the  previous European project, 'Marcbal', the project focuses on scientific and  institutional cooperation in order to create favourable conditions and to  provide specific support to businesses in the livestock farming industry in  rural areas in the relevant countries.  In particular, the project aims  to strengthen and expand the networks of cooperation with Adriatic countries  to reinforce rural economies through a livestock farming model based on  innovation and expertise, assuring environmental, economic and social  stability.  'Zoone' also aims to introduce a breed of cattle native to  the Marche region into the Balkans.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=543]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[15/06/2011 - CROATIA: WORLD BANK APPROVES LOAN TO SUPPORT ECONOMY]]></title><description><![CDATA[In order to support reforms in recovery as concerns public finances, the adjustment of public administration costs and in the healthcare, welfare and social sectors, the World Bank has approved a loan to support Croatia's economic recovery worth 150 million euros at an interest rate of 2.5% as part of the Euribor (Euro Interbank Offered Rate). According to the data published by the National Employment Agency (HZZ), at the end of April labour market figures saw an improvement, with 308,869 unemployed, 6.4% fewer than the previous month. HZZ expects to see a further slowdown in the rise in unemployment over the next few months.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=545]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[22/06/2011 - COOPERATION: CULTURE AND THEATRE NETWORK INTERVENTIONS]]></title><description><![CDATA['We are intervening in the field of fine arts and shows thanks to a project based on a cultural initiative which brings us into direct contact with the roots, history and life of populations,'' said Mediterranean councilor for the Puglia region Silva Godelli in a press conference in Bari for the launch of the cooperation project Archeo.S, funded as part of the European programme Cbc Ipa - Adriatico 2007-2013.  ''It is a project which makes us very happy. Working within the cultural sphere allows us,'' noted Godelli, ''to reconstruct shared roots and reciprocally valorise the differences and resources that each has produced over the course of its own history. The outlook for the southern and eastern parts of Europe continues to be strongly dependent on integration.'' The regional culture councillor for the Abruzzo region Luigi de Fanis added that ''there is the firm will to bring together Adriatic countries. For Abruzzo-based theatre, this will be the chance to put into practice in a useful way the experience gained over many years.'' The mayor of Ancona and President of the Marche region's Teatro Stabile in turn said that ''it is also the chance to create a shared platform with the possibility to bring in further development. Meanwhile there is the chance to work alongside our neighbours in the Adriatic, adopting shared solutions and exchanging ideas and good practices.''  The mayor of Albania's Fier, Baftar Zeqaj, of Croatia's Pazin, Renato Krulic and Greece's Igoumenitsa, Katsinos Georgios, have said that they are ready to host the many activities called for within the project, which - they hope - will also improve the quality of institutional relations and cooperation, widening the network of relations and providing opportunities for further collaborations.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=548]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[22/06/2011 - ARCHEO.S BEGINS IN ITALY, ALBANIA AND CROATIA]]></title><description><![CDATA[Italy, Albania, Croatia and Greece are uniting through fresh intervention, development, valorisation and sustainable development strategies for the territory and cultural heritage. And they are doing it through the cooperation project Archeo.S (Adriatic IPA Cross Border Cooperation 2007/2013 - System of the Archaeological Sites of the Adriatic Sea), a network which until 2013 - thanks to about 3 billion euros in financing - will foster this project which sprung from cooperation within the European programme  Cbc Ipa - Adriatico 2007-2013. To present it in Bari during the launch of the project were representatives of the six local agencies involved: the Apulia region (through the Teatro Pubblico Pugliese, which is the leading beneficiary of Archeo.S), the Fier town council (Albania), the Pazin town council (Croatia) the Igoumenitsa town council (Greece), the Marche region (through the Le Citta' del Teatro-Teatro Stabile foundation) and Abruzzo. The project will create a network of cultural sites and a governance plan for them. Within the fine arts sphere there will be art workshops, master classes, theatrical productions, theatre performances and an international festival which will be held next summer in Ancona. The project - as was announced during the launch conference - will be experimenting an innovative method for the creation of a 'system' connecting cultural heritage sites, the producers of theatrical activities and those involved in economic development to undertake a long-term strategy able to increase opportunities for sustainable development.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=549]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[22/06/2011 - SERBIA: CHINA INVESTS IN INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS]]></title><description><![CDATA[After making its first investment in the infrastructure field in Europe in 2009 in Serbia, China continues to show interest in investing in infrastructure projects within the country. And the construction of a new, 170-million-euro bridge over the Danube to Belgrade will not be an isolated investment, said Serbian foreign minister Vuk Jeremic at the end of talks in Belgrade with his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi. Over the next few months important agreements are expected to be brought in.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=550]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[22/06/2011 - BOSNIA:INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN INDUSTRY, PUBLIC WORKS]]></title><description><![CDATA[Thanks to a European Investment Bank (EIB) loan of 30 and 70 million euros, a new hospital will be built in Bijelina and the Banja Luka Clinic will be reconstructed. Investment in public works continues in the country. Thanks to a further 40 million euros the Banja Luka School of Medicine will be built as well as a research centre for the Faculty of Medicine. Last month saw the inauguration of the new Bosanska Gradiska hospital, which made use of an investment of about 5 million euros. Investment in Bosnia also concern the dairy industry due to the good opportunities for quality organic food production, beginning with cheese, with cooperatives which need 1.8 million euros for the building of new facilities.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=551]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[22/06/2011 - 22/06 CULTURE: ADRIAMUSE PROJECT TO PROMOTE ADRIATIC MUSEUMS]]></title><description><![CDATA[Increasing awareness about museums in the Adriatic region and creating innovative solutions to make available for those working in the cultural sphere, museums and all other cultural institutes - in order to attract ever more visitors - is the aim of the cooperation project AdriaMuse, funded with 1,762,670 euros by the IPA Adriatic Cross Border Cooperation Project 2007-2013 and presented in the launch conference in Cattolica.The project, which is led by the Rimini provincial government, aims to foster museum awareness by being part of the Euromuse.net (the international showcase which brings together information on the most important museums and shows in Europe) and organises a series of events able to connect Adriatic museums and to reach a non-traditional public of visitors through diversification. The partnership includes a number of local and institutional agencies including the Veneto region, the Fine Arts, Culture and Natural Resources Institute of the Emilia-Romagna region, the provinces of Pesaro-Urbino and Campobasso, the Rimini town council, the Venice University, Slovenia's Istria region, Montenegro's Museum of Peoples, the Biznis Servis Centar of the Zenic and Doboj canton in Bosnia-Herzegovina and the Shkoder municipality in Albania. ]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=553]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[24/06/2011 - TOURISM, HISTORIC CENTRES REBORN WITH 'ADRISTORICAL LANDS']]></title><description><![CDATA[Strengthening the link represented by the common origin between Adriatic cities through territorial cooperation, aiming to create and put a common cross-border strategy into place that can place importance on local history and patrimony, cultural tourism and other factors that are essential for the economic rebirth of the historic centres of the cities in the area.  This is the objective of the cooperation project entitled 'Adristorical Lands', financed with 2 million euros by the IPA Adriatic Cross-Border Cooperation Programme 2007-2013, presented in Pescara as part of the 'Ecotur' expo. 
 
The project, headed by the Molise Region, promotes the use of cultural values and potential in the tourism sector by creating local identities connected to the promotion and management of tourism based on the appeal of historic villages, walled cities, castles and cultural sites located within these territories.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=554]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[24/06/2011 - EUROPEAN TERRITORIAL COOPERATION GROUP]]></title><description><![CDATA[A common space opening up to international cooperation, the point of departure for the Euroregion that we are building with Slovenia, Austria and Croatia.  This was the statement that Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini used to welcome the beginning of the European Group for Territorial Cooperation (EGTC) while signing a cooperation agreement between the cities of Gorizia, Nova Goriza and Sempeter-Vrtojba with Slovenian Secretary of State, Dragoljuba Bencina. 

The EGTC's objectives, which today involve infrastructure (light railway), energy (district heating) and sustainable urban development, could be expanded and also encompass healthcare, coordinating policies at the territorial level to involve 70,000 people.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=555]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[28/06/2011 - COOPERATION: STRENGTHENING EASTERN PARTNERSHIP ]]></title><description><![CDATA[One of the priorities Poland will have during its presidency of the European Union, which will start in July, will be the Eastern Partnership and the promotion of policies that open the door to European aspirations of other European states, with the possible accession of Croatia, the approach of Serbia, Montenegro and Moldova and the EU's association with the Ukraine. Premier Donald Tusk explained that Poland will also focus on the problems of European security, military issues as well as food and energy.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=556]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[28/06/2011 - ITALY-SLOVENIA: CLOSER COLLABORATION]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Italian-Slovenian trans-border cooperation project regarding civil protection, 'Friends for Emergencies', may be expanded to include Croatia. The project is meant to enhance communication between the two countries and to build a shared database. It also includes a joint training programme for firefighters, a web page with shared maps and databases and the implementation of existing radio links. Italy also remains involved in economic development activities in its cooperation with Slovenia. This emerged during the Italian-Slovenian Forum that was followed by bilateral meetings between around 30 Italian companies and their Slovenian counterparts, with a special focus on renewable energy, ICT, the environment, construction and infrastructures.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=557]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[01/07/2011 - 01/07 CROATIA: EUROPE WILL MONITOR MEMBERSHIP PROCESS]]></title><description><![CDATA[After the signing of the membership treaty, expected in mid-December, it will be the turn of the citizens to authorise it through a referendum and then ratification by the EU's Member States will follow: Croatia's EU membership process should thus end by July 2013. A notion outlined by EU Commission president Jos&amp;eacute; Manuel Barroso and by EU president Herman Van Rompuy.There will be no post-membership monitoring mechanism for Zagreb: ''As happened with the previous enlargements, the European Commission will continue to monitor its path before membership''. Barroso explained that ''It is crucial for the EU and for the Member States that reforms in Croatia do not slow down before joining the EU, especially when it comes to the matter of justice and human rights''.Croatian premier Jandranka Kosor guaranteed that over the next months Zagreb will continue to implement the reforms needed to adjust the national legal framework to that of the EU.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=560]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[01/07/2011 - 01/07 EU: CROATIA'S MEMBERSHIP EXAMPLE OF REFORM FOR BALKANS]]></title><description><![CDATA[Croatia's future EU membership will lead the way that other countries of the region should follow. A path of reforms, according to EU president Herman Van Rompuy and European Commission president Jos&amp;eacute; Manuel Barroso. ''In autumn - as explained, on occasion of the EU-27 summit of leaders in Brussels that authorised Croatia's membership bid, by Hungarian prime minister ViktorOrban, of the current EU presidency - we will debate how to move on with the enlargement procedure with other countries''. And so the case of the Balkans will be debated during the December summit. Croatian premier Jadranka Kosor added that ''Since the start of negotiations in 2005 we have had our bad times, but this shows our neighbours that perseverance and work do pay off. It is the best present we could get for the twentieth anniversary of our independence''.Enlargement commissioner Stefan Fule then announced that other membership negotiations should start up before the year is over. Croatia, after Slovenia, will be the second Balkan country to join the Union.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=561]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[05/07/2011 - EU: BALKANS BELIEVE CROATIA JOINING IS RESULT OF REFORM  PATH]]></title><description><![CDATA[Croatia's accession to the EU in the &amp;nbsp;future shows other countries in the region the way forward: this path is made &amp;nbsp;up of reforms, according to EU President Herman Van Rompuy and EU Commission &amp;nbsp;President Jos&amp;eacute; Manuel Barroso. Speaking at the EU-27 summit which endorsed &amp;nbsp;Croatia's accession, Hungarian prime Minister Viktor Orban, currently &amp;nbsp;occupying the EU's rotating presidency, stated, ''In autumn we will discuss &amp;nbsp;how to proceed as far as the enlargement process involving other countries &amp;nbsp;goes&amp;quot;.The Balkans dossier will therefore be discussed at the December summit. &amp;nbsp;Croatian Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor added, ''From the beginning of the &amp;nbsp;accession talks in 2005, we have gone through some tough phases, but this goes &amp;nbsp;to show our neighbours that work and perseverance are rewarded.This is the &amp;nbsp;greatest gift we could receive for the 20th anniversary of our independence.&amp;quot; &amp;nbsp;Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule then announced that within a year more &amp;nbsp;accession talks could be underway. Following Slovenia, Croatia will be the &amp;nbsp;second Balkan country to have joined the EU.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=562]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[05/07/2011 - CROATIA: EUROPE TO MONITOR INTEGRATION PROCESS]]></title><description><![CDATA[After the signature of the treaty of accession, &amp;nbsp;which is scheduled for the middle of December, citizens will be asked to give &amp;nbsp;their backing in a referendum, before Croatia's integration into the European &amp;nbsp;Union is ratified by EU member states. The process should therefore be &amp;nbsp;complete by July 2013.The prospect has been mooted by the President of the EU Commission, &amp;nbsp;Jos&amp;eacute; Manuel Barroso, and by the EU President, Herman Van Rompuy. There will be &amp;nbsp;no post-integration monitoring of Zagreb. &amp;quot;As has occurred with previous &amp;nbsp;enlargements, the European Commission will continue to monitor the country &amp;nbsp;before its accession,&amp;quot; Barroso said.It is crucial for the EU and for other &amp;nbsp;member states that reforms in Croatia do not slow down before the country's &amp;nbsp;entry into the EU, particularly with regard to justice and human rights&amp;quot;. &amp;nbsp;Croatia's Prime Minister, Jadranka Kosor, added that Zagreb would continue &amp;nbsp;with reforms necessary to meet the EU's national regulatory framework over the &amp;nbsp;next few months.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=563]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[05/07/2011 - SERBIA: ENERGY, 1.5BLN INVESTMENT IN KOLUBARA  PLANT]]></title><description><![CDATA[The creation of a new mixed company for &amp;nbsp;the restructuring and rebuilding of two parts of the Serbian 'Kolubara B' &amp;nbsp;thermal power plant, located some 50 km south of Belgrade.This is what the &amp;nbsp;Italian energy company Edison has in mind (the agreement may be signed during &amp;nbsp;the inter-governmental Italian-Serb summit, to take place in July in &amp;nbsp;Belgrade).With 1.5 billion euros in investments, it aims to implement this &amp;nbsp;project with Elektroprivreda Srbije (EPS), Serbia's national energy company. &amp;nbsp;Construction and other works on the plant are due to begin in &amp;nbsp;2012.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=564]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[05/07/2011 - SERBIA: AGREEMENT WITH EU ON PEACEKEEPING MISSIONS]]></title><description><![CDATA[BARI, JULY 5 - Serbia and the EU have reached an &amp;nbsp;agreement on the terms of the country's participation in the European Union's &amp;nbsp;peacekeeping missions in crisis areas.Decisions on Serbia's potential &amp;nbsp;participation in said missions will be based on invitations on the part of the &amp;nbsp;EU and the specific role it is to play is to be determined on a case by case &amp;nbsp;basis, in close consultation with the EU.The fight against terrorism and &amp;nbsp;crime were at the top of the agenda during the fifth summit for heads of state &amp;nbsp;in the Balkans, held in Macedonia. Serbia, &amp;nbsp;Montenegro, Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Greece, Romania and Turkey &amp;nbsp;were present.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=565]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[07/07/2011 - IPA JOINT MONITORING COMMITTEE TODAY AND TOMORROW TO START SECOND CALL FOR PROJECTS]]></title><description><![CDATA[The next meeting of the Joint Monitoring Committee (JMC) for the EU Programme for Cross-Border Cooperation &quot;CBC IPA Adriatic&quot; (2007-2013). Today and tomorrow representatives from regional and national governments will be meeting again in L'Aquila. The top issue to be focused on in the meeting is the approval of the second call for projects. &quot;IPA Adriatico&quot; includes eight nations: Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Serbia, Greece and, for Italy - in addition to Abruzzo as head region, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Veneto, Emilia Romagna, Marche, Puglia and Molise. The programme has an overall 280 million euros at is disposal and aims to harmonise the Adriatic cross-border area for institutional, economic, cultural, touristic, environmental and infrastructural cooperation.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=568]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[08/07/2011 - INTEGRATION SLOWED BY LACK OF GOVT ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Over the past six months Bosnia Herzegovina is losing ground compared with its neighbouring countries in its progress towards European integration.Roderick Moore, the vice representative of the international community in Bosnia, has no doubts about the effects of the lasting political deadlock in the country, where over eight months after the general elections on October 3 a new central government has not yet been formed.''Unlike Montenegro, Serbia and Croatia, '' said Moore, ''Bosnia Herzegovina has not made any progress'', while the international community and the Office of the High Representative would like to see Bosnia make rapid progress towards integration into the EU and NATO, like other Balkan countries. Meanwhile, ''structural dialogue'' has commenced in Bosnia on judicial system reform as part of the Stabilisation and Association Process, in the presence of European Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=569]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[08/07/2011 - EU:IPA,3 PRIORITIES FROM REGIONAL AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES]]></title><description><![CDATA[Involve regional and local agencies in the elaboration of the EU strategy for 2020, maintain a adequate share of the budget for cohesion policies (in part through identifying resources) and strengthen European neighbourhood policies are the three top priorities set in the meeting between EU Commission president Jose' Manuel Barroso and the president of the Regions Committee Mercedes Bresso with representatives of European regional and local authorities.It is a meeting which was extended to representatives from the Conference of Regional Legislative Assemblies, the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions, the Conference of European regions with Legislative Powers, the Association of European Cross-Border regions, the Council of European Municipalities and Regions and the organisation which gathers together Eurocities local agencies.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=570]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[08/07/2011 - COOPERATION: AUGUST, 2ND IPA ADRIATIC CBC CALL FOR PROPOSAL]]></title><description><![CDATA[On August 1 the second call for proposals will be published for the European Union's IPA Adriatic Cross Border Cooperation Programme (2007-2013).  Overall financing will amount to 87 million euros, which will be distributed equally along the three strategic lines of the initiative.  The deadline for projects to be presented has been set for October 29.  The important decision was made by the IPA Surveillance Committee in a meeting that began yesterday and which ended today in Aquila.

&quot;I am extremely satisfied with the result that has been achieved,&quot; said Giovanna Andreola, the IPA Managing Authority and Manager of the International Activities Sector for the Abruzzo region.  &quot;The result is the outcome of a meaningful cooperation between all of the states taking part in the programme, which have demonstrated great desire and determination in achieving a goal that assures significant economic and social effects and which is evidence of the efficiency and effectiveness of the IPA Adriatic CBC Programme.&quot;   The programme has about 280 million euros available to it and aims to coordinate the Adriatic cross-border area under institutional, economic, cultural, tourism, environmental and infrastructural collaboration.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=571]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[12/07/2011 - FORUM JULY 13 IN PESCARA WITH MINISTER FITTO]]></title><description><![CDATA[&amp;quot;The Forum in Pescara with&amp;nbsp;Minister Fitto will be another opportunity to confirm the&amp;nbsp;effectiveness of the activities that are part of the IPA&amp;nbsp;Adriatic Cross-Border Cooperation Programme, particularly those&amp;nbsp;meant to facilitate integration and development to unite the two&amp;nbsp;sides of the Adriatic Sea.&amp;quot;This statement was made by the President of the regional&amp;nbsp;council of Abruzzo, Gianni Chiodi, who referred to the Forum on&amp;nbsp;the IPA Adriatic programme that will be held in Pescara on July&amp;nbsp;13 in the De Cecco Auditorium at Unione Square. The event with&amp;nbsp;the title &amp;quot;The Role of the IPA Adriatic Programme in European&amp;nbsp;Union Cross-Border Cooperation&amp;quot; will be high-level&amp;nbsp;international summit on the activities of the EU initiative. In&amp;nbsp;attendance at the event will be Minister for Regional Affairs&amp;nbsp;and Development Policies, Raffaele Fitto, Albani&amp;agrave;s Deputy&amp;nbsp;Minister for European Integration Jarida Tabaku and Croati&amp;agrave;s&amp;nbsp;Vice Minister and Secretary of State Carlo Gjurasic. Other&amp;nbsp;people who will attend the meeting are head of IPA for the EU&amp;nbsp;Fausta Corda and institutional representatives of all States and&amp;nbsp;countries involved in the programme that is hosted by Abruzzo.&amp;quot;On the eve of this important event I would like to underline&amp;nbsp;the central role played by Abruzzo, which has led the&amp;nbsp;programm&amp;eacute;s activities in a professional way in close contact&amp;nbsp;and collaboration with the States and the other Regions,&amp;quot;&amp;nbsp;Chiodi explained, &amp;quot;and the fact that Abruzzo is becoming&amp;nbsp;increasingly influential as entrance port to Europ&amp;eacute;s&amp;nbsp;Adriatic-Ionian area.&amp;quot; One of the Forum's goals is to take stock&amp;nbsp;of the financial projects in the context of the first IPA&amp;nbsp;tender, totalling around 75 million euros, as well as the&amp;nbsp;presentation of the second call that has been approved by the&amp;nbsp;supervisory committee in L'Aquila, for a total funding of 87&amp;nbsp;million euros that will be equally distributed over the three&amp;nbsp;strategic axes.Eight States participate in the programme:&amp;nbsp;Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania,&amp;nbsp;Serbia, Greece and for Italy leading region Abruzzo, Friuli&amp;nbsp;Venezia Giulia, Veneto, Emilia Romagna, Marches, Apulia and&amp;nbsp;Molise. The programme has an overall 280 million euros at its&amp;nbsp;disposal and aims to harmonise the Adriatic cross-border area&amp;nbsp;for institutional, economic, cultural, touristic, environmental&amp;nbsp;and infrastructural cooperation.&amp;nbsp;]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=572]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[13/07/2011 - SLOVENIA: 'WELLNESS ISTRIA' PROJECT]]></title><description><![CDATA[Improving the visibility and opportunities for tourists in the Istria area are the objectives of the European cross-border project, 'Wellness Istria', partially financed by the European programme 'IPA Slovenia - Croatia 2007-2013'.With the support of the project, Istria should become a complete cross-border destination capable of offering opportunities in the wellness tourism sector through &amp;nbsp;an experience of local typical elements featuring the natural environment, the cultural world, the local culinary sector and traditional customs.Work on the project has been carried out by the City Administration of Piran, the Tourism Department of Portoroz, the Croatian Institute for Agriculture and Tourism of Porec and the Slovenian Istria Winegrowers' Association.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=573]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[13/07/2011 - SLOVENIA: CONSTRUCTION SECTOR IMPACTING ECONOMIC GROWTH]]></title><description><![CDATA[In the first quarter of 2011, Slovenia&amp;nbsp;generated 8.5 billion euros in GDP and real economic growth&amp;nbsp;reached 2%, with the country turning in constant economic growth&amp;nbsp;for four consecutive quarters.According to Sloveni&amp;agrave;s&amp;nbsp;statistics office, the country's economic performance has been&amp;nbsp;impacted by the negative trend in the construction sector, which&amp;nbsp;if reversed would allow economic growth to increase to 3% in a&amp;nbsp;short period of time.Meanwhile the Slovenian government has revised their budget,&amp;nbsp;reducing costs by 455 million euros. &amp;nbsp;With the revision, this&amp;nbsp;year's budget will reportedly be reduced by 10% compared to the&amp;nbsp;amount approved for the year, but is reportedly greater than&amp;nbsp;last year's spending by 3%.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=574]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[19/07/2011 - ALBANIA: PRIVATISATION SEASON CONTINUES]]></title><description><![CDATA[Albania is continuing to privatise state assets. Within the fall, the country's government will be granting a concession on the Durazzo-Kukes-Morina highway, which joins Albania and Kosovo , through a call for bids.The bid is to include foreign investors, while the road maintenance costs will be taken on by consumers. The International Finance Corporation (member of World Bank Group, which has invested 150 million euros in Albania to shore up the private and public sectors) has been tasked with preparing the procedure and criteria for the concession.Privatizations will also involve the demerging of the Ulez, Shkopet and Lanabrega hydroelectric plants from Albanian Energy Corporation(Kesh), with private companies taking on their management, through the direct sale of shares (no less than 51 percent for each plant ) or through concessions.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=575]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[21/07/2011 - PUBLIC NOTICE OF SELECTION OF A PROJECT MANAGER]]></title><description><![CDATA[Abruzzo Region issued a public notice of selection of a &quot;Project Manager&quot; for the management of the project &quot;FUTURE MEDICINE&quot;, a proposal for the establishment o a cross-border Adriatic clinical network of centers for medically assisted reproduction and regenerative medicine. The application must be sent within a deadline of thirty days from the day following the publication's date (July, 20th 2011) of the notice on the BURA (Bollettino Ufficiale Regione Abruzzo).]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=576]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[25/07/2011 - CROATIA, MACEDONIA AND MONTENEGRO FOR EUROPEAN GREEN CAPITAL]]></title><description><![CDATA[Croatia, Macedonia and Montenegro are among the IPA Adriatic countries aiming to throw their cities into the hat for the European Green Capital award in 2014.  The competition is open to the EU's 27 member states, plus candidate countries and members of the European Economic Area (Norway and Liechtenstein).  The cities chosen between 2010 and 2013 were Stockholm, Hamburg, Victoria-Gasteiz and Nantes respectively.  Candidate cities must have at least 200,000 inhabitants or, failing the criterion, be a country's largest city.  The deadline to register a city for the competition is October 14, with the winner due to be announced in 2012.  There are twelve criteria taken into consideration: the local contribution to the fight against climate change; transport; green areas; noise; waste production and management; nature and biodiversity; air quality; water consumption; sewage management; eco-innovation and sustainable employment; environmental management by the local authorities and energy performance. ]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=580]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[25/07/2011 - ALBANIA: PLAN OF ACTION SOON STUDIED BY EUROPE]]></title><description><![CDATA[Albania's plan of action based on the 12 key priorities identified by the EU Commission last November will soon be examined by Brussels.  &amp;quot;It is now essential to tackle the fragility of the political system and to provide the appropriate answers,&amp;quot; said the EU Commissioner for Enlargement, Stefan Fule, during a meeting of the joint EU-Albania parliamentary commission in Brussels.  &amp;quot;The effective guarantee of the rule of law remains a challenge for Albania&amp;quot;.  The country has, however, been urged to act in the field of human rights, the protection of minorities, freedom and independence of the media and the transparency of the judiciary in implementing measures to fight corruption.  The European Union has also called on the government and the opposition for dialogue to resume in the country despite tension in connection with elections.  The EU has also demanded the start of the process of reforming electoral law, in line with recommendations by the OECD.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=581]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[28/07/2011 - EU: COHESION POLICIES AND STRUCTURAL FUNDS ON 2013 AGENDA]]></title><description><![CDATA[Among the European Parliament's strategies for ''post-2013'' there are not only cohesion policies. Looking at cross-border, transnational and interregional cooperation, the parliament urged the commission to increase the amount of structural funds dedicated to cross-border cooperation (from the current 2.5% to 7%) for territorial cohesion and especially to improve transport infrastructure.&amp;nbsp;The European Parliament is also expected to simplify itself and speed up the attribution process, especially for SMEs, in addition to encouraging multi-fund and hybrid financing. The entire process should be marked by greater synergy between the various funds which would make it possible to go forward with more results-focused regional development policies.&amp;nbsp;]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=583]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[28/07/2011 - SERBIA: 850 MLN IN LOANS FOR ECONOMY AND INFRASTRUCTURE ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Serbia has been granted loans totalling 650 million euros from the European Investment Bank (EIB): one for 500 million for the investment programme supported by Fiat Auto Serbia and one worth 150 million for mid-caps and SMEs.&amp;nbsp;The aim is to provide support for the development of the financial system through supporting the Serbian economy, both through the financing of SME and Mid-Caps projects and through modernisation and growth in the productive capacity of the car plant in Kragujevac which belongs to a joint venture between Fiat Group Automobiles (FGA) and the Republic of Serbia.&amp;nbsp;Serbia will also make use of a 200-million-euro loan from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). The latter, which will be drawn up at the end of the year, aims to strengthen the infrastructure system through development of the country's railway system.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=584]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[28/07/2011 - SERBIA:ENERGY, 1.5 BLN INVESTMENT FOR KOLUBARA POWER PLANT]]></title><description><![CDATA[The creation of a new joint venture for the restructuring and the reconstruction of two blocs of the Serbian thermoelectric plant Kolubara B, about 50 km south of Belgrade, has been proposed (the agreement may be signed on the fringes of an Italian-Serbian intergovernmental summit in July in Belgrade) by the Italian utility Edison which, with an investment of 1.5 billion euros, intends to implement the project alongside Elektroprivreda Srbije (EPS), Serbia's national utility. The works on the plant would begin in 2012.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=585]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[03/08/2011 - BALKANS, SERBIA MOVING EVER CLOSER TO EU]]></title><description><![CDATA[Croatia's future membership in the European Union points the way for other countries in the region to follow, according to EU president Herman Van Rompuy and European Commission president Jos&amp;eacute; Manuel Barroso. The Hungarian prime minister, Viktor Orban, currently holding the EU rotating presidency, said that ''in the autumn we will be discussing how to move forward with the enlargement procedure with other countries.'' Therefore, the Balkans will be discussed during the December summit. Enlargement commissioner Stefan Fule then announced that by the end of the year further membership talks may be initiated. Croatia, on the heels of Slovenia, will be the second Balkan country to become part of the European Union. For its part, Serbia has almost completed all the necessary requirements and the leaders of EU institutions - in praising the arrest of the last fugitive for justice in the country wanted for war crimes, Goran Hadzic - underscored that this constitutes ''a further important step for Serbia on the way towards achieving its European ambitions and another crucial step for international justice.'' ]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=586]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[04/08/2011 - SIMPLE' PROJECT AGAINST DISCRIMINATION KICKS OFF]]></title><description><![CDATA[Valorising the socio-cultural identity of minorities and fighting against poverty, violence against women, difficult access to services and a low level of scholastic integration are the aims of the Simple project which has just got underway, funded by the IPA Adriatic Cross-Border Cooperation Programme.For the event, the regional Equal Opportunities councillor directed the focus group ''Prevention and Anti Discrimination and Violence Against Women Among Minorities''. In addition to Abbruzzo there are five states of the Adriatic area which are taking part with the Istriana region in the lead, as well as Montenegro's Rights and Minorities Ministry, the Durres municipality, the Pescara social enterprise Progetti Sociali, Gorizia's International Institute, the Italian unions of Rijeka and Capodistria (Slovenia), and the Cooperation and Development Institute of Tirana (Albania).In Abruzzo the beneficiaries of the Simple project will be the 'new' minorities and immigrants communities from Albania, Kosovo, Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, Slovenia and Greece. It was noted that the regional government would be promoting the highest possible level of involvement of the associations representing the communities of the country in the Adriatic area of the initiatives.The project is to draw up shared governance systems on such key sectors as multilingualism, education, information and local development, and will do so thanks to theme-based guidelines for the organisation of support services by public and private bodies, as well as thanks to the experimentation of pilot services and cycles of training seminars.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=590]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[04/08/2011 - CROATIA: BRIJUNI RIVIJERA TOURISM PROJECT COMMENCES]]></title><description><![CDATA[One of the largest investments in Croatia's tourism sector, worth about 340 million euros, has just got underway and will lead to the construction of high-level tourist resorts on 23 kilometres of coastline in facing the Brijuni archipelago or in the location of Idroscalo and the Saint Catherine Island-Monuments.The contract for carrying out of the Bruijuni Rivijera development project was underwritten by the governor of the Istriana region Ivan Jakovcic, the mayors of Pola and Dignano, the head of the Brijuni Rivijera company and the Croatian prime minister Jadranka Kosor, who has announced the possibility of making an international call for tenders for the choice of concessionaries in September.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=591]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[05/08/2011 - SECOND BID PUBLISHED, 82 MLN EUROS]]></title><description><![CDATA[The second bid of the EU Cross-Border Cooperation Programme CBC IPA Adriatic (2007-2013) has been published. Overall financing will total 82 million euros, to be distributed equally between the three strategic axes of the community initiative: 27,327,300 per each Axis, 85% from IPA funds and the remaining 15% from national co-financing.The deadline for project submission has been set for November 2. The programme has an overall approximately 280 million euros and aims to harmonise the Adriatic cross-border area based on institutional, economic, cultural, touristic, environmental and infrastructural cooperation. IPA involves eight states: Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Serbia and Greece, as well as, for Italy - in addition to the head region Abruzzo - Friuli Venezia Giulia, Veneto, Emilia Romagna, Marche, Puglia and Molise.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=592]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[05/08/2011 - INFODAY ON RESOURCES FOR COOPERATION]]></title><description><![CDATA[The opportunities offered by Ipa Adriatic to Veneto, Friuli Venezia Giulia and Emilia-Romagna were the focus of the Infoday on the Cross-Border Cooperation Programme held at the beginning of August in Venice. The appointment, held in view of the opening of the second call for submission of ordinary projects, was addressed to all the potential beneficiaries of the Three Regions Programme. A strong invitation ''to make the best possible use of opportunities, in a period in which state funds are lacking'' came from Veneto's regional councillor for the budget and cross-border cooperation, Roberto Ciambetti. &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;''We can consider this programme a 'training ground' for collaboration in view of the EU enlargement to the Balkans and in particular Croatia.''. IPA, it emerged during INfoday, is making about 82 million euros available to finance - in 8 countries on the two sides of the Adriatic sea - cross-border projects and actions on three priority axes: economic, social and institutional cooperation; natural and cultural resources and accessibility to networks. For each of the latter 27,327,000 euros will be made available.''For years,'' said Ciambetti, ''we have been involved in the creation of European cooperation projects, focusing especially on initiatives which promote and consolidate ties of collaboration with the Adriatic populations close to us. The Veneto wants to be active in the implementation of the process towards membership and then the actual membership itself within the EU, in full compliance with regulations, for Balkans countries: it is an aim that this programme, more than any other, with the involvement of Croatia, Bosnia Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania and Serbia, is able to foster.'']]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=593]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[06/08/2011 - COOPERATION: HIGH INTEREST IN 2ND CBC-IPA ADRIATIC NOTICE]]></title><description><![CDATA[The information day on the second call for proposals of the EU Cross-Border Cooperation Programme CBC IP Adriatic (2007-2013) held over the last few days in Venice saw high levels of participation, where interested parties even included ones from other regions such as Friuli Venezia Giulia and Emilia Romagna. The second call for proposals approved by the oversight committee provides for overall financing of 87 million euros equally distributed in three strategic axes, and proposals can be submitted until October 29. Interventions at the Venice event included ones by Veneto regional councillor Roberto Ciambetti, who is tasked with Community Policies, Flavia Zuccon, head of the Veneto Region Cooperation and the IPA Management Authority Giovanna Andreola. ''The infoday brought in many people,'' said Andreola, ''and the large participation shows the high level of attention territories give to cooperation programmes, especially on cooperation within the Adriatic.''
The first call for proposals had 75 million euros in financing to distribute equally along the three strategic axes, and awarded 32 projects of the 133 declared admissible. Ipa Adriatic ''involved 8 states: Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Serbia, Greece, and - for Italy, the regions of Abruzzo (head region), Friuli Venezia Giulia, Veneto, Emilia Romagna, Marche, Puglia and Molise. The programme has an overall approximately 280 million euros available and aims to harmonise the cross-border Adriatic area in the name of institutional, economic, cultural, tourism, environmental and infrastructural cooperation.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=594]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[08/08/2011 - PUBLIC NOTICE OF SELECTION OF A SCIENTIFIC MANAGER]]></title><description><![CDATA[A public notice for the selection of Scientific Manager for the FUTURE MEDICINE project (Proposal for the establishment of a cross border adriatic clinical network of centers for medicalIy assisted reproduction and regenerative medicine) has been published on BURA (Bolletino Ufficiale Regione Abruzzo) no. 48 on August 5th, 2011.Additional information are available in the attachment below.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=595]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[09/08/2011 - GREECE: REFORMS CAN BE SUCCESSFUL]]></title><description><![CDATA[The OECD has urged Greece to continue down the road of reforms and to be unyielding in the application thereof. The restructuring plan can then - according to the organisation - be successful, so much that if the tax reforms are fully applied the debt/GDP ratio could reach a peak in 2013 and drop to below 60% over the following two decades.'' The efforts made so far and the results already obtained - said OECD secretary general Angel Gurria - do not seem to be sufficiently appreciated in Greece and abroad. Greece must therefore commit to convincing the markets of its ability to implement fundamental economic adjustments, and the public opinion of the need to continue with the necessary reforms. Also according to the OECD, the package of measures brought in July should ensure reasonable interest rates for Greek debt and give the country the time it needs to implement reforms leading to a growth in competitiveness, so long as its application is rigorous and the burdens and benefits are seen as being widely and fairly distributed. Meanwhile, talks on private sector involvement in the second bailout plan for Greece is in its initial phase, as was said by Greek Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=596]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[10/08/2011 - COLORI DI FRONTIERE: A UNIQUE PROGRAMME CROSSING THE  MEDITERRANEAN]]></title><description><![CDATA[
6th - 28th AUGUST 2011, NORMAN-SWABIAN CASTLE, MESAGNE (ITALY) 

Mesagne, Igoumenitsa, Bar and Tirana: a single programme for four cross-border art galleries characterized by cooperation and artistic talents that will liven up four Mediterranean old town centres in August within IPA ADRIATIC &#8220;TurGrate 2&#8221; Project. 

The second edition of the exhibition &#8220;Colori di Frontiere&#8221; in Mesagne has been set up by the local government in cooperation with all the partners in the Project: the municipality of Latiano, Nard&#242;, Durazzo, n. 8 municipality of Tirana, the Local Tourist Organization in Bar, the National Organization for Tourism in Montenegro, the Chamber of Commerce in Thesprotia, Ministry Office for Tourist Services in Albania and COTUP (Consorzio di Operatori Turistici pugliesi &#8211; Apulian Tour Operators Association).  

The exhibition is opening on  6th August 2011 at 8 p.m. on the Norman-Swabian castle's Piano Nobile. An artist and Professor in the Academy of Art of Lecce, Rita Tondo, will supervise the gallery which includes a collection of contemporary art by artists who come from Greece, Albania and Montenegro and by Apulian artists, some of them taking part in the Venice Biennale. At the same time some artists from Mesagne will exhibit at other art galleries mounted within the Project: in Bar, on the occasion of &#8220;The Chronicle of Bar&#8221; inside the King Nikola Castle, inside the archeological museum in Igoumenitsa and in Tirana's attractive old town centre.  

This artistic event is ending on the 28th  of August in the presence of artists delegations coming from the countries which are partners in the Project and on the occasion of the performance called &#8220;Arte in Centro&#8221;, an exhibition of painting that will be held in the streets in the town centre and restoration workshops in Piazza Commestibili.  

All the artists coming from the countries which are partners in the Project represent a tangible evidence that &#8220;we can speak the same language&#8221; by finding new communication forms and new opportunities to know and value the other cultures through artistic exchange.  

&#8220;TurGrate 2&#8221; Project is aimed at founding a cross-border cultural-tourist district in IPA area through the promotion of old town centres and historic-environmental resources, the qualification of local accommodation facilities as well as local craft, agricultural and food firms, by means of many activities that will take place for a period of three years &#8211; throughout the Project which started in February 2011.  

Maria De Guido, the Town Councillor responsible for Culture, has declared: &#8220;A series of cultural events will take place in the summertime for three years running in order to liven up the old town centres and  to promote cooperation through mutual cultural exchange and knowledge about our respective artistic-cultural expressions. They represent a good opportunity that won't place a financial burden on the municipalities concerned with the Project&#8221;.  

The following artists will take part in the Art Gallery in Mesagne (Br), Italy:  Antonio Camassa, Pisso Cariolo, Angioletta De Nitto, Alessandro De Simone, Danilo De Renzis Guarini, Qazim Kertusha, Muharem Muratovic, Bajram Sallaku, Cristiano Pallara, Alessandro Passaro, Giuseppe Ciop Scarciglia, Francesca Speranza, Nenad Soskic, Konstantinos Tsitos, Enkelejd Zonja.  

Opening day: 6th August 2011, at 8 p.m.  

Infoline: +39 0831 776065 

Artists wishing to enter for the exhibition of painting that will be held on 28th of August should e-mail to: turgrate2@comune.mesagne.br.it
]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=597]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[11/08/2011 - COOPERATION: PUGLIA-ALBANIA LINKED BY CENTURY-OLD HISTORY]]></title><description><![CDATA[
&quot;We have greater familiarity with Albanians than we do with Albania&quot;. This is according to the president of the regional council of Puglia, Nichi Vendola, who has met the Albanian President, Bamir Topi, in Bari. Topi is on an official visit to mark the 20th anniversary of the landing in Bari of the Vlora, a mercantile ship carrying 20,000 Albanian refugees. &quot;For us the European Union is incomplete without Istanbul and Tirana. Puglia and Albania are close because they are linked by century-old history and by a sea which is also a bridge of culture and of dialogue; they are close because 2 years ago something happened that changed Puglian, Albanian and Italian history; they are close because only the conviviality between cultures and peoples can build a better world, the alternative to catastrophe. We are close because Albania needs Puglia as we need Albania, because the opportunities for commercial, economic, tourism and cultural exchange are opportunities not only to build civility but also for richness,&quot; Vendola said. &quot;Many Albanians are integrated into Italian society,&quot; President Topi added. &quot;Italy is a strategic political and economic partner, a great ally on our journey towards European integration. After 20 years, Albania is a NATO country and is progressing towards the European community. Along this road, we must also remember times such as 1991 and thank the people of Bari and of Puglia for the support that they have given both our community and our institutions in the last 20 years&quot;.

&quot;We have been lucky to have a great country and a great people across the water, who have helped us during our most difficult times. We will never forget what you have done for us. The emotions are still there even after 20 years,&quot; Topi said. Albania has indeed awarded its Medal of Gratitude to the city of Bari. The &quot;country of eagles&quot; has chosen the award to give its official thanks to &quot;the city of Bari and all the people of Puglia for their rare solidarity and boundless support&quot;, which, on August 8 1991, &quot;they gave to thousands of Albanian citizens who arrived in the port of Bari in search of a better life&quot;.
]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=598]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[22/08/2011 - CROATIA: INVESTMENTS TO PREPARE FOR EU ACCESSION BOOST GDP]]></title><description><![CDATA[
Croatia's GDP will grow by 1.3% this year, and by 2.5% next year. The main driving force behind the growth, the Economic Institute of Zagreb reports, will be export, boosted by a good season for tourism. Next year most GDP growth will be based on final consumption and investments, stimulated by preparations for EU accession. According to the revised data released by the National Bank of Croatia, last year foreign investments in Croatia reached 226.6 million euros, and 129.9 million euros in the first quarter of this year. The main investor in 2010 was Italy, with 127.3 million euros, followed by Belgium with 113.2 and Luxembourg with 111.6 million euros. The most important investor in the first quarter of this year was Germany, with 131.2 million euros.
]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=602]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[23/08/2011 - INFODAY II CALLS ORDINARY PROJECTS - ALBANIA]]></title><description><![CDATA[
IPA Adriatic CBC programme in cooperation with the &#8220;Ministry of European Integration&#8221; of Albania, is organizing an info day on the launch of the &#8220;Second Calls for Proposals&#8221; for the ordinary projects, within the IPA Adriatic Cross-Border Cooperation Programme. 
The info day will be held in Tirana, on 2 September 2011, at the premises of the &#8220;Tirana International Hotel&#8221; (Balsha Room).
Please find attached the agenda (in Albanian language).

]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=603]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[24/08/2011 - MONTENEGRO: 6.6 MLN TO SMES FOR COUNTRY/LABOUR DEVELOPMENT]]></title><description><![CDATA[
Over 6.6 million euros have been invested since January 2011 for the development of northern Montenegro, an increase in female entrepreneurs and new jobs. These are some of the priorities of the country's Development Fund which has financed 94 projects by privately-owned small and medium-sized enterprises. Last year, on the other hand, 107 loans were granted to SMEs for a total of 9.1 million euros. For the projects in northern Montenegro, reductions have been provided which are expected to reduce interest rates by 1%, and all the enterprises in the country can receive the same incentive if they provide jobs for five or more people.
]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=605]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[24/08/2011 - ALBANIA: TOURISM, SECTOR FOCUSES ON TIRANA WORLD FAIR]]></title><description><![CDATA[
The tourism potential of Albania and Apulia's contribution to its development were at the centre of a meeting between Albanian president Bamir Topi and Apulia regional council chairman Nichi Vendola during the former's official visit to Italy. The meeting brought to light the great expectations placed in the International Fair due to be held in Tirana between October 14 and October 16 in the very modern CityPark shopping centre, a few minutes from Tirana's international airport. Organising it, with the sponsorship of the Ministry and Albanian Agency of Tourism is Fiera del Levante Servizi.  'Pushime' - the name given to the fair, which in Albanian means ''holiday'' - is an attempt to meet the needs of the Albanian tourism sector, which this year is facing its third consecutive ''entirely-booked'' season. Leading figures will be Italian companies specialised in equipment, technology and consumer products for catering and the hospitality sector, ready to engage in business deals with young and dynamic local entrepreneurs  who are currently bringing in a complete modernisation of facilities and services, bolstered by the third summer season in which local tourist resorts are entirely booked. The recent lifting of visa requirements has led to a boom in foreign holidays for Albanians.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=606]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[26/08/2011 - REPUBLIKA SRPSKA: SEPT CONFERENCE ON INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES]]></title><description><![CDATA[
Investment opportunities in the energy, industrial, metal, agro-food and tourism sectors will be the focus of a conference that the government of Republika Srpska has organised in September (22-23) in Banja Luka and Kozara. The conference is being held in collaboration with the Prijedor town council and support from the German agency for international Cooperation (GIZ). During the works a number of issues will be looked at including those pertaining to the car, winter tourism and parks (such as Sutjeska and Koyara), energy (70% of republika Srpska's hydroelectric potential is untapped), agriculture and food processing sectors. Space will also be set aside for investors' experience and suggesting and networking between institution tasked with promoting foreign investment.
]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=608]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[30/08/2011 - EU PREPARED TO HELP COUNTRIES HIT HARDEST BY CRISIS]]></title><description><![CDATA[To help the countries hit the hardest by the crisis, the EU is prepared to grant special financing of up to 95% (compared with the 50% usually provided for by EU rules) for the cost of national infrastructure projects necessary to support and relaunch economic growth. According to the commissioner for regional policies Johannes Hahn, it is an opportunity for Greece, Ireland, Portugal, Hungary and Romania. Hahn said that through this measure, Brussels ensures that Greece and other countries experiencing difficulties will not have to renounce (due to a lack of national resources) the use of structural funds. For all of the six states that Brussels considers to be in difficulty, and which at the moment are part of an EU aid programme, the commission has made a total of 2.8 billion euros available. Support for Greece will be through the facilitation for the use of 900 million euros in EU funds already earmarked for Athens, and which can now be spent while surpassing co-financing constraints.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=609]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[01/09/2011 - 2ND CALL INFODAY EMILIA-ROMAGNA]]></title><description><![CDATA[Emilia-Romagna Region in collaboration with the Province of Rimini will host the info day on the 2nd Call for ordinary projects of the European IPA Adriatic Cross-border Cooperation Programme adressed to the potential beneficiaries of the regional territory on next  8th September.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=610]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[02/09/2011 - IPA ADRIATIC: INFODAY IN TIRANA ON SEPTEMBER 2]]></title><description><![CDATA[The &amp;quot;infoday&amp;quot; for the EU's cross-border cooperation programme &amp;quot;CBC IPA Adriatic&amp;quot; will take place on Friday (September 2) in Tirana. Discussions will focus on the second pitch for the programme, which began on August 2 and will close on October 31.    The initiative is being promited by Albania's minister for European integration, Majilinda Bregu. The event will also be attended by the IPA Adriatic's management authority and by the director of the international affairs department of the Abruzzo region, Giovanna Andreola, who has been engaged by the Albanian government.    IPA has a total budget of around 280 million euros and aims to harmonise the Adriatic cross-border area in he name of institutional, economic, cultural, tourism, environment and infrastructure cooperation. The programme involves eight countries: Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Serbia, Greece and Italy. Abruzzo is the leading Italian region to take part in the scheme, but Friuli Venezia Giulia, Veneto, Emilia Romagna, Marche, Puglia and Molise will also play a role.    The total financing for the second call option is 87 million euros, to be distributed equally along three strategic lines. The first pitch received financing to the tune of 75 million euros, which was also distributed along three strategic lines, and benefited 32 projects out of 133 declared realisable.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=611]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[02/09/2011 - GERMANY SUPPORTS POSSIBILITY OF EUROPEAN FUTURE FOR BALKANS]]></title><description><![CDATA[The countries in the Western Balkans must have the chance to become part of the EU and according to German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, &quot;Croatia's example shows that all of those countries are capable of becoming full members of the European Union.&quot;  Merkel discussed the topic during a brief visit to Croatia and Serbia.  In Belgrade, she met with Serbian President, Boris Tadic, and Premier Mirko Cvetkovic. In Zagreb she met with Croatian President, Ivo Josipovic, and Premier Jadranka Kosor. 
&quot;The financial crisis in the euro area will not put the process of European enlargement at risk.  Even though Greece, Portugal and Ireland are having difficulties, we will not deprive the other countries of their possible future in Europe,&quot; explained the German chancellor.  During her trip, Merkel reiterated Germany's support, she congratulated Croatia for completing its EU membership negotiations (the country will become a full member on July 1 2013) and placed several conditions on Serbia in order for them to obtain EU candidate status by the end of the year, starting with concrete progress in dialogue with Kosovo.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=612]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[02/09/2011 - KOSOVO-CROATIA: ECONOMIC COLLABORATION GROWS]]></title><description><![CDATA[The growth of economic collaboration between Croatia and Kosovo was the focus of a meeting in Pristina between Croatian Premier, Jadranka Kosor, and Kosovo's Prime Minister, Hashim Thaci.  Regarding regional cooperation, Kosovo's role in relation to the other southern European states is considered to be essential by Europe for the commercial development, economic growth and political stability of the country, despite the fact that their participation in regional meetings may continue to be a delicate issue from a political perspective.  In any case, the EU has not stopped providing support (technical and financial to back reforms), and assistance funds for pre-membership (IPA) totalled 359 million euros for 2007-2009 and 206 million euros for 2010-2012.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=613]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[02/09/2011 - CROATIA: NEW ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE  SUPPORTED BY EU]]></title><description><![CDATA[The European Union will be able to receive natural gas supplies from Croatia, which is the reason why the European Commission has made the Croatia-Hungary gas pipeline one of their strategically important projects in the energy field.  The distribution of natural gas via the new large gas pipeline whose capacity is 6.5 billion cubic metres of gas per year began in August.  The Croatian part of the gas pipeline is valued at 75 million euros, while the overall investment totals 395 million euros.  Now the construction of an LNG terminal in Hungary is necessary for gas supplies to arrive to Europe, while Croatia has succeeded in providing an alternative route to Russia for European natural gas supplies, and can be connected to the large international projects through this infrastructural work.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=614]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[02/09/2011 - IPA ADRIATIC: INFODAY IN TIRANA, MORE CONCRETE PROJECTS]]></title><description><![CDATA[&quot;We want to see a higher quality in the project proposals for the second call. No more feasibility studies and research, we need concrete things that make a real impact on the various locations, particularly an impact on employment. The projects must go in that direction.&quot; This request was made by the manager of the IPA Adriatic Programme, Giovanna Andreola, who spoke during Infoday about the EU's cross-border cooperation initiative in Tirana, in the Tirana International Hotel.

   The discussion focused on the programme's second call that will be closed on November 2. The total funding for the second call is around 82 million euros, equally distributed over the three strategic axes: economic, social and institutional cooperation, natural and cultural resources, risk prevention and network accessibility. The first pitch received funding of 75 million euros, also equally distributed over the three categories. A total of 32 of the 133 admitted projected have benefited from this funding.

   Andreola, head of the sector International Activities of the Abruzzo Region, leading organisation in the IPA programme, has underlined that the axis that is attracting most attention is the one regarding natural and cultural resources and risk prevention, ''because of the Adriatic Sea that unites the two shores.&quot; Andreola also underlined the need for structural interventions to improve the transport system. ''How can we stimulate trade if the connections are bad, for example it takes a day to reach Montenegro from Italy, which takes just half an hour by airplane.&quot; The IPA manager concluded by congratulating Albania with the country's commitment to the IPA programme: ''If all States did what Albania does, the Programme would be even more effective.&quot;

   IPA has a total budget of around 280 million euros and aims to harmonise the Adriatic cross-border area in the name of institutional, economic, cultural, tourism, environment and infrastructure cooperation. The programme involves eight countries: Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Serbia, Greece and Italy. Abruzzo is the leading Italian region to take part in the scheme, and Friuli Venezia Giulia, Veneto, Emilia Romagna, Marches, Apulia and Molise also play a role.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=615]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[05/09/2011 - TIRANA INFODAY, ALBANIA AIMS AT EU STANDARDS]]></title><description><![CDATA[''For us the most important thing is that those coming to live in Albania find the same conditions that they have in their member state from the point of view of social security, permits and quality of life. To sum up, we are not worried about Brussels but about Tirana,'' said Albania's Minister for EU Integration Majilinda Bregu in taking stock of the EU integration process for the Balkan state.Today the Infoday of the EU Cross-border Cooperation Programme CBC IPA Adriatic (2007-2013) was held in Tirana. At the centre of discussion was the second call for proposals of the programme, financed with about 82 million euros split equally between the three strategic axes, which will run from August 3 to November 2. '' Our indicators are good and so we are well on our way towards EU integration, though exactly when cannot be foreseen due to the world crisis slowing things down,'' continued Bregu.''I can stress, however, that despite the difficult times, Albania is growing ever more and can count on standards which are better than some member states.For example, our average wages are higher than those in Romania, and if in EU countries the checks were as stringent as those on countries wanting to enter, many violations of directives would be discovered.'' As concerns the IPA Adriatic Programme in which Albania is one of the eight states involved, Bregu stressed that in the second call Albania wanted to do better than in the first, in which it saw a good presence. ''Citizens - even those outside of Tirana - are aware of EU funding, Albanians working in the sector show a sense of responsibility towards carrying out good projects which have positive benefits on the population. It has been understood that EU funds are instruments for development as well as for EU integration.''IPA has overall funding of about 280 million euros and aims to harmonise the Adriatic cross-border area for the sake of institutional economic, cultural, tourism, environmental and infrastructure cooperation. Eight states are involved: Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Serbia, Greece and, for Italy the head region Abruzzo as well as Friuli Venezia Giulia, Veneto, Emilia Romagna, Marche, Puglia and Molise.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=618]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[05/09/2011 - IPA ADRIATIC: TIRANA INFODAY FOCUSES ON LOCAL DEVELOPMENT]]></title><description><![CDATA[''IPA Adriatic is not only important at the central level but also at the local one, where it has an impact and interest in projects which otherwise would not have a chance at being carried out,'' said deputy mayor of Tirana Jorida Tabaku, 32 years ago and until a month ago Albania's deputy minister for EU integration, taking stock of the activities of the EU programme for cross-border cooperation.  Tabaku, who knows IPA well, spoke as part of the Infoday held in Tirana of the EU Cross-border Cooperation Programme CBC IPA Adriatic (2007-2013).At the centre of discussion was the second call for proposals of the programme, financed with about 82 million euros split equally between the three strategic axes, which will run from August 3 to November 2. ''IPA is very important since it brings together the experiences of a number of different countries and allows them to exchange best practices and improve their condition,'' said the young deputy mayor of Tirana,'' and this process is helping our country a lot.''Tabaku said that as concerns the second call there is a higher level of interest ''because the procedures have been speeded up and there are the concrete results of the first one, and is being seen by ever more subjects as a real opportunity that leads to tangible results.''IPA has overall funding of about 280 million euros and aims to harmonise the Adriatic cross-border area for the sake of institutional economic, cultural, tourism, environmental and infrastructure cooperation.  Eight states are involved: Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Serbia, Greece and, for Italy the head region Abruzzo as well as Friuli Venezia Giulia, Veneto, Emilia Romagna, Marche, Puglia and Molise.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=619]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[05/09/2011 - IPA ADRIATIC: INFODAY IN TIRANA, ITALY STRENGTHENS ROLE]]></title><description><![CDATA['It is important to be involved in both ordinary cooperation projects and those that, like in this case, are linked to IPA Adriatic, in order to develop cooperation between public agencies and institutions. In this way, regional cross-border cooperation is strengthened with improvement in economic and social relations, thereby bolstering peace among populations,'' the director of Italian development cooperation at the Foreign Ministry, Aldo Sicignano, on the fringes of the infoday on the EU Cross-border Cooperation Programme CBC IPA Adriatic (2007-2013) held today in Tirana.''In this situation the Italian system is also strengthened since these programme make it possible to coordinate the various activities and participants. The Italian embassy has set up a coordination unit called 'Patti'' in order to further valorise the Italian system,'' Sicignano continued. '' The cooperation through a protocol deals with development and strengthens local capacity of both the institutional and social varieties, as well as of the private sector. Italy is the second largest bilateral donor and therefore actively takes part in the development of others. The Italian cooperation has set up a unit in Tirana which oversees projects financed by the European Commission, both ordinary ones and ones like IPA.For example, the aim with IPA is to bolster projects such as the online network for Albanian public universities with an extension to bordering countries,'' said the director,'' and in this way the Italian system is strengthened.'' IPA has an overall approximately 280 million euros in funding, and aims to harmonise the Adriatic cross-border area for the sake of institutional economic, cultural, tourism, environmental and infrastructure cooperation.Eight states are involved: Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Serbia, Greece and, for Italy the head region Abruzzo as well as Friuli Venezia Giulia, Veneto, Emilia Romagna, Marche, Puglia e Molise.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=621]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[05/09/2011 - IPA ADRIATIC: INFODAY IN TIRANA, 82 MLN EUROS FOR 2ND CALL]]></title><description><![CDATA[The infoday on the EU Cross-border Cooperation Programme CBC IPA Adriatic (2007-2013), which was held in Tirana, was successful both from an organisational point of view as well as from that of public participation. The hall of the Tirana International Hotel was packed full, a clear sign of the interest that the Albanians working in the sector have in the cross-border cooperation programme. In particular, there was a great deal of attention on the second call for proposals, which boasts financing totalling 82 million split equally in three strategic axes.The second call began on August 3 and will end on November 2. ''We want to do better than what was done in the first call, when we hadn't obtained financing in line with other countries,'' said the general director of Albania's ministry for European integration Elda Kalaja,'' two years later IPA is a consolidated programme which provides simplified procedures. We are re-launching the challenge, as was underscored by our EU integration minister who encouraged agencies and sectors to take part to get the most funds possible.IPA is interesting even for support for SMEs and NGos.'' Taking part in the infoday were the management authority, , Giovanna Andreaola, Patrice Kraja, from the IPA Albania office, and Entila Ziba, Albanian representative at the technical secretariat.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=622]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[02/09/2011 - IPA ADRIATIC: INFODAY IN TIRANA, MORE CONCRETE PROJECTS]]></title><description><![CDATA[&amp;quot;We want to see a higher quality in the project proposals for the second call. No more feasibility studies and research, we need concrete things that make a real impact on the various locations, particularly an impact on employment.The projects must go in that direction.&amp;quot; This request was made by the manager of the IPA Adriatic Programme, Giovanna Andreola, who spoke during Infoday about the EU's cross-border cooperation initiative in Tirana, in the Tirana International Hotel.  The discussion focused on the programme's second call that will be closed on November 2. The total funding for the second call is around 82 million euros, equally distributed over the three strategic axes: economic, social and institutional cooperation, natural and cultural resources, risk prevention and network accessibility.The first pitch received funding of 75 million euros, also equally distributed over the three categories. A total of 32 of the 133 admitted projected have benefited from this funding. Andreola, head of the sector International Activities of the Abruzzo Region, leading organisation in the IPA programme, has underlined that the axis that is attracting most attention is the one regarding natural and cultural resources and risk prevention, ''because of the Adriatic Sea that unites the two shores.&amp;quot; Andreola also underlined the need for structural interventions to improve the transport system.''How can we stimulate trade if the connections are bad, for example it takes a day to reach Montenegro from Italy, which takes just half an hour by airplane.&amp;quot; The IPA manager concluded by congratulating Albania with the country's commitment to the IPA programme: ''If all States did what Albania does, the Programme would be even more effective.&amp;quot; IPA has a total budget of around 280 million euros and aims to harmonise the Adriatic cross-border area in the name of institutional, economic, cultural, tourism, environment and infrastructure cooperation.The programme involves eight countries: Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Serbia, Greece and Italy. Abruzzo is the leading Italian region to take part in the scheme, and Friuli Venezia Giulia, Veneto, Emilia Romagna, Marches, Apulia and Molise also play a role.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=623]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[06/09/2011 - COOPERATION: IPA INFODAY TODAY IN UDINE, SEPT 8 IN RIMINI]]></title><description><![CDATA[Following the event in Tirana on September 2, the series of &amp;quot;infodays&amp;quot; for the European cross-border cooperation programme CBC IPA Adriatic (2007-2013) is continuing. A day of analysis will be held today at the Friuli Venezia Giulia region's auditorium in Udine.The event has been promoted by the region's head of international and European relations, Elio De Anna. Speakers tomorrow will include the IPA Adriatic management authority, the head of the international activities sector in the Abruzzo region, Giovanna Andreola, the director general of the international and European relations department, Augusto Viola, as well as representatives of the joint technical office. A similar event, this time organised by the Emilia Romagna region, will be held in Rimini on September 8.Discussions at the infoday will be centred on the programme's second call for tenders, which was published on August 2 and closes on November 2.Total financing for the second call is around 82 million euros, with the sum to be equally distributed among three strategic sectors. The first call received financing to the tune of 75 million euros, a figure that was also shared between the three strategic sectors, rewarding 32 of the 133 projects declared feasible. IPA has a total financing of around 280 million euros and is aiming to balance the Adriatic cross-border area through institutional, economic, cultural, tourism, environmental and infrastructure cooperation. Eight countries are involved - Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Serbia, Greece and Italy - while the Italian regions involved in the project are led by Abruzzo and also include Friuli Venezia Giulia, Veneto, Emilia Romagna, Marche, Puglia and Molise.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=625]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[08/09/2011 - CROATIA: OVER 1 BLN INVESTED IN WASTE MANAGEMENT]]></title><description><![CDATA[The total estimated value of investment in the construction of 15 regional waste management centres in Croatia is over 1 billion euros (around 7.5 billion kune). The centres are part of the country's new strategy in waste management and building completion of what are to be central disposal and treatment areas is foreseen for 2018. Various companies operate on the Croatian waste-recycling market, concerning themselves with waste collection and storage as well as exportation of recycled raw materials. In 2007, 30 per cent of the country's waste was already being recycled and, according to figures supplied by the Croatian Chamber of Commerce, (HGK), income from recycling and sales of raw materials totalled 2.3 billion kune, making it one of the most dynamic sectors of local manufacturing production.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=633]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[08/09/2011 - BOSNIA: TRANSPORT TOWARDS EU RULES HARMONISATION]]></title><description><![CDATA[The European Union has set aside about 1 million euros to the harmonisation prohject for regulations concerning railway transport in Bosnia Herzegovina with EU safety and interoperability directives.Their adoption and application will allow Bosnia Herzegovina to guarantee the levels required as well as greater access to financing. Meanwhile the most important infrastructure project in the country is moving ahead at a slowed pace: the completion of the 5C corridor, which will require just under 3 billion euros.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=634]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[08/09/2011 - ITALIA-ALBANIA: 20 MLN FUND FOR NEEDIEST]]></title><description><![CDATA[A fund for the financing of initiatives aiding the neediest will be implemented by converting the 20 million euros in debt that Albania was to have settled with Italy.The agreement, signed in Tirana between the Albanian Finance Minister Ridvan Bode and Italy's ambassador to Albania Saba d'Elia provides for the creation of an Offset Fund  in which 10 installments of 1.95 million euros will be transferred every six months. A joint Italian-Albanian mission will be agreeing the initiatives to be supported by the Offset Fund in the healthcare, education and incentivising job creation sectors.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=635]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[14/09/2011 - KOSOVO: EU, DIALOGUE WITH SERBIA ENCOURAGING]]></title><description><![CDATA[The results achieved by Pristina and Belgrade are encouraging, said EU President, Herman Van Rompuy, who added that more needs to be done despite the fact that the European Union is very satisfied by the latest agreements that have been reached. Van Rompuy spoke at the end of a meeting in Brussels with Kosovo's President, Atifete Jahjaga.Europe continues to ask Kosovo to make reforms, which are seen as necessary mainly regarding rule of law, fighting corruption and organised crime.  The EULEX mission is providing an important contribution in this sense,&amp;quot; said the EU president. Jahjaga said that Kosovo is ready to satisfy all of its commitments to become a member of the EU and NATO. The meeting in Brussels took place a few days after the sixth round of talks between delegations from Serbia and Kosovo.This is the first round of negotiations following the violence and clashes at the end of July in the north of Kosovo due to a commercial war between the sides.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=637]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[14/09/2011 - ITALY-SERBIA: DEAL TO BOOST ECONOMIC COOPERATION]]></title><description><![CDATA[Italy and Serbia will continue to develop and expand their collaboration. They will do so with the purpose of favouring Italian investments into the Balkan country and promoting cooperation between SMEs in the two nations. This will take place as a result of a joint declaration on bilateral economic collaboration signed by Italian Economic Development Minister, Paolo Romani, and Serbian Economic Minister, Nebojsa Ciric.The meeting held in Belgrade provided an opportunity to examine the topic of investments and relations of Italian companies with Serbia, particularly in the textile, energy, mechanical and automobile industries. In 2011 Italy confirmed its status as an important partner of Serbia. In the first 7 months of this year Serbia has exported 824.7 million dollars worth of goods to Italy, while Italian imports totalled 940.3 million dollars, according figures from the Serbian Chamber of Commerce (PKS).Italy, according to data from the Serbian Economic Ministry, is one of the top six investors in Serbia, with nearly 250 enterprises present in the country which employ over 18,000 people.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=638]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[14/09/2011 - INFO DAY IN SLOVENIA ON 13 SEPTEMBER 2011]]></title><description><![CDATA[An Info Day dedicated to the 2nd calls for proposals was held in Strunjan, Slovenia, on 13 September 2011. The aim of the Info Day was to highlight the priorities for cooperation, as well as to explain rules and procedures governing the 2nd calls for proposals. Almost 80 participants representing regional development agencies, municipalities, institutes, universities, NGOs, SMEs and other development actors attended the event in order to be better prepared for designing genuine cross-border projects for the benefit of the Adriatic area and its people. Slovenian partners, who so far have gathered vast experiences and specific know-how in several fields, can be valuable partners in bridging administrative and institutional differences between Candidate and Potential Candidate Countries and Member States. For more information about partner search in Slovenia please contact lidija.breskvar-zaucer@gov.si.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=639]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[16/09/2011 - BALKANS: CONFERENCE OF EU PARLIAMENTS OPEN TO INTEGRATION]]></title><description><![CDATA[The prospects of EU foreign policy and opening the EU to partners in the Western Balkans was the focus of the conference of Presidents of Foreign Affairs Committees of EU Parliaments held in Warsaw.  The completion of accession negotiations with Croatia represents an important success of the enlargement strategy, supported by Italy with determination, explained Foreign Affairs Committee Vice President, Franco Narducci, during the conference. The conclusion of negotiations will now contribute to renewing the momentum for the path of the entire Western Balkans region towards the EU.  In particular, Italy wished for support for the acknowledgement of Serbia as a candidate for accession and for the start of accession talks with Montenegro.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=640]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[16/09/2011 - KOSOVO: ITALY, EU CONTRIBUTION NEEDED FOR LONG-TERM SOLUTION]]></title><description><![CDATA[Europe must contribute to dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade and find a long-term solution without divisions.  This was the hope that was expressed by Italian Foreign Minister, Franco Frattini, in a meeting at Italian foreign ministry headquarters with his counterpart from Kosovo, Enver Hoxhaj. &amp;quot;The time has come to fully involve Kosovo in all initiatives that bring them closer to the EU, and it is necessary,&amp;quot; said Frattini, &amp;quot;to provide the people with a tangible message to support their path to Europe.  Serbia should also be encouraged further with the recognition of its candidate status by the end of the year.Therefore, we could ask for something more because once they obtain candidate status they must demonstrate more responsibility and therefore Europe will help both countries,&amp;quot; explained the minister.  And Italy's desire to continue to strengthen collaboration (also economic and commercial) with Serbia even further has also translated into a joint declaration on bilateral economic cooperation in an encounter between Italian Economic Development Minister, Paolo Romani, Serbian Premier, Mirko Cvetkovic, and Serbian Minister of Finance and Regional Development, Nebojsa Ciric.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=641]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[19/09/2011 - BALKAN: UNESCO SUMMIT ON RECONCILIATION THROUGH CULTURE IPA]]></title><description><![CDATA[The result of the ninth UNESCO summit in Viminacium, an important Roman archaeological site south-east of Belgrade, is that progress has been made in cultural exchange and political relations in the Balkan area. The summit, with the title ''Modern Art and Reconciliation in Southeast Europe', was preceded by a meeting on cultural production in the south-east of Europe and on its importance for regional reconciliation. The meeting was attended by artists from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Montenegro, Greece, Croatia, Macedonia, Moldova, Romania, Slovenia, Serbia and Turkey. During the summit Serbia's President Boris Tadic stressed the need to guarantee a clear European prospect to all Balkan countries, and explained that organising the event in Serbia is further evidence of the fact that the country's commitment to reconciliation, dialogue and tolerance between the countries in the region. The speakers at the summit included the President of Croatia Ivo Josipovic, of Albania Bamir Topi, of Bulgaria Georgi Parvanov, of Macedonia Gjorgje Ivanov, of Montenegro Filip Vujanovic, the Muslim member of the Bosnian 3-member presidency Bakir Izetbegovic and Greek Culture Minister Pavlos Geroulanos. It is estimated that around 1,700 cultural and religious sites (some on the UNESCO World Heritage list) have been destroyed or seriously damaged during the wars, clashes and bomb raids in former Yugoslavia in from the '90s to 2004.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=642]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[19/09/2011 - MONTENEGRO:STEPS TOWARDS PASSING ELECTORAL LAW POSITIVE,EU]]></title><description><![CDATA[Montenegro can continue on the road that leads to a starting date for negotiations on European Union accession, now that the main obstacle for the approval of a new electoral law has been removed. Montenegro's majority and opposition have reached an agreement on language education at schools, that way opening the doors to the adoption of the new electoral law, as requested by the EU. EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule had asked to speed up the process. Fule sees the adoption of the law as one of the key priorities and one of the conditions Montenegro must fulfil before talks on EU accession can be started. The reforms, Fule explained, must be carried out with determination and Montenegro will continue to make constant progress towards the European Union.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=643]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[22/09/2011 - BALKANS:INTEGRATION IN DEFENCE AND SECURITY SECTOR CONTINUES]]></title><description><![CDATA[Integrated cooperation of member countries of the South-Eastern Europe Defence Ministries (Sedm) ( Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia, Greece, Italy, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Turkey, United States and Ukraine)  in the defence and security sectors will continue. The continuation of the cooperation was clearly stated during the works of the SEDM  Coordination Committee  which took place in Rome.  SEDM activities focus on South-Eastern Europe; also Georgia and Moldova are part of the SEDM, although they only have the status of observers.  Italy is active in the security sector: it will manage a school teaching border police forces from all over the Balkan area how to act jointly against crime. This first initiative includes Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia, Moldova and Albania. The lessons took place in Tarvisio (Udine), in the framework of an international conference. During this conference, it was stated that the experience will be implemented  also in Balkan countries, where there is no such form of cooperation at the moment, while  in Europe border police forces have cooperated for a long time,  thanks to 40 Centres of Police and Customs Cooperation.  The aim of the conference was to  show how the Italian-Austrian-Slovenian centre in Tarvisio works and to give participants a legal background and work techniques. In the future, there will be exchanges of staff, that is, courses for policemen from member countries who will come to Italy to learn and Italian officials who will go to member states in order to help the start-up process of the centres.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=644]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[22/09/2011 - ALBANIA:PARLIAMENT ACTIVITIES RESUMPTIONPOSITIVE FOR ACCESS TO EU]]></title><description><![CDATA[Reforms and other priorities set by the EU for  Albania's approaching to European standards  must be implemented without delay. Reforms are indeed necessary to start negotiations for Albania's access to the European Union.The political crisis which took place after local elections last May had significantly slowed down the process.  This crisis immediately followed another crisis, generated by 2009 parliamentary elections. Since then, Albania has made some progress,  according to the parliamentary assembly of the Council of Europe, which is monitoring progress made by the country. Resumption of the Parliament's activities was seen as a positive step.On its path to Europe, Albania can count on Italy, who has asked the country a &amp;quot;political pact for the EU&amp;quot;, the result of reforms and of cooperation between government and opposition groups. According to Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini &amp;quot;Italy wants Albania in Europe, and it is in Albania's interest to be in it.  Albania has good chances to make it and I believe-Frattini explained at the end of his summit with Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha and the President of the Republic Bamir Topi- that Albania can make further progress in approaching the EU&amp;quot;.Also Greek Minister Stavros Lambrinidis took part in the summit, in the framework of a joint mission agreed with the European Union Enlargement Commissioner Stefen Fuele.  On October 12th, the Commission will assess Albania's &amp;quot;Progress Report&amp;quot;. After Albania's access application, the EU requested Tirana to work on  '12 Key Priorities', that is a set of requirements including electoral reforms, correct functioning of the Parliament's activities, fight to corruption and to organized crime.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=645]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[23/09/2011 - SERBIA: DIALOGUE, REGIONAL COOPERATION FUNDAMENTAL FOR EU]]></title><description><![CDATA[Relations between Belgrade and Pristina will be one of the main factors in the decision that the EU is to make of whether to grant Serbia the status of EU membership candidate. The European Union is keeping a close eye on these relations, as reiterated by European Council president Herman Van Rompuy during a Serbia-EU forum. ''It is surely good news that some of the issues have been resolved in the dialogue, and the EU,'' said Van Rompuy, ''would like to see concrete progress.''  This message was also expressed by the European Council president to Kosovo's president Atifete Jahjaga during a meeting in Brussels. Serbia has asked Europe not to pause in the enlargement process after the expected entrance of Croatia in July 2013. Claiming that a halt would have serious and dangerous consequences for the entire Balkan region, during an international forum on the future of the Balkans Serbian foreign minister Vuk Jeremic asked that his country be granted membership candidate status by the end of the year and that a date be set soon for the beginning of membership talks. He added that Belgrade is willing to cooperate to find an acceptable solution for both parties involved as concerns Kosovo.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=646]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[23/09/2011 - CROATIA: FURTHER PROGRESS IN THE EU ACCESSION PROCEDURE]]></title><description><![CDATA[Progress has been made in Croatia's procedure to become the 28th member state of the European Union. The EU expects to complete the procedure to sign the accession treaty by December. The European Council has yet to give their formal approval, which cannot be granted before the beginning of December, after elections in Croatia. The final text of the accession treaty is ready, a consolidated document in English that needs to be translated into the other EU languages, which will be reviewed by the European Commission and voted on in European Parliament, on the agenda for December 1. The next step for Croatia will be the General Affairs Council scheduled for December 5th. The text contains the accession date of July 1 2013 and there are no conditions regarding free access to the Schengen Area, which is dealt with separately. After the signing of the accession treaty, it must be ratified by each individual member state.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=647]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[26/09/2011 - BALKANS: IMF PREDICTS ECONOMIC GROWTH]]></title><description><![CDATA[The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has forecast economic growth for the Western Balkans.  The Serbian economy will grow by 2% in 2011 and by 3% in 2012, while this year inflation will be 11.3% and will drop to 4% next year.  The Croatian economy is predicted to grow by 0.8% in 201 and by 1.8% in 2012, with inflation standing at 3.2% in 2011 and 2.4% in 2012.  Montenegro will register growth of 2% in 2011 and 3.5% in 2012, with inflation at 3.1% and 2% respectively.  In Bosnia-Herzegovina the economy is predicted to grow by 2.2% this year and by 3% in 2012, while inflation will total 4% and 2.5%.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=648]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[27/09/2011 - SERBIA: DIALOGUE, REGIONAL COOPERATION FUNDAMENTAL FOR EU]]></title><description><![CDATA[Relations between Belgrade and Pristina will be one of the main factors in the decision that the EU is to make of whether to grant Serbia the status of EU membership candidate. The European Union is keeping a close eye on these relations, as reiterated by European Council president Herman Van Rompuy during a Serbia-EU forum. ''It is surely good news that some of the issues have been resolved in the dialogue, and the EU,'' said Van Rompuy, ''would like to see concrete progress.'' This message was also expressed by the European Council president to Kosovo's president Atifete Jahjaga during a meeting in Brussels. Serbia has asked Europe not to pause in the enlargement process after the expected entrance of Croatia in July 2013. Claiming that a halt would have serious and dangerous consequences for the entire Balkan region, during an international forum on the future of the Balkans Serbian foreign minister Vuk Jeremic asked that his country be granted membership candidate status by the end of the year and that a date be set soon for the beginning of membership talks. He added that Belgrade is willing to cooperate to find an acceptable solution for both parties involved as concerns Kosovo.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=649]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[27/09/2011 - CROATIA: FURTHER PROGRESS IN THE EU ACCESSION PROCEDURE]]></title><description><![CDATA[Progress has been made in Croatia's procedure to become the 28th member state of the European Union. The EU expects to complete the procedure to sign the accession treaty by December. The European Council has yet to give their formal approval, which cannot be granted before the beginning of December, after elections in Croatia. The final text of the accession treaty is ready, a consolidated document in English that needs to be translated into the other EU languages, which will be reviewed by the European Commission and voted on in European Parliament, on the agenda for December 1. The next step for Croatia will be the General Affairs Council scheduled for December 5th. The text contains the accession date of July 1 2013 and there are no conditions regarding free access to the Schengen Area, which is dealt with separately. After the signing of the accession treaty, it must be ratified by each individual member state.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=650]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[27/09/2011 - SERBIA: SPEEDING UP EU MEMBERSHIP PATH]]></title><description><![CDATA[Serbia has met the criteria to obtain EU candidate country status and to begin membership negotiations, according to Serbian President Boris Tadic, who said that the achievement of this goal is capable of making Serbia truly feel part of the European family for the first time, after two decades of relative isolation.  Tadic spoke on the matter in New York at the UN General Assembly. In its attempt to speed up its path towards EU membership, Serbia is also trying to find a solution acceptable for both parties to the Kosovo crisis.  A few weeks after the publication of the EU Commission's opinion on Serbia's candidacy for EU membership, tensions with Pristina over customs control still exist.  Formal recognition of Kosovo is not a formal condition for the EU accession process, but what matters - according to EU Enlargement Commissioner, Stefan Fule - is normalising relations between the sides over time.Fule met with Serbian Deputy Prime Minister, Bozidar Delic, to discuss the matter.  Work on reforms also intensified at the meeting. ]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=651]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[28/09/2011 - COOPERATION: BARI HOLDS INTER-ADRIATIC RELATIONS COURSE]]></title><description><![CDATA[Conferences, seminars, debates, experiences, reflections and readings centering on the Adriatic identity and its historical-cultural, artistic and literary, political-economic and linguistic aspects are all part of the fifth Inter-Adriatic Relations course which has got underway in Bari with the participation of students and professors from  Albania, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia. ''Nostalgia, Identity, and Values in the Adriatic'' is the theme of the course, which is divided into a series of theme-based seminars with speakers including not only Italian southern professors but also institutional representatives such as the Deputy Vice President of the European Parliament Gianni Pittella and the Vice President of the Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly  Francesco Amoruso. The course, which is held at the Department for the Study of Mediterranean Societies and the Political Science Faculty of the University of Bari, will conclude with the granting of attendance certificates on October 7. Two of the conferences scheduled, on the themes ''Adriatic Nostalgia'' and ''National and Local Values and Identities in the EU Integration Process'', as well as a seminar to reflect on ''The Humility of Evil''. Presiding over the sessions will be Pasquale Guaragnella, dean of the Foreign Languages and Literature of the University of Bari; Vitilio Masiello from the Bari University, and Vesna Kilibarda. The last session, ''Balkans Dossier'', will begin by meeting with Vittorio Borelli, the editor-in-chief of 'East'. Closing remarks will be entrusted to Franco Botta, president of Cesforia, the ''The Training and Studies Centre for Inter-Adriatic Relations, the sponsor of the initiative with the Puglia region's councillor charged with Mediterranean affairs. ]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=652]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[28/09/2011 - CROATIA: EIB GRANTS 85 MLN FOR LARGE INFRASTRUCTURE WORKS]]></title><description><![CDATA[The building and restoration of infrastructure works in a number of zones in Croatia are the focus of funding provided by the European Investment Bank (EIB) to the Balkan country, approving two loans totalling 85 million euros: 60 will go towards the building of a 13-kilometre section of a road connecting the Croatian coast with Budapest while going through Bosnia-Herzegovina, and 25 million to fund other important infrastructural works until 2013. To Croatia - which having successfully completed talks with Brussels will officially become part of the EU on July 1 2013 - the EIB has since 2011 granted loans totalling about 2.5 billion euros mostly for projects for the country's integration into the EU.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=653]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[29/09/2011 - PUBLIC CALL FOR SELECTIONS - PROJECTS FUTURE MEDICINE - IPA CBC ADRIATICO]]></title><description><![CDATA[Public call for the selection and the award of no. 1 external position of &amp;ldquo;JUNIOR FINANCIAL MANAGER&amp;rdquo; and no. 1 external position of &amp;ldquo;TECHNICAL-SCIENTIFIC COORDINATOR&amp;rdquo;, for the management of the community project IPA CBC ADRIATICO 2007-2013 1st call for ordinary projects FUTURE MEDICINE &amp;ndash; Proposal for the establishment of a cross border adriatic clinical network of centers for medically assisted reproduction and regenerative medicine. ]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=655]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[04/10/2011 - Serbia: progress in EU integration requests]]></title><description><![CDATA[Serbia has taken another step towards EU membership with the approval by the Serbian Parliament of the laws on public property and the restitution of goods that were confiscated by the Yugoslavian communist regime after the Second World War. The properties or terrains will be returned where possible, or a refund will be given in Treasury bonds.The total value of the goods that have to be given back or for which a refund has to be paid is estimated at 4.5 billion euros. The former owners or their heirs can get refunds up to a maximum of 500 thousand euros. Brussels had asked for these measures as part of Serbia's European accession.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=657]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[04/10/2011 - IPA: INFODAY ON SECOND CALL IN BARI]]></title><description><![CDATA[Opportunities to set in motion new forms of collaboration, to consolidate the forms already in place and to try out new approaches for joint development in the Adriatic area are the aims of the Infoday on the second call for ordinary projects of the 2007-2013 CBC IPA Adriatic Programme held in Bari (on October 4 at the Chamber of Commerce) by the Puglia Region - Mediterranean Service in collaboration with the programme's management authority. Infoday is addressed to potential Puglia-region beneficiaries interested in taking part in the IPA Adriatic call launched in August, the deadline of which has been set for November 2. On this occasion the current state of the programme will be illustrated as well as its potential, the type of projects approved following the first call and the procedure for candidatures for the second one. Speaking at this important chance for exchange will be the regional councillor for the Mediterranean Silvia Godelli, the manager of the Mediterranean Service Bernardo Notarangelo, the authority for the management of the programme Giovanna Andreola and the joint technical secretariat. The 2007-2013 IPA Adriatic Cross-Border Programme is financed as part of the IPA - Instrument of Pre-Accession to the European Union and aims to strengthen sustainable development capacities of the Adriatic area in the institutional cooperation, economic, social, national and cultural resources, environmental risk prevention and network accessibility sectors.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=658]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[05/10/2011 - APULIA COUNCILLOR, 'CHANCE TO DO COMPLETE WORK']]></title><description><![CDATA[We must act now and work all together, with the other Regions and the partnership, to use an extraordinary quantity and quality of resources,&quot; said the councillor for the Mediterranean of the Apulia Region, Silvia Godelli. Godelli made this remark today in the Chamber of Commerce of Bari during the 'Infoday' on the second tender for ordinary projects in the 2007-2013 CBC IPA Adriatic Programme. The heart of the meeting, organised by the Region in collaboration with the Programm&#233;s managing authority, was formed by the opportunities of starting new forms of collaboration, consolidating existing forms of cooperation and experimenting with new approaches to joint development in the Adriatic area. &quot;A very important occasion,&quot; explained Godelli, &quot;because such a broad partnership allows us to reach our goals, to initiate the maximum possible number of projects in Apulia, with a variety of partners covering the entire territory, strengthening ties with the IPA countries.&quot;
&quot;Having to present ordinary and not strategic projects,&quot; the councillor continued, &quot;we are able to build a network of interventions, large-scale initiatives and partnerships which involve a large part of our territories and relations with partner countries. The reopening of cooperation programmes like IPA gives us a chance to re-launch from the bottom up, from local territories and citizens, where the institutions are strong: the Italian regions with tasks that have been recognised by the European Commission that can boost the integration process from the bottom up.&quot; This process, according to Godelli, is at risk of reaching a stalemate. The focus must be shifted to all themes the Italian regions have worked so hard on in the past years: territorial cooperation, integration in the Mediterranean-Adriatic area, the prospect of Europe 20-20-20 and the possible prevision of macro regions, in particular the Adriatic-Ionian-Mediterranean Macro Region. &quot;A lapse of the prospect of European integration of the countries of the Western Balkan area,&quot; the councillor concluded, &quot;would jeopardise our region's development prospects. For that reason as well we must continue to play a proactive leading role in this stage.&quot;]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=659]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[05/10/2011 - BARI IPA INFODAY]]></title><description><![CDATA[Puglia is ready to do its part,'' said Bernardo Notarangelo, member of the IPA Adriatic Supervisory Committee and reference for the region of the community programmes for the territorial cooperation objective, speaking at the Bari Chamber of Commerce at the Infoday for the second call for ordinary projects of the 2007-2013 CBC IPA Adriatic Programme. ''We will be involved,'' he added, ''as we were in the first call, in which many of our projects were approved,'' for an overall approximately 7 million euros. The entire first call had 75 million euros in financing available, shared out equally among three axes and granted to 32 projects from among the 133 admitted to competition. The programme's second call - the focus of the information day - began on August 3 and will end on November 2. This second call provides for 82 million euros in financing overall, equally divided along the three strategic axes: economic, social and political cooperation, natural and cultural resources and risk prevention and accessibility to networks. These are the sectors focused on by the 2007-2013 IPA Adriatic Cross-Border Programme, financed as part of the EU's IPA - Instrument of Pre Accession. The project proposals - management authorities explained during the Infoday - will have to involve one of the three priorities, each of which funded with about 27 million euros. The action strategy for individual interventions will have to be shared out among the partners of the eligible territories.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=660]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[06/10/2011 - COOPERATION: CLOSING EVENT OF INTERREG IIIA]]></title><description><![CDATA[The final event of the new Program of Adriatic Proximity (NPPA) Interreg/Cards/Phare (2000-2006) will take place  on October 6 in Termoli. The final event of the important cross-border cooperation pro- gramme will be taking stock of the experience gained by the participating countries, discussing and presenting the general results achieved and reflecting on the impor- tant progress made towards strengthening the cooperation process during the 2000- 2006 programme period. The programme, known as Interreg IIIA, involved the Ital- ian regions of Abruzzo (head region) Friuli Venezia Giulia, Veneto, Emilia Romagna, Marche, Molise and Puglia, as well as Albania, Bosnia Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro. Interreg IIIA will go forward for reasons of continuity with the 2007-2013 CBC IPA Adriatic Cross-Border Cooperation Programme.
It was focused on three axes and has as its objectives the strengthening of economic, cultural, environmental and infrastructural cross-border cooperation, and as a conse- quence harmonisation of the social level of a large Adriatic cross-border area called at the community level the Adriatic Euro Region, with recorded expenditure of 114 mil- lion euros which funded 165 projects.
The works will begin with greetings by Gianfranco Vitagliano, councillor of Molise region Planning, followed by the showing of a video illustrating the Programme's results. On the issue of the future outlook for planning among Adriatic cross-border countries Giovanna Andreola - the Programme's management authority as well as the manager of the Abruzzo Region International Activities service - will be illustrating the transition ''From Interreg to IPA''. Closing remarks will then be made by Olivera del Cont from the Joint Technical Secretariat, who will be presenting the results achieved and the actions carried out in the planning stage of the Interreg IIIA.
Moderating will be Bernardo Notarangelo, head of the Puglia Region Mediterranean Service.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=662]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[06/10/2011 - COOPERATION: ANDREOLA, POSITIVE RESULTS WITH INTERREG IIIA]]></title><description><![CDATA[165 projects financed with 114 mln presented at final event
&quot;We have reached very positive results in terms of economic, social and institutional cooperation. Interreg IIIA has brought populations and territories on both sides of the Adriatic closer, improving the conditions of so-called entering countries and laying the foundations for the creation of the Adriatic macro-region, a target that we are pursuing with the new IPA programme, a continuation of Interreg&quot;. 

  This is according to Giovanna Andreola, from the management authority of the new Adriatic proximity programme (NPPA) Interreg/Cards/Phare (2000-2006), who has been speaking at the inter-Adriatic cooperation festival, the closing event of European meeting held today in Termoli. The position of the management authority, which is also in charge of the international activities sector at the Abruzzo region, is confirmed by figures presented during the final part of a programme known as Interreg IIIA. Some 165 projects were carried out for a total of 114 million euros presented amid initial financing of 101 million. 

  The projects were positioned along three different lines, with the aim of confirming cross-border cooperation in the field of economics, culture, the environment and infrastructure and, as a result, the harmonisation of the social level of a major Adriatic cross-border area, known around Europe as the Adriatic Euro Region. The project has also involved Abruzzo, the leader region, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Veneto, Emilia Romagna, Marche, Molise and Puglia, as well as the states of Albania, Bosnia Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro.  &quot;We have shown a spending capacity that is significantly higher than our initial budget,&quot; Andreola said. &quot;There have been significant repercussions in political and strategic terms, paving the way for countries such as Croatia to gain a ticket for entry into the EU&quot;. The management authority of Interreg IIIA, which plays a similar role in IPA Adriatic (2007-2013), a cross-border cooperation programme taking forward the work achieved by Interreg, has gone back over the stages of &quot;complex activities that have led to uniting different cultures, different ways of thinking and different social, economic and institutional conditions&quot;. 

  &quot;When we began to work on Interreg, many people thought that it was a crazy idea to have a cooperation project between a member state, Italy, and five from outside the EU and, in particular, to talk about an Adriatic macro-region,&quot; Andreola said. &quot;Today we can say that we have succeeded in our intentions and with IPA, which has an endowment of around 290 million euros, in which Interreg states and regions have been involved with the addition of member states such as Greece and Slovenia, the Adriatic macro-region will have its own financing after 2013. The Adriatic Sea, an element of division, now unites both sides&quot;.

  Opening the meeting, the Molise region's head of programming, Gianfranco Vitagliano, who was hosting the event, saluted the effective results obtained with Interreg. The meeting was chaired by Bernardo Notarangelo, a director of the Puglia region's Mediterranean Service. Today's meeting also featured speeches, among others, by the Croatian Secretary of State, Karol Gjurasic, who was welcomed by Vitagliano, Olivera del Cont, from the joint technical office of the former Interreg and the current IPA, as well as representatives of countries and regions. ]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=663]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[06/10/2011 - COOPERATION: ANDREOLA, ENOUGH RESEARCH ON IPA]]></title><description><![CDATA[Need to present concrete and quality projects
&quot;We must attempt to come up with new, concrete and effective projects that have certain benefits on employment and on institutional development&quot;.

This is according to Giovanna Andreola, from the managing authority of the new European programme on Adriatic proximity (NPPA), Interreg/Cards/Phare (2000-2006), better know as Interreg IIIA.  Andreola was speaking during the inter-Adriatic cooperation festival, the closing event of Interreg IIIA, whose efforts are continued by the cross-border cooperation programme, IPA Adriatic.  The reference by Andreola, who is also at the head of the IPA's management authority, is to the second pitch in the European programme, which expires on November 2.

&quot;The time for feasibility studies is at an end, it is the end of the line, we must carry out concrete tasks, we must take the next step in our planning,&quot; said Andreola, who is also the director of the Abruzzo region's international activities sector.  &quot;Only in this way will be manage to reach our objective of building the Adriatic macro-region&quot;.  Andreola invited interested parties both public and private, to view the summary catalogue for projects presented as part of Interreg IIIA, which was presented during today's closing event in Termoli.  &quot;If we look at what has already been done, we can get a clearer idea and, above all, avoid proposing projects that have already been financed&quot;.

Interreg IIIA focussed on maintaining cross-border cooperation in the fields of economics, culture, the environment and infrastructure and, as a result, the harmonisation of the social level of a major cross-border Adriatic area, known in Europe as the Adriatic Euro Region.  The programme involved Abruzzo, the leader region, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Veneto, Emilia Romagna, Marche, Molise and Puglia, as well as Albania, Bosnia Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro. ]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=664]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[07/10/2011 - COOPERATION: GJURASIC, ADRIATIC STRONGER WITH INTERREG IIIA]]></title><description><![CDATA[&quot;First interreg IIIA and then IPA made ,and are currentl7y making, the Adriatic bigger and stronger.  From the perspective of the Croatian government, Interreg achieved its objectives, and in particular it made us grow in terms of our methods and practices, preparing us to occupy the position that we will soon have, as a member state.&quot;  This was the statement made by Croatian Secretary of State, Karlo Gjurasic, while speaking at the Inter-Adriatic Cooperation Festival, the concluding event of the new Program of Adriatic Proximity (NPPA) Interreg/Cards/Phare (2000-2006), which took place today in Termoli.  The programme, known as Interreg IIIA, took place as part of the IPA Adriatic CBC programme (2007-2013). 

&quot;Interreg provided us with a chance to develop projects,&quot; Gjurasic continued. &quot;In this sense not only was economic support important, but the opportunity to promote relations and collaborations crucial for cultural growth was also critical.&quot;  Croatia's Olivera Del Cont, a member of the Interreg Joint Technical Secretariat beforehand and now the IPA, underscored that the experience of cross-border cooperation in the Adriatic basin achieved all of its objectives, giving a chance to so-called non-member countries to improve their ability to manage funds and to follow independent paths.  &quot;Progress was made with Interreg IIIA, now we will continue with IPA to achieve the objective of the Adriatic macro-region.&quot;  

Interreg IIIA aimed to establish cross-border economic, cultural, environmental and infrastructural cooperation, and, as a result, the coordination of the social level of a large cross-border Adriatic area called the Adriatic Euroregion.  The programme involved the Abruzzo (as the head region), Friuli Venezia Giulia, the Veneto, Emilia Romagna, the Marche, Molise and Apulia, as well as Albania, Bosnia Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro. ]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=665]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[07/10/2011 - MONTENEGRO: COOPERATION WITH WORLD BANK CONTINUES]]></title><description><![CDATA[Montenegro will be able to count on an 85-million-dollar loan from the World Bank. The agreement was reached after the meeting of macroeconomic stability criteria as well as those for stabilisation in Montenegro's financial field and banking system set by the international organisation. The cooperation between Montenegro and the World Bank will also continue in the agricultural sector. Montenegro's Agriculture and Rural Development Ministry has approved 78 projects worth about 1.15 million euros, 50% of which will be supported by Midas, the World Bank-financed agriculture support project.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=666]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[10/10/2011 - CROATIA: INTERNATIONAL FORUM ON  INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES]]></title><description><![CDATA[The modalities with  which to foster economic growth through investment in the energy,  infrastructure, tourism and advanced technology sectors are the focus of the  International Investment Forum 'Invest in Croatia'. It is a two-day event  aiming to bolster investment potential while at the same time eliminating  obstacles slowing down capital flows from abroad. During the forum a series of  debates will be organised on investment and the setting in motion of entirely  new activities not currently present in the  country.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=667]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[11/10/2011 - EU: proposals on European future at Open Days 2011]]></title><description><![CDATA[ Cohesion policy, the 'common strategic framework', integrated territorial strategy of the regions, macroregions and cross-border zones are some of the topics up for discussion during the European Week of Regions and Cities.  Open Days 2011 will allow for debates to begin on proposals for reforms for European Structural Funds 2014-2020 on the whole.  For three days over 6000 officials including local and regional administrators, officers and experts in the sector will discuss &amp;quot;Investing in the future of Europe: regions working for intelligent, sustainable and inclusive growth&amp;quot;.  &amp;quot;We are relying on their support and proposals, confident that they allow us to fulfil the EU objectives for growth and employment, investments and intelligent projects,&amp;quot; explained European Regional Policy Commissioner, Johannes Hahn.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=669]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[13/10/2011 - IPA: 'POWERED', ASSESSMENT OF ADRIATIC RESOURCES]]></title><description><![CDATA[Exhibitions of interest to sponsor the 'Powered' project, co-financed within the IPA-Adriatic community programme, must be presented before November 20. The project, one of several that have been accepted for funding in the first call for standard IPA projects and with the Abruzzo region as Lead Beneficiary, is meant to define a set of strategies and methods for the development of off-shore wind energy in the entire Adriatic area. In particular, the notice regards the development of activities related to the assessment of wind resources in the Adriatic basin. The main goal of 'Powered' is to draft guidelines for the construction of off-shore wind farms in line with planning and conservation policies, for all partners of the project. At the same time locations will be selected for the development of this type of energy, that will also lead to the definition of a power grid project with undersea cables that would make it much easier to exchange electricity between countries. There will also be a survey of wind resources in the Adriatic area with the help of a network of coastal and marine weather stations. When the project is finished this network will continue to exist to support the meteorological services.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=670]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[13/10/2011 - ITALY-ALBANIA: JOINT PROJECTS FOR RESEARCHERS]]></title><description><![CDATA[The procedures to collect projects for the new scientific and technological cooperation protocol for the 2012-2014 have been started, in the context of the agreement between the two republics signed in 1997.Each researcher can present only one project, and funds will only be allocated to research mobility projects (compatible with the annual financial resources available for the budgets of the two countries). The areas of research are: agriculture and food science, environment and energy, earth sciences, life sciences and health, basic science, information and communication technology, technologies applied to cultural heritage.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=671]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[13/10/2011 - Serbia-Montenegro: New opportunities for cooperation with IPA funds]]></title><description><![CDATA[The deadline to present proposals for the call for proposals issued by the EU in Serbia and Montenegro under the IPA cross-border cooperation programme will expire on November 14.  There are two key sectors in particular: improving productivity and competitiveness of the economy, rural, cultural and environmental resources; and initiatives focussing on exchanges of individuals and ideas to improve cooperation in the business world and in civil society (with the financial assistance of IPA Funds from 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 of the Serbia-Montenegro Cross-Border Programme).   Involvement includes Serbian territories in the municipalities of Uzice, Bajina Bastata, Pozega, Kosjeric, Cajetina, Arilje, Priboj, Nova Varos;, Prijepolje, Sjenica, Raska, Novi Pazar, Tutin, Kraljevo, Vrnjacka Banja, Gornji Milanovac, Ivanjica, Lucani and Cacak. In Montenegro the territories of Pljevlja, Bijelo Polje, Berane, Rozaje, Plav, Andrijevica, Kolasin, Mojkovac, zaabljak, Pluzine, Savnik, Niksic, Podgorica and Cetinje Danilovgrad are involved. The call to present proposals was launched in collaboration with the Serbian Office of European Integration and Montenegro's Foreign and European Affairs Ministry. ]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=672]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[18/10/2011 - PUBLIC NOTICE FOR THE SPONSORSHIP OF THE PROJECT 'POWERED']]></title><description><![CDATA[The partners of Powered project (Offshore Wind Energy: Research, Experimentation, Development &#8211; IPA CBC ADRIATIC Programme - Priority 2) intend to proceed with the identification of public or private organizations	 as	 sponsors of Powered	 project, in	compliance	with	art. 26 of DLgs.163/2006.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=673]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[18/10/2011 - SERBIA: TADIC HAPPY WITH EU COMMISSION'S FAVOURABLE STANCE]]></title><description><![CDATA[&amp;quot;The European Commission has assessed positively the progress made by Serbia in terms of reforms, the fight against corruption and crime and its efforts to improve relations with its neighbours&amp;quot;. This is according to Boris Tadic, who has welcomed the European Commission's favourable stance to granting Serbia the status of candidate country for EU accession.The Commission says that any start date to accession talks are linked to the resumption of dialogue and the improvement of relations with Kosovo. &amp;quot;I hope that in December our country can obtain the status of candidate country, as this would be a very important step along our European journey. We want to talk, but at the same time we want realistic and acceptable solutions for everyone.Indeed, a political solution can only be reached if Pristina and the EU also want one. In this light, we are hoping for help from Italy, which is a friend of Serbia's&amp;quot;. The Italian Foreign Minister, Franco Frattini, said that it was in Italy's interest &amp;quot;to support the process of Serbia's European integration. It is also in the EU's interests to have Serbia in the European family&amp;quot;.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=674]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[18/10/2011 - CONCESSION LINKED TO RESUMPTION OF DIALOGUE WITH KOSOVO]]></title><description><![CDATA[BARI - The European Commission has pronounced itself in favour of giving Serbia the status of candidate for EU accession, and has asked the country to make efforts in dialogue with Kosovo and to step up the implementation of agreements reached so far. In the report on the enlargement of the European Union, Serbia is said to have made progress in important areas, with the Commission deciding to recommend Serbia's status to member states as a result. &amp;quot;We recommend that accession talks be opened, as long as Serbia makes further progress in fulfilling one of the key objectives that we have identified, namely further progress in normalising relations with Kosovo in line with the conditions of the Stabilisation and Association Process.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=675]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[19/10/2011 - Montenegro: European Commission approval to begin accession negotiations ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Montenegro has received approval from the European Commission to begin accession negotiations.  Even though the country was promoted in the most recent EU enlargement report, they must still carry out further reforms, including economic changes, and strengthen their policies against corruption and organised crime, as well as protecting minors.&amp;quot;Our recommendations,&amp;quot; explained European Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy, Stefan Fule, &amp;quot;show that the enlargement process consists of stimulating reforms and helping create a more stable and prosperous Europe. The power of change linked to this enlargement process provides a message of hope in this period of challenges for the member states and countries part of the enlargement process.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=676]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[24/10/2011 - FOOD AND AGRICULTURE: 'AGRONET' IN ADRIATIC-IONIAN AREA]]></title><description><![CDATA[Managing at the Adriatic-Ionian macro-area the trade flows of the agrofood production chain is the aim Agronet, a permanent network harmonising structures, procedures, and logistical, technological and financial operating instruments co-financed by the IPA Adriatic Programme. The project, which be will operative from 2013, was presented to entrepreneurs and those working in the economic sector in the Bari Chamber of Commerce. The latter - through the special firm AICAI - is a partner of the project, which sees Finest in the lead alongside the Puglia regional government, and in Italy relies on the partnership of  Venetoagricoltura, Informest, Confcooperative, and Consorzio del Biferno, involving Slovenia, Croatia, Albania and Bosnia Herzegovina. The system of agrofood firms of East Europe - as emerged during the Agronet presentation - lacks sufficient infrastructure and adequate operating and financial services and instruments. On the Italian side, on the other hand, there is technology and know-how but an inability to interact with the agencies and enterprises of the Balkan area. This is why there is the need for development of the sector and enterprises as well as a systematic and coordinated getting past of these structural, institutional and economic obstacles held to be behind a lack of growth in SMEs and trade. Agronet - through accords, alliances, and agreements with a number of public and private actors in the sector will set up a logistical, technological and financial network based no a shared platform of procedures to facilitate the meeting of demand and supply.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=680]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[24/10/2011 - EU: ADRIATIC-IONIAN MACROREGION APPROVED]]></title><description><![CDATA[The European Regions Committee has given its unanimous and definitive approval in its opinion for  the ''Cooperation in the Mediterranean Basin through the Adriatic-Ionian Macroregion''. ''This macroregion has been recognised,'' said the committee's president Mercedes Bresso, ''as a strategic priority for the upcoming planning period. We are faced with the first official document of the European union on the launch of an Adriatic-Ionian macroregional strategy. As a committee we will immediately request the setting up of an inter-institutional work table. The timeline is good but not very broad, since if we want to use the 2014-2020 future funds for operative strategies we will have to work from now until 2014.''  ''We must act immediately,'' added the proposer in Europe of the opinion for the macroregion's recognition, Gian Mario Spacca, ''even before 2014. We must do this from a macroregional perspective. An operative phase is thereafter set in motion, including the drawing up of an action plan to be implemented by regional and local institutions in a close partnership with the national level. The macroregional strategy, though promoted by the states, on the basis of subsidiarity, must come from the bottom up and entail strong involvement by the territories involved so that they are the ones to develop the relations, accords, and procedures to make effective cooperation possible. This macroregion is the third region in Europe after the Baltic and Danube ones. Macroregions can strengthen the European cohesion process, especially in the weakest areas. The two already started for the Baltic and Danube, the Adriatic-Ionian one and the others already announced (North Sea, English Channel, Alpine Arc, Black Sea and Mediterranean) will all foster infrastructural interconnections and synergies.']]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=681]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[26/10/2011 - Serbia-Croatia- Bosnia- Montenegro relaunch regional cooperation]]></title><description><![CDATA[The desire to assure a future in Europe for the entire Western Balkans is at the root of the joint declaration signed by the leaders of Serbia, Croatia, Montenegro and Bosnia-Herzegovina (Serbian President Boris Tadic, Croatian President Ivo Josipovic, Montenegrin President Filip Vujanovic and acting President of Bosnia Zeljko Komsic). During a summit in Belgrade, organised under the 'Igman Initiative' (an assembly founded in November 2000 by a movement of 140 NGOs from the 4 countries), the desire to help each other reciprocally to achieve the necessary criteria for EU membership and the desire to continue with the reconciliation process between the countries in the region was reiterated. A direct process to encourage regional cooperation was hailed by European Enlargement Commissioner, Stefan Fuele, who spoke of the EU's support for all of these types of initiatives.  At the summit, Fuele also spoke with Balkan leaders about the most recent report published by the commission regarding the progress of the countries in the region on the road towards EU membership.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=682]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[28/10/2011 - MONTENEGRO: NEW INVESMENT PROJECTS WITH DEVELOPMENT FUND]]></title><description><![CDATA[Cooperation with the World Bank in the agricultural sector is being consolidated in Montenegro, after the board of the country's Development and Investment Fund agreed to finance 10 projects.  Eight of these will be carried out as part of Midas, the agriculture support project financed by the World Bank.  Previously, Montenegro's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development had approved 78 projects worth around 1.15 million euros, 50% of which being supported by Midas.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=683]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[28/10/2011 - EU: Decision on multi-year financial framework moved to 2013 2014-2020]]></title><description><![CDATA[The definition of the forthcoming European Union financial framework for the period between 2014 and 2020 has been put back.  The political conference held in Brussels has suggested June 2013 as a potential date, six months later than the initial plan to make a decision by December 31 2012. The conference, which was organised by the Polish presidency of the EU in collaboration with the European Commission and European Parliament, was attended by representatives of European institutions (Committee of Regions and Economic and Social Committee), the Court of Audit, the governments of member states, EU Commissioners, national and European Parliaments and exponents of civil society.  Croatia attended the conference in an observational capacity. Italy was represented by the Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs, Alfredo Mantica, who said that the postponement of the decision was &amp;quot;conditioned by the need to define a two thousand billion euro fund.  In this context, it was extremely difficult to tackle a 7-year budget project  worth around one thousand billion euros&amp;quot;.  The main issues discussed at the conference included the reform of Common Agricultural Policy and Cohesion Policy, which absorb around 80% of the European budget. With regards to both policies, the European Commission made proposals that will be based on talks on the financial framework between 2014 and 2020.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=684]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[28/10/2011 - ALBANIA: ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION & PROMOTION OF ECO-TOURISM]]></title><description><![CDATA[The potential of the Albanian tourism industry was the focus of 'Pushime!' ('Vacations', in Albanian), a specialised international trade show on eco-tourism, organised by Fiera del Levante services at Citypark in Tirana and put on thanks to the Amico project financed by the Economic Development Ministry.  Albanian Tourism Minister, Aldo Bumci, pointed out that 100,000 Italians travelled to Albania in the first 8 months of 2011 and explained that when fully operational the objective is at least 1 million tourists, achieved by taking advantage of the environment in the best way possible (in particular the seaside, since only 20% of the 400km of coastline is equipped with facilities).  'Eco Biz Expo' was held in order to promote and pass on experience in the field of resource management and environmental protection.  This trade show was established to promote opportunities for collaboration and commercial exchanges between countries in the Mediterranean in the field of ecology, sustainable building, renewable energy, and the waste treatment cycle.  The Green Economy trade show, following two stops in Albania, will travel to Macedonia and Montenegro.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=685]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[28/10/2011 - SERBIA: 50 MLN IN FINANCING TO THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR FROM IFC]]></title><description><![CDATA[The International Finance Corporation (IFC), an agency of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, will provide 50 million euros in financing to the agricultural loans sector in Serbia. The decision falls within the context of the strategy to strengthen the banking sector in the region and to support the agricultural sector.  Agriculture accounts for 21% of Serbia's GDP and continues to register a surplus.  Investments by the IFC into Serbia total 384 million dollars.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=686]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[02/11/2011 - European day of civil justice]]></title><description><![CDATA[The European Day of Civil Justice has been celebrated, an initiative of the European Council, meant to bring justice closer to civilians. Many events have been organised in Italy, Bosnia, Slovenia, Croatia and other countries (the Netherlands, France, Armenia, Estonia, Lithuania and Romania).Croatia has opened the doors of its courts of first instance to its citizens.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=687]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[02/11/2011 - ALBANIA: TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT WITH COMPANIES IN IT SECTOR]]></title><description><![CDATA[In order to support the development of the sector and the use of information and communication technology by SMEs, in Albania the first resource and training centre for information and communication technology was inaugurated. The centre was established by a public-private sector partnership between the local government, the Albanian-American Development Foundation, the U.S. Agency for International Development, and private sector companies. The centre is expected to open in the spring of 2012. Albania is also benefitting from a 3-year initiative financed by the EU for candidate countries and potential candidate countries for EU membership, which monitors progress in the electronic communications sector and the services provided in the IT sector. The European initiative is also in place in Bosnia Herzegovina, Croatia, Iceland, Montenegro, Serbia, Kosovo, Macedonia and Turkey.(ANSAmed).]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=688]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[03/11/2011 -  Slovenia: New development investments]]></title><description><![CDATA[Slovenia  continues to focus on growth and has provided 10 million euros in  financing for new projects, targeting the creation of jobs in particular  and purchasing facilities in the Pomurje region, where the law on  development aid is being followed up. &amp;nbsp;Over the period between 2010 and  2015, there is a scheduled outlay of 33 million euros. &amp;nbsp;The sixth  Slovenian economic summit was also centred on development, and saw the  country's leading economic operators come together to demand support for  investment in development projects. &amp;nbsp;(ANSAmed).]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=689]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[03/11/2011 -  ITALY-SERBIA: NEW AGREEMENT ON ENERGY SECTOR]]></title><description><![CDATA[The  agreement between Italy and Serbia on the development of renewable  sources and industrial cooperation has been boosted. &amp;nbsp;The two countries  have signed a deal updating that of 2009, acknowledging the European  directive on renewable sources and fixing the conditions, including  rates, according to which hydroelectric sites are to be built. &amp;nbsp;The  latest deal was signed by Italy's Minister for Economic Development,  Paolo Romani, and Serbia's Infrastructure and Energy Minister, Milutin  Mrkonjic. &amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;The agreement means that energy produced in hydroelectric  power stations funded by Italian and Serbian investors will be used for  consumption on the Italian market. &amp;nbsp;The energy will be routed towards  Italy, with its long-term transit guaranteed along the electrical  connection between Serbia and Montenegro, before being moved on towards  Italy along the already scheduled power line. &amp;nbsp;Investments activated in  light of the deal include around 800 million euros for the construction  of power stations on the Ibar and Drina rivers, as well as the 775  million already scheduled for the connection between Italy and  Montenegro, which will be built by Terna. &amp;nbsp;Investments in the  photovoltaic industry are also being recorded in Slovenia and, in order  to support the production of electrical energy by renewable sources, the  Slovenian Finance Ministry has already laid out 3.6 million euros, with  an extra total of around 44 million also due to be added. &amp;nbsp;(ANSAmed)]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=690]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[08/11/2011 - IMMIGRATION: OPEN DAY IN PUGLIA FOR ]]></title><description><![CDATA[A  document of &amp;quot;recommendations&amp;quot; aimed at the European Union containing  suggestions for defining the most effective integration policies has  been drawn up by civil society organisations, authorities and  associations from Italy, Bulgaria, Albania, Greece, Romania and  Macedonia, which have been meeting in Bari (in the former Monacelle  convent in Casamassima) as part of the GOAL (Granting Opportunities for  Active Learning) project, which is organised by the Mediterranean  Service of the Puglia region and the social promotion association  &amp;quot;Learning Cities&amp;quot;. &amp;nbsp;GOAL is financed by the programme EACEA Citizenship -  Action 1: Active Citizen for Europe. &amp;nbsp;The meeting is the final stage in  a process that since March has seen the local and European interaction  of civil society organisaitons, authorities and associations from the  initiative's partner states, orchestrated by the Association of Local  Democracy Agencies (ALDA) and with methods put forward by the citizens'  panel. &amp;nbsp;Reflections and observations so far have formed the basis of the  document carrying &amp;quot;recommendations&amp;quot; that will be put to the attention  of the European Union in Bucharest from November 11-13.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=693]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[08/11/2011 - PROVINCE OF UDINE PARTNERS 4 IPA INITIATIVES]]></title><description><![CDATA[  The Province of Udine has agreed to partner four new initiatives  present in the cross-border cooperation programme &amp;quot;IPA Adriatic&amp;quot;. &amp;nbsp;The  initiatives, to which the provincial authorities have given their  backing, have financial firepower of over a million euros, which is to  be invested on behalf of the Friuli community in several major channels.  &amp;nbsp;Work will be carried out on increasing employment numbers (with the  Inlab-Integrated labour services in the Adriatic Basin) by optimising  the relationship between supply and demand. &amp;nbsp;Other projects include the  &amp;quot;Acube-Adriatic Cultural Beads&amp;quot;, which is aimed at making the Adriatic  Basin more attractive by renovating sites of historical, cultural and  religious importance by promoting new forms of use. &amp;nbsp;Another project,  entitled &amp;quot;Music and landscape as a common good - Music Lands&amp;quot; explores  forms of sustainable tourism through the use of musical expression. &amp;nbsp;The  C-Way project, meanwhile, will see the creation of cross-border  activity designed to help the protection of natural heritage and  biodiversity, with particular attention to chestnut growing. &amp;nbsp;(ANSAmed).]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=694]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[09/11/2011 - ADRIATIC-IONIAN MACRO-REGION: DISCUSSION ON PROJECT AND NEW AGREEMENTS]]></title><description><![CDATA[  The opportunities offered by the CBC IPA Adriatic Programme on  strategic projects regarding welfare and the environment were the focus  of the workshop 'Adriatic-Ionian Macroregion: a New Framework for Cross-border cooperation'. The workshop was held in  Bologna, and also zoomed in on the potential and problems of applying  the macro-regional model to the Adriatic, already active in the Baltic  and Danube region. During the two days of discussion and debate on the  macro-regional project for the Adriatic-Ionian area, a statement on  strategic goals for the sustainable and integrated development of the  Adriatic area was signed by the Presidents of Emilia Romagna, Vasco  Errani, &amp;nbsp;and Istria, Ivan Jakovcic. The bilateral partnership agreement  is aimed at strengthening collaboration in the field of sustainableand  social-economic development, culture and education, transport and  logistics, technological innovation and the integrated development of  sustainable tourism. (ANSAmed)]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=695]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[14/11/2011 - COOPERATION: INCE SUMMIT ANALYSIS ON ANTI-CRISIS MEASURES]]></title><description><![CDATA[  Cooperation, the impact of the economic crisis and European integration  as a means of greater competitivity were at the centre of the annual  summit of the Central European Initiative (CEI), which has been held in  Belgrade. &amp;nbsp;The meeting provided an occasion to analyse measures taken to  tackle the crisis through cooperation, with representatives of member  states able to analyse the situation in the region in light of the  economic and financial crisis, targeting new initiatives to re-establish  confidence, financial stability and growth. &amp;nbsp;The summit organised by  the CEI - the oldest and largest regional cooperation forum in central  and eastern Europe and the Balkans, was attended by representatives from  Bosnia Herzegovina, Montenegro, Romania, Ukraine, Albania, Poland,  Bulgaria, Macedonia, Czech Republic, Belarus, Croatia, Italy, Slovenia,  Austria, Moldova and Slovakia. &amp;nbsp;(ANSAmed).]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=696]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[14/11/2011 - SERBIA: EU PUSHING FOR RESUMED DIALOGUE WITH KOSOVO]]></title><description><![CDATA[More  than a month on from the stall in dialogue between Pristina and  Belgrade, and ahead of December's EU Council, which will decide whether  or not to forward Serbia's status as a candidate country for EU  accession, the European Commission wants to see progress in the  resumption of talks between Serbia and Kosovo. &amp;nbsp;Meanwhile, the European  Commission is working to support the favourable opinion to Serbia's  candidacy a month ago. &amp;nbsp;The country's Prime Minister, Mirko Cvetkovic,  explained that Serbia's journey towards the European Union depends on  dialogue with Kosovo. &amp;nbsp;The attitude towards Kosovo and dialogue with  Europe &amp;quot;are two parallel processes&amp;quot;, he said. &amp;nbsp;Also to be noted is the  fact that &amp;quot;the changes and reforms that we have carried out have been  very significant and have been recognised, so it is time to begin  negotiations with Europe&amp;quot;. &amp;nbsp;Recognition of Serbia's efforts have also  come in the form of the Council of Europe's North South Prize, which  will be given to President Boris Tadic next spring for his policy in  favour of reconciliation of the Balkans and for his country's  integration into the European building process. &amp;nbsp;(ANSAmed) ]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=697]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[17/11/2011 - BALKANS: MACEDONIA-ALBANIA MAKE DEAL TO DEVELOP COOPERATION]]></title><description><![CDATA[Economic  cooperation, common infrastructural projects, collaboration in the  tourism sector and European-Atlantic integration were the main topics of  the meetings between Albanian Premier, Sali Berisha, and Macedonian  Prime Minister, Nikola Gruevski. The meeting, held in Skopje, showed  that both Macedonia and Albania want to develop and strengthen relations  between the two countries. Berisha visited Tetovo, where he met with  representatives of the large Albanian minority, which amounts to 25% of  the nearly 2 million inhabitants of Macedonia.(ANSAmed). ]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=698]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[17/11/2011 - BALKANS: COMMON REGIONAL PROGRAMME ON REFUGEES PROBLEM]]></title><description><![CDATA[A  commitment was made to create a common regional programme to put an end  to the problem surrounding refugees, people in exile and evacuees in the  Western Balkans by the Foreign Ministers of Serbia, Vuk Jeremic,  Croatia, Gordan Jandrokovic, Bosnia, Sven Alkakaj and Montenegro, Milan  Rocen. &amp;nbsp;The meeting in Belgrade showed that all of the countries want to  make all of the necessary means available and to give the necessary  political, material, legal, and social support to put an end to the  problem, and aim to achieve long-term solutions. &amp;nbsp;The four governments  committed to developing a regional programme lasting several years. In  the beginning of 2012 a donors' conference will be organised with the  goal of collecting the nearly 600 million euros needed to start the  programme. (ANSAmed).]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=699]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[17/11/2011 - Environment: Cooperation projects with Albania, Serbia, Bosnia]]></title><description><![CDATA[There  have been steps forward in the set-up of a network of knowledge and  projects in the environment and sustainable development sector between  Italian regions and local bodies and countries in the Balkan area. This  has emerged in Matera during a final meeting on the 3-year cooperation  programme of the integrated projects &amp;quot;Riva&amp;quot;, &amp;quot;Prima&amp;quot; and &amp;quot;Rismed&amp;quot;. The  Riva project, which cost 760,000 euros, allowed an environmental and  rainwater system to be launched in Albania on lake waters. The Prima  scheme, meanwhile, concerns Serbia and Bosnia and has a total investment  of one million euros. The project is aimed at environmental monitoring  in highly critical areas and polluted sites, providing technical  assistance for the drafting of plans and programmes to protect and  improve natural resources. These projects, it has emerged, aim to  facilitate the launch of works to redevelop contaminated areas in the  context of future IPA financing; to contribute to the development of the  monitoring, management and redevelopment systems; to increase the level  of cooperation between Italian and local institutions, not least  through the exchange of practices, techniques and technology; and to  improve regional competence in terms of decentralised cooperation  activity, the strengthening of institutional cooperation and  international partnerships. &amp;nbsp;(ANSAmed).]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=700]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[17/11/2011 - 'Adriatic Olive Grove' project for Italy, Greece and Albania]]></title><description><![CDATA[  The &amp;quot;Adriatic Olive Grove&amp;quot; project aims to contribute to the  improvement of the quality of oil in Italy, Greece and Albania,  preserving the rural landscape and bringing incentives for sustainable  tourism. The scheme is part of the IPA Adriatic Programme, and was at  the centre of the conference entitled &amp;quot;The extra-virgin olive oil chain  in the Adriatic Basin&amp;quot;, which has been held near Rimini. The meeting  focussed on themes linked to support for the olive sector and the  management of oil waste in the area and their environmental impact. The  conference also featured speeches from representatives of the Ionian and  Tirana universities on olive-growing on the island of Corfu and in  Albania. The &amp;quot;Adriatic Olive Grove&amp;quot; project, which began a few months  ago, is due to last three years, ending in 2013.(ANSAmed).]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=701]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[22/11/2011 - Cooperation: tenders in early 2012 for Adriatic IPA projects]]></title><description><![CDATA[&amp;quot;The work of the meeting has been successful because they are defining the content of key strategic projects, so we can be ready to launch the tender phase in the early months of the new year.&amp;quot; These were the words of the manager of the Adriatic IPA programme, Giovanna Andreola, director of international activities sector of Abruzzo region, to sum up two days discussion about the EU IPA Adriatic cross-border cooperation programme, held in Opatija in Croatia. The Task Force and the Joint Monitoring Committee went to Croatia to discuss the selection procedures for EU Strategic Projects, financed to the tune of around 90 million euros. The event also saw the presence of the European Commission, in particular deputy unit chief, Vicente Rodriguez Saez, and Dr. Fausta Corda also representing the Commission. There were contributions from all the representatives of countries participating in the IPA ADRIATIC CBC PROGRAMME. IPA Adriatic involves Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Serbia, Greece and Italy, in addition to Abruzzo, the leader region, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Veneto, Emilia Romagna, Marche, Puglia and Molise all participate. The programme has a total budget of 280 million euros and aims to harmonise the Adriatic Cross-Border area in the name of institutional, economic, cultural, tourism, environment and infrastructure cooperation. (ANSAmed).]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=703]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[22/11/2011 - EU - Saez: Croatia ready for entry into Europe]]></title><description><![CDATA[&amp;quot;Croazia is ready to join the EU and the meetings held over recent days have presented a first-class opportunity for tackling the enactment phase of of the Adriatic project, IPA, that is producing remarkable results.&amp;quot; TheDeputy Head of the Transnational &amp;amp; Interregional Cooperation Unit of the European Commission,Vicente Rodriguez Saez, has been addressing a press conference on the fringes of the important summit on European Adriatic tran-frontier cooperation, IPA, which began in Croatian Opatija on Friday. &amp;quot;This has certainly been a promising start for the continuation of the programme up until 2014,&amp;quot; the high-ranking EU official said. The event taking place on Croatian soil is focusing on IPA's Task Force and Joint Monitoring Committee, with discussions covering selection procedures for the European initiativ&amp;eacute;s Strategic Projects, with funding totaling around 90 million euros. Another speaker at the press conference was the Governor of the coastal mountain region, Zlatko Komadina, representing the county of which the host city, Opatija, is part. &amp;quot;In the name of my region I would like to make it known how glad we are to host this very important meeting,&amp;quot; Komadina said, and entering into the matters discussed, he noted how &amp;quot;trans-frontier cooperation is a very important instrument not only for funding but also for connecting the populaces on each shore of the Adriatic&amp;quot;. The Governor went on to highlight how his region was among the very first to believe in their relation with the trans-frontier cooperation projects. &amp;quot;There is a need, when presenting projects, to aim at strategic matters such as the protection and ehancement of the Adriatic Sea and the transport sector, given that links are a vital part&amp;quot;. Komadina reaffirmed the need to work towards the creation of macro-regions, especially that of the Adriatic-Ionian, promoting his region's ability to &amp;quot;take on a more active role at the planning and operational levels, and in the case of programmes, in their management: all of this in the light of the experience gained through implementation of projects ahd having created this capacity down the years&amp;quot;. The Governor expressed his love of Italy: &amp;quot;the coastal mountainous region has historic links to Italy; we are very aware of Italian culture and in this sense we are a model not just in Croatia but for the whole of Europe and we are proud of this. We feel close to Italy and work as partners&amp;quot; he concluded. &amp;quot;IPA Adriatic&amp;quot; has a total funding of around 280 million euros: participatory states in the programme of trans-frontier cooperation - which aims to bring either side of the Adriatic closer together culturally, socially and economically   - are Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Serbia, Greece and, for Italy, apart from leading Region Abruzzo, there are the Regions of Friuli Venezia Giulia, Veneto, Emilia Romagna, Marche, Apulia and Molise. (ANSAmed).]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=704]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[23/11/2011 - IMF: SERBIA; DEAL ON PRECAUTIONARY LOAN]]></title><description><![CDATA[  Serbia can collect payment of the first 190 million euro tranche of the  precautionary 1 billion euro loan from the IMF. &amp;nbsp;The vice governor of  the Bank of Serbia, Ana Gligorijevic, explained that the country will  make use of this possibility only if the country's financial stability  is threatened. &amp;nbsp;The IMF loan aims to provide Serbia protection against  financial instability, improving the climate for investments and helping  the country maintain adequate financial discipline. (ANSAmed). ]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=705]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[23/11/2011 - COOPERATION: MEDITERRANEAN NETWORK OF OLIVE OIL CITIES]]></title><description><![CDATA[Slovenia,  Croatia, Albania, Montenegro and Greece are, along with Italy, among  the 15 countries that signed an agreement to form the new Mediterranean  Network of Olive Oil Cities. &amp;nbsp;An association of countries that will  export the values of the Mediterranean diet and culture to the rest of  the world, the network has the goal of promoting and exporting products  from the Mediterranean area, especially olive oil, to the rest of the  world. (ANSAmed).]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=706]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[24/11/2011 - COOPERATION: MED POWER GRID OPERATORS NETWORK]]></title><description><![CDATA[Albania, Bosnia Herzegovina, Croatia, Greece, Montenegro, and Slovenia are - alongside Italy - among the twenty-four countries belonging to the network of power grid operators in the Mediterranean, the Metso network. The new entity has been promoted by Terna, the Italian electricity transmission operator, in collaboration with the Algerian company Sonelgaz and the Tunisian one Steg, with the aim of drawing up shared guidelines for cooperation and development of the Mediterranean power grid. 
Italy will be hosting the General Secretariat of the Association, the statute of which will be made official by December.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=707]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[24/11/2011 - 'CLUSTER CLUB' PROJECT AT VENICE NAUTICAL EXPO]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Venice International Nautical Expo will be the first stage for Cluster Club, a Unioncamere Veneto-Eurosportello project co-funded by the European IPA Adriatic CBC programme, which aims for integration among companies working in the nautical sector in the Adriatic area. The expo will be held in Parco San Giuliano (Mestre) in the two weekends of Friday April 13-Sunday April 15 and Friday April 20- Sunday April 22. The Cluster Club project can count on participation by 14 organisations operating in Italy, Greece, Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Albania.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=708]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[18/11/2011 - ADRIATIC: SUMMIT ON CROATIA ON STRATEGIC PROJECTS
TOMORROW AND NOVEMBER 18]]></title><description><![CDATA[An important summit on the European cross-border cooperation programme IPA Adriatic is being held tomorrow and the day after in the Croatian town of Opatija.

The Task Force and the Joint Monitoring Committee will meet to discuss the selection process for the European initiative's strategic projects, financing for which totals around 110 million euros. The importance of the meeting is shown by the attendance of the European Commission, which will be led by the head of trans-national and inter-regional cooperation, Vicente Rodriguez Saez, and Fausta Corda, who is also representing the EC. All representatives of countries taking part in the IPA Adriatic CBC Programme will also be present, with co-presidency held by the Joint Monitoring Committee (JMC) of the host country.

IPA Adriatic involves eight countries (Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Serbia, Greece and Italy) while Italian regions are present in the shape of Abruzzo (the regional leader of the project), Friuli Venezia Giulia, Veneto, Emilia Romagna, Marche, Puglia and Molise. The programme has total financing of around 280 million euros and aims to harmonise the Adriatic cross-border area with cooperation in the institutional, economic, cultural, tourism, environmental and infrastructure sectors.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=709]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[25/11/2011 - KOSOVO: DIALOGUE RESUMES WITH EU MEDIATION]]></title><description><![CDATA[EU-brokered dialogue on Kosovo between Belgrade and Pristina has resumed in Brussels.  Talks were suspended at the end of September following major tension in the north of Kosovo.  The resumption of dialogue had been imposed by the EU as a condition for Serbia's reception of the status of candidate country for EU accession in December.  Talks are focussing on integrated border management (carried out jointly by Serb, Kosovan and Eulex officials), energy, telecommunications and regional cooperation.  Meanwhile, the Kosovan Prime Minister, Hashim Thaci, has reasserted his categorical opposition to the division of Kosovo or an exchange of land with Serbia to resolve the crisis between Belgrade and Pristina.  Around 21,000 Serbs in Kosovo, dismayed by the lack of protection that they believe has been committed by Belgrade, have asked to be given Russian citizenship.  Russia says that it is ready to welcome them to the country.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=710]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[28/11/2011 - KOSOVO: EU PLEDGE FOR PRISTINA-BELGRADE DIALOGUE]]></title><description><![CDATA[Europe  must show ''whether it really wants to solve the problems in Kosovo in a  systematic, just and impartial way'', said Serbian government spokesman  Milivoje Mihajlovic after the resumption of dialogue between Pristina  and Belgrade. Kosovo's Foreign Minister Enver Hoxhaj said that ''while  not wanting the continuation of the status quo, an ethnic division of  Kosovo is not acceptable''. Meanwhile, in Brussels the resolution of the  border crossings issue has been postponed until the next round of  talks. ''The integrated management of borders,'' said EU mediator Robert  Cooper, ''is an issue that presents numerous difficulties.'' The  proposal on the table is that of joint controls, which would involve  both Kosovar and Serbian representatives alongside EULEX ones. (ANSAmed)]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=711]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[28/11/2011 - KOSOVO: DIALOGUE IN BRUSSELS LEADS TO ACCORD REVISION]]></title><description><![CDATA[With the resumption of dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade, ''much progress has been made''. EU mediator said that ''the application of all the accords has been  revised, including those concerning the civil registry and freedom of  movement. The civil registry should be implemented within the next two  weeks but freedom of movement is a more complex issue concerning  documents, license plates and borders.'' An important result has been  achieved as concerns education, with an agreement on the reciprocal  recognition of diplomas issue by universities, for continuing studies  and for the necessary qualifications for state employment. Progress has  also been made for ''more effective and inclusive'' regional  cooperation, with Kosovo and Serbia taking part in the same meetings.  (ANSAmed).&amp;nbsp; ]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=712]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[30/11/2011 - Slovenia: SMEs protagonists of innovation]]></title><description><![CDATA[Fifty-five  innovation projects received awards at the 6th Slovenian Innovation  Forum. &amp;nbsp;At the initiative, promoted by the Slovenian the Slovenian  Public Agency for Entrepreneurship and Public Investments (JAPTI), 235  proposals were presented, mainly put together by SMEs, micro-businesses  and individuals or groups of inventors. &amp;nbsp;The forum also provided a  chance for innovation to be presented in the aerospace, electronics,  electromedical, renewable energy, machine tools, farming machinery,  construction materials, electric vehicle, corporate management model,  nautical, telecommunications, cleaning systems, lighting systems and  service industries. (ANSAmed). ]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=713]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[30/11/2011 - Balkan economies in 2012 Doing Business report ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Macedonia,  Montenegro, Slovenia, Croatia, Albania, Serbia and Bosnia - Herzegovina  was the order of the ranking in the 2012 Doing Business Report  published by the World Bank in collaboration with the International  Finance Corporation (IFC), which assesses the economies of 183 countries  and ranks them in 10 fields regarding regulations and their  application, from starting businesses to resolving insolvencies and  cross-border trade. &amp;nbsp;Macedonia was ranked 22nd, Montenegro placed 56th,  Slovenia 37th, Croatia 80th, Albania 82nd, Serbia 92nd and  Bosnia-Herzegovina 125th. (ANSAmed).]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=714]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[05/12/2011 - COOPERATION: International Forum on sustainable fisheries in the Mediterranean]]></title><description><![CDATA[Delegates  from Mediterranean fishing industry associations and institutional  representatives from European Parliament, the European Commission and  the Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forest Policies were able to  analyse the reform proposal of the new Common Fisheries Policy (CFP)  during the international forum on sustainable fisheries, held at the  Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Bari, part of CIHEAM (International  Centre for Advanced Studies on Mediterranean Agriculture). The meeting revealed that the goal is to encourage sustainable and  integrated development of the coastal areas by promoting policies in  Mediterranean institutions to support and protect the fishing industry,  as desired by the EU reform of the new CFP. &amp;nbsp;During the meeting, reports  were presented on the fishing industry in the Mediterranean, the  analysis of the state of the associations in the sector and the job  market, the impact of the measures of the new CFP on the Mediterranean  and models for responsible participation in the management of fisheries.  &amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;Speeches were also made by the delegates of the Mediterranean  countries: Albania, Algeria, Croatia, Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco,  Montenegro, Tunisia, Turkey and Italy. &amp;nbsp;The forum was also an  opportunity to discuss activities linked to Pescamed, including its  training activities to support the institutions of the Mediterranean  area countries directed towards representatives from Italy, Croatia,  Montenegro, Albania, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia,  Algeria and Morocco. &amp;nbsp;The project, which allowed for a study to be  conducted on the state of associations in the sector and labour in the  fishing industry in the Mediterranean, was financed by the Italian  Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forest Policies and implemented by  the Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Bari. (ANSAmed)]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=715]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[07/12/2011 -  ALBANIA: COUNTRY DREAMS OF EU MEMBERSHIP, PRESIDENT TOPI]]></title><description><![CDATA[  ''All Albanians dream,'' according to Albanian president Bamir Topi,  ''of becoming part of the EU.'' During a visit to Italy, Topi also spoke  on the relations between the two countries and said that the latter are  ''excellent'', and that ''dialogue is going very well both at the  political and economic relations level.'' Meanwhile, EU foreign policy  chief Catherine Ashton has noted improvement in the European outlook for  Albania. The step forward was made possible by the election commission  works beginning in Tirana. ''A revision of the electoral law, in line  with OSCE recommendations,'' said Ashton, ''is one of the key priorities  necessary to Albania to move towards its national goal of EU  integration.'' However, teh goal now is to ''continue the work in a  constructive manner to find consensus on the electoral law, in time for  the next elections.'' (ANSAmed). ]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=716]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[07/12/2011 - CROATIA: EU ASSISTANCE TO COMPLETE MEMBERSHIP PREPARATIONS ]]></title><description><![CDATA[''Europe  will continue to assist Croatia in this final phase of preparation''  for the country's becoming the 28th EU member state, scheduled for July 1  2013. The next step in the membership process is the signing of the  membership treaty (set to take place on December 7), to be followed by  the ratification by EU member states' ratification and the official  entrance. Meanwhile, in speaking before the European Parliament - which  gave the final go-ahead to Croatia's entrance into the EU -Enlargement  Commissioner Stefan Fule said that ''Croatia must show that it knows how  to abide by the commitments made as part of the talks. Preparations  will continue until it becomes a member state and completing them will  be one of the key priorities for the new Croatian government.'' EU  deputies, who applauded Croatian Parliament Speaker Luka Bebic at  length, then urged (in a resolution) Zagreb to face up to important  challenges such as the fight against organised crime, increased efforts  against war crimes and structural economic reforms. (ANSAmed). ]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=717]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[07/12/2011 - ALBANIA: EBRD GRANTS 125 MLN EUROS FOR INFRASTRUCTURE ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Credit  at a concessional rate worth 125 million euros has been granted by the  European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) to Albania,  making it possible for the latter to finance important infrastructure  projects. In particular, the agreement signed in compliance with the  national strategy for integration concerns the building of the Valona  and Fier(city in southern Albania) by-pass, works for which will take  place between 2013 and 2015. Also in the transport sector, Albania is  working with the International Finance Corporation, a World Bank Group  member, to grant on a concessionary basis the maintenance of the  country's roads built over the past few years (beginning with the  Durres-Kukes highway, for which the IFC submitted feasibility studies in  the government in October). (ANSAmed).]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=718]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[13/12/2011 - Croatia: 'active observer' status after signing accession treaty]]></title><description><![CDATA[&amp;nbsp;''This is a historic occasion for Croatia and the EU as a whole,'' said Croatian Premier Jadranka  Kosor during the signing of Croatia's accession treaty by EU State and  government leaders. The agreement allows the Balkan country to join the  EU on July 1 2013, making it the 28th member State. Six years after the  start of the accession talks, Croatia sees the conclusion of its  accession to the European Union, through further progress will be  necessary before it can become a full member; the European Commission  will monitor this process until the Croatia joins the EU. ''This is the  start of a new cycle, of a new project that we must complete,''  explained the President of Croatia, Ivo Josipovic, while signing the  treaty. Croatia, which will become the second republic of the former  Yugoslavia to join the EU after Slovenia, will hold a referendum on EU  accession in February. According to Josipovic, most citizens will  support the process and polls show that between 57 and 65% will vote in  favour of Croatia becoming a member of the European Union. Meanwhile, Croatia has obtained the ''active observer'' status and  its Prime Minister has participated for the first time in a European  Council session. (ANSAmed)]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=719]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[13/12/2011 - Cooperation: 'Large Projects' meeting in Abruzzo]]></title><description><![CDATA[The  sixth international 'Large Projects in the Mediterranean' meeting that  will be held in Abruzzo from December 13 to 15 is meant to be a moment  of dialogue and discussion between institutions, business and the  financial sector on opportunities in the Mediterranean eurozone.  Representatives of the governments of Montenegro, Serbia, Croatia,  Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Libya, Morocco, Turkey, Angola and  Moldavia are expected to attend the meeting in the exhibition centre of  the Chamber of Commerce in Chieti. Abruzzo, as was explained during the  presentation of the meeting, is leader of many projects that involve the  Balkan and Mediterranean area: it coordinates the IPA Balkan Area  Projects and two other important Mediterranean projects (Rempo Retail  and Otremed). (ANSAmed)]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=720]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[14/12/2011 - SERBIA: EU MONITORING PUTS CANDIDATE STATUS BACK TO MARCH]]></title><description><![CDATA[A  new stage of monitoring stands between Serbia and the status of  candidate country for EU accession. &amp;nbsp;The supervision will take place  over the next few months and will be the main factor in deciding on the  outcome of Serbia's European application, a decision to be taken in  March 2012. &amp;nbsp;Europe has appreciated the considerable steps forward taken  by Serbia to satisfy the criteria of the association and stabilisation  agreement, and to fully meet demands to cooperate with the International  Criminal Tribunal in The Hague, but if it is to grant Serbia the status  of candidate country by March 2012, the Foreign Council will need to  confirm that &amp;quot;Serbia is continuing to show credible commitment and  making further progress towards the application of the agreement&amp;quot;. &amp;nbsp;The  decision's postponement was down to ongoing uncertainty over Kosovo and  the need, as repeated on several occasions by the EU, to normalise  relations with Pristina over the unresolved issue of Kosovo's  participation in regional forums and meetings. &amp;nbsp;(ANSAmed).]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=721]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[14/12/2011 -  MONTENEGRO:EU NEGOTIATIONS SET TO OPEN IN JUNE 2012]]></title><description><![CDATA[The  European Council's decision on the opening of negotiations with  Montenegro in June 2012 will be based on the report to be presented by  the European Commission. &amp;nbsp;If talks are to begin, Europe says that  Podgorica must demonstrate &amp;quot;progress in the fight against corruption and  organised crime&amp;quot;. &amp;nbsp;The country's President, Filip Vujanovic, expressed  his desire to continue cooperating with the EU and explained that &amp;quot;the  decision by Brussels, which is satisfying and encouraging, confirms the  validity and the strategic nature of Montenegro's European journey&amp;quot;.  &amp;nbsp;The country obtained the status of EU candidate country a year ago. ]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=722]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[19/12/2011 -  Croatia: 'active observer' status after signing accession treaty]]></title><description><![CDATA[''This is a historic occasion for Croatia and the EU as a whole,'' said Croatian Premier  Jadranka Kosor during the signing of Croatia's accession treaty by EU  State and government leaders. The agreement allows the Balkan country to  join the EU on July 1 2013, making it the 28th member State. Six years  after the start of the accession talks, Croatia sees the conclusion of  its accession to the European Union, through further progress will be  necessary before it can become a full member; the European Commission  will monitor this process until the Croatia joins the EU. ''This is the  start of a new cycle, of a new project that we must complete,''  explained the President of Croatia, Ivo Josipovic, while signing the  treaty. Croatia, which will become the second republic of the former  Yugoslavia to join the EU after Slovenia, will hold a referendum on EU  accession in February. According to Josipovic, most citizens will  support the process and polls show that between 57 and 65% will vote in  favour of Croatia becoming a member of the European Union.  &amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;Meanwhile, Croatia has obtained the ''active observer'' status and  its Prime Minister has participated for the first time in a European  Council session. (ANSAmed)]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=724]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[19/12/2011 - Cooperation: 'Large Projects' meeting in Abruzzo]]></title><description><![CDATA[The  sixth international 'Large Projects in the Mediterranean' meeting that  will be held in Abruzzo from December 13 to 15 is meant to be a moment  of dialogue and discussion between institutions, business and the  financial sector on opportunities in the Mediterranean eurozone.  Representatives of the governments of Montenegro, Serbia, Croatia,  Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Libya, Morocco, Turkey, Angola and  Moldavia are expected to attend the meeting in the exhibition centre of  the Chamber of Commerce in Chieti. Abruzzo, as was explained during the  presentation of the meeting, is leader of many projects that involve the  Balkan and Mediterranean area: it coordinates the IPA Balkan Area  Projects and two other important Mediterranean projects (Rempo Retail  and Otremed). (ANSAmed)]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=725]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[21/12/2011 -  EU: VISA LIBERALISATION PROTECTION CLAUSE UNDER EXAMINATION]]></title><description><![CDATA[The  European Parliament will examine the proposal made by the European  Commission to all member States, introducing a 'protection clause' in  the context of the current visa liberalisation regime for the Schengen  area.  Currently this regime means that citizens from third countries (like  Albania, Bosnia, Serbia and Montenegro) can travel freely inside the  Schengen area (all EU member States except the UK and Ireland, plus  Switzerland, Norway and Iceland) for a period up to three months. The  European Council has now proposed clause that can be implemented if a  sudden and substantial increase in the number of unfounded asylum  requests is recorded by a certain member State, or asylum requests that  do not meet the conditions for international protection. The current  rules do not allow a suspension of the measure, they only include the  choice to implement a regime with or without visas. The goal of the new  proposal is to give countries the option to temporarily return to a visa  regime for citizens of third countries that are now allowed to travel  freely within the Schengen area. (ANSAmed).]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=726]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[21/12/2011 - 'REGIONAL SCHENGEN AREA' BY ALBANIA,MONTENEGRO AND MACEDONIA]]></title><description><![CDATA[Montenegro  and Macedonia have reached an agreement with Albania, allowing citizens  to travel between these countries using only their identity card. The  idea was suggested by Albania after the country's positive experience  with Kosovo. Two agreement for the formation of this 'regional Schengen  area' have been signed by Albanian Foreign Minister Edmond Haxhinasto,  Montenegrin FM Milan Roen and the Foreign Minister of Macedonia, Nikola  Poposki. Albania is expected to close an agreement with Bosnia as well.  (ANSAmed).]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=727]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[23/12/2011 - EDUCATION TASKS CHARTER AT ADRIATIC-IONIAN FORUM APPROVED]]></title><description><![CDATA[The  commitment of towns to collaborate towards economic and social  development has led to the approval of the charter for educational tasks  by cities belonging to the Adriatic and Ionian forum. The charter was  approved in Ancona as part of the first Forum for Youth and Schools from  both sides of the Mediterranean. The Forum is focusing on inclusion,  continuing training, the struggle against racism and xenophobia and  cultural and religious pluralism. The document examines the problems  faced by young people and policies to tackle the phenomenon of youth  poverty, offering meeting and training opportunities, recognizing the  value and richness of the different cultural and religious options for  schools and societies that promote the values of cross-cultural and  inter-religious dialogue. The schemes included in the forum include a  strengthening of cooperation and international partnerships, exchanges  and twinning projects between schools, pupils and teachers on both  shores of the Mediterranean, partly through the Adritwinning portal, as  well as training courses. ]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=728]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[02/01/2012 - EU: FUNDS FOR NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICIES DOUBLE]]></title><description><![CDATA[The  EU budget for Neighbourhood Policies cooperation programmes and projects  will rise. For the 2014-2020 period the European Commission has  estimated expenditure of 18.2 billion euros, with an increase in  resources of about 50% on the 2007-2013 period. ''Through new  Neighbourhood Policies and Pre-Accession instruments,'' noted  Enlargement Commission Stefan Fule, ''support for the countries near the  EU will be more rapid and flexible, with greater differentiation and  incentives for better performance.'' New Neighbourhood Policies will be  based on the principle of granting more funds in exchange for more  progress, especially in the field of democratic reforms and respect for  human rights, as well as sustainable economic development and  integration into the single European market. (ANSAmed).]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=729]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[02/01/2012 - EU: FRESH FUNDS TO SUPPORT REFORM IN PRE-MEMBERSHIP PHASE]]></title><description><![CDATA[The  EU is setting aside almost a billion euros from the 2011 budget for the  Pre-Accession Instrument (IPA) to support reform in countries wanting to  become EU member states. The European Commission - noted EU Enlargement  Commissioner Stefan Fule - drew up the aid programme package in such a  way as to achieve concrete results as part of better public  administration, a more efficient judicial system, a stable economy and a  safer environment. The programmes include 82 million for Albania, 91  million for Bosnia Herzegovina, 39 million for Croatia, 28.9 million for  the Former Yugoslav republic of Macedonia, 12 million for Iceland, 62.9  million for Kosovo, 26.5 million for Montenegro, 178.5 million for  Serbia and 233 million for Turkey. Moreover, 210 million will be  allocated to other programmes for various beneficiaries. (ANSAmed).]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=730]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[03/01/2012 - EIB GRANTS 3 MLN EUROS FOR INFRASTRUCTURE]]></title><description><![CDATA[Serbia  and the European Investment Bank (EIB) have signed an agreement to  allocate 3 million euros for an important motorway project within the  Western Balkans transport network. The funding will be used to build a  section of the motorway in the corridor connecting Salzburg in Austria  to Thessaloniki in Greece, passing through Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia and  Macedonia. Serbia will receive technical support for the sections along  the borders with Bulgaria and Macedonia, as well as for the Belgrade  ring road. (ANSAmed).]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=731]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[03/01/2012 - EU: FUNDS FOR NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICIES DOUBLE]]></title><description><![CDATA[The  EU budget for Neighbourhood Policies cooperation programmes and projects  will rise. For the 2014-2020 period the European Commission has  estimated expenditure of 18.2 billion euros, with an increase in  resources of about 50% on the 2007-2013 period. ''Through new  Neighbourhood Policies and Pre-Accession instruments,'' noted  Enlargement Commission Stefan Fule, ''support for the countries near the  EU will be more rapid and flexible, with greater differentiation and  incentives for better performance.'' New Neighbourhood Policies will be  based on the principle of granting more funds in exchange for more  progress, especially in the field of democratic reforms and respect for  human rights, as well as sustainable economic development and  integration into the single European market. (ANSAmed).]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=732]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[09/01/2012 - BOSNIA: 5 MLN EUROS FOR SMES FROM EBRD ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Bosnian small  and medium-sized banks will have access to a 5 million-euro loan that  the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development will be making  available to the micro-credit organisation Prizma. The EBRD loan is part  of the financial programme for the Western Balkans. (ANSAmed).]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=734]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[09/01/2012 -  ALBANIA: CITIES GROW, POPULATION IN DECLINE]]></title><description><![CDATA[For the first  time in Albanian history the urban population has exceeded its rural  counterpart at 53.7%, compared with 46.3%. The preliminary census data  released by the Albanian Statistics Institute (INSTAT) shows that over  the past decade many Albanians have gone abroad, with inhabitants in  decline by over 230,000 to 2,831,741. &amp;nbsp;The decline is about 7.7%, and is  attributed by INSTAT to a rise in immigration and a drop in the birth  rate. The census data also shows that there are almost exactly the same  number of men (1,421,810) as women (1,409,931). (ANSAmed). ]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=735]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[10/01/2012 - EU: REGIONS COMMIT TO ADRIATIC-BALTIC CORRIDOR]]></title><description><![CDATA[A  meeting will be held this spring in Trieste between representatives from  all regions crossed by the Adriatic-Baltic corridor, from Helsinki to  Ravenna. The appointment was decided on in Klagenfurt as part of the  renewal of the cooperation agreement between the Friuli Venezia  Giulia,Veneto and Carinzia regions. The agreement between the three  regions is renewed every five years and is a preparatory measure for the  definitive creation of the Euroregion, which is expected to include  also Slovenia and two Croatian regions. Meanwhile, through the renewal  of the agreement collaboration has been relaunched in the economic,  tourism, healthcare and culture sectors. (ANSAmed).]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=736]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[10/01/2012 -  SLOVENIA: FRESH INCENTIVES FOR FOREIGN INVESTMENT]]></title><description><![CDATA[The  Slovenian public agency for entrepreneurship and foreign investment  (JAPTI) will be publishing by the end of the first quarter a call for  proposals for incentives to foster Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in  2012. The funding provided will be about 10 million euros. JAPTI has  meanwhile concluded its selection of projects to benefit from the  2010-2011 incentives. In 2011 there were 18 projects (out of 34  submitted) accepted (worth over 52 million euros) which will produce,  over the next few years, 686 jobs. Foreign investors are from Austria,  Belgium, Bosnia, Croatia, France, Germany, Italy, Serbia, Slovakia and  Switzerland. (ANSAmed).]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=737]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[12/01/2012 - ALBANIA: 21 MLN IN FUNDING FOR INFRASTRUCTURE ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Albania will be  able to count on 21 million dollars in financing from the World Bank as  part of the Programme for Dam Safety in South-Eastern Europe. The  funding comes in addition to the 35 million dollars agreed upon at the  beginning of 2011, and the World Bank's investment in the Albanian  energy sector thereby have reached the sum of almost 185 million  dollars. Albania is trying to attract investment in the sector also  through instruments of territorial planning - such as in a new map of  mineral resources by the Albanian geological service, which replaces the  one made in 1979. This is also the case of the new Electronic  Geospatial System, for which legislative procedures have commenced, and  which will be of assistance in drawing up agricultural, environmental  and territorial planning policies. (ANSAmed). ]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=738]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[12/01/2012 - BOSNIA: SOCIAL AND YOUTH INCLUSION PROJECT ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Three thousand  children and almost 700 young artists and students as well as dozens of  youth associations have been involved over the past three years in the  Development of Youth and Minors Conditions in Bosnia Herzegovina  programme. The project, which got underway in 2008 for five  municipalities (Sekovici, Lopare, Srebrenica, Celic and Sapna), will  soon be drawing to a close with positive results, according to the  CISP-Sviluppo dei Popoli, NGO in charge of the initiative. The  initiative contributed to policies fostering social inclusion of youth  and sustainable socio-economic development of the country, widening  opportunities for social inclusion to Bosnian children and young people,  and their active and pro-active participation in development processes  for their country. (ANSAmed). ]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=739]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[16/01/2012 - Cooperation: Italy-Serbia, youth training project]]></title><description><![CDATA[After Germany  and Austria agreed to organize training projects for &amp;nbsp;young Serbs, it is  now Italy's turn to implement similar projects. The initiative provides  experts and technical workers the opportunity to spend a training  period in some Italian firms and was promoted by the  Zoran Djindjic Foundation, the Italian-Serbian Business Council, the  Italian embassy in Belgrade and the Serbian Embassy in Rome. Moreover, a  forum of entrepreneurs will take place in Serbia next spring, with the  aim of fostering dialogue between local and Italian businessmen.  According to Serbia's President of the Republic Boris Tadic, this is &amp;quot;an  extremely important opportunity for the continuation of  cooperation.&amp;quot;(ANSAmed)]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=740]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[25/01/2012 - PROJECT ARCHEO.S : TEATRO STABILE DELLE MARCHE: the selection of the artists for "FOLK-S" is about to start]]></title><description><![CDATA[They started in 154 by participating for the announcement called by the Teatro Stabile delle Marche (partner of the Archeo.S. Project), in order to select the participants at the casting for the new production &quot;FOLK-S&quot; realized by Alessandro Sciarroni. After the first selection, made through the evaluation of curricula and motivational video, only 45 candidates could work, from 12 to 14 January, with the director in the Hall Talia of the Teatro delle Muse in Ancona. 
At the end of the three-days workshop, only 10 artists will remain and will continue to work with Sciarroni, and among them he will chose 5 that will take part to the performance. 
The performance produced by Sciarroni is going to investigate the popular phenomena of ancient and contemporary folk dance as the social rituals of a community.
Within the project Archeo.S., &quot;FOLK-S&quot; is produced by the Teatro Stabile delle Marche, in collaboration with Corpoceleste_C.C.00#, Centrale Fies, Centro per la Scena Contemporanea/ Centre for the Contemporary Scene (Municipality of Bassano del Grappa). 
The aim of the project Archeo.S., financed by the IPA Adriatic CBC Programme, is to enhance the selected cultural sites (in Italy, Greece, Albania and Croatia) that, for their historic and artistic value, can become places of attraction for tourism in the Adriatic basin. 
Except from the Teatro Stabile delle Marche, five are the partners of the project: Teatro Pubblico Pugliese (Lead Beneficiary), the Municipality of Fier (Albania), the Municipality of Pazin (Croatia), the Municipality of Igoumenitsa (Greece) and Abruzzo Region - Department of Cultural Policies - Cultural Policies Service (Italy).]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=742]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[24/02/2012 - PROJECT FUTURE MEDICINE]]></title><description><![CDATA[The UE community project &#8220;Future Medicine&#8221;, approved under the IPA Adriatic Cross Border Cooperation Programme and whose Lead partner is Region Abruzzo, organizes a Project&#8217;s dissemination seminar on 29/2 - 1/3 at the offices of the International Activities&#8217; Unit located in Via Salaria Antica Est in L&#8217;Aquila. 
The issues on the treatment of couples&#8217; infertility will be tackled with the assistance of Italian project partners such as the ASL of L'Aquila &#8211; Single Operational Unit of the Department of Human Reproductive Pathophysiology and FIVET &#8211; Civic Hospital &#8220;S. Salvatore&#8221;, the University Hospital of Bari - Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology - Unit of Physiopathology of Human Reproduction and Gametes Cryopreservation, the City of San Valentino in Abruzzo Citeriore and Emanuele and Anna De Gennaro Foundation as well as foreign partners such as the University Hospital Rijeka - Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology - Unit for Human Reproduction of Croatia, the Institute for Gynaecology and Obstetrics -Clinical Center of Serbia, the University Clinical Centre in Sarajevo - Obstetrics and Gynaecology Hospital for Bosnia - Herzegovina, the Cooperation and Development Institute for Albania and the University Medical Centre of Maribor for Slovenia. The meeting will be the occasion for the partners to compare the national legislations on the project&#8217;s topic, of which a brief descriptive summary is attached.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=744]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[21/03/2012 - THE ACTIVITIES OF THE SEA-R PROJECT]]></title><description><![CDATA[The activities of the SEA-R project are going on and big steps forward are being done in the field of Energy efficiency and use of renewable energies in the Adriatic area.&amp;nbsp;The project partners met in Banja Luka on the 14th and 15th March 2012 for the second project meeting, in order to share ideas, verify the progress made in the activities imp0lementation and plan the next steps. The involved partners (Municipality of Pesaro &amp;ndash; Lead Beneficiary, Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Tirana, Koper Development Centre, Centuria &amp;ndash; Agenzia per l&amp;rsquo;Innovazione della Romagna, Province of Ferrara, IRENA and LIR &amp;ndash; the hosting partner) are currently involved in actions related to 3 different Components: the SUN Energy, the SEA Energy and the KNOWLEDGE Energy.&amp;nbsp;Within the framework of the SUN Energy Component, the Municipality of Pesaro presented and shared with the other partners the project database, where the partners will enter data about the energy situation of selected buildings (after having carried out specific energy audits on those buildings), where pilot actions for the improvement of energy efficiency and the use of solar energy will be implemented.&amp;nbsp;Within the framework of the SEA Energy, the Province of Ferrara and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Tirana are working on the elaboration of analysis and methodologies to verify the possible use of seaweeds for the production of biogas.&amp;nbsp;Within the frame work of the KNOWLEDGE Energy, the partners have analysed and selected 30 best practice at European level about the establishment and running of Energy Info Points. During the meeting, the Municipality of Pesaro also had the chance to present how the Pesaro Energy Info Point works and how it was established: all the partners will now work on how to improve and develop their Energy Info Points or how to create a new one.&amp;nbsp;Giancarlo Parasecoli, Councillor for the Environment, Energy and Health of the Pesaro Municipality gave this comment about the meeting: &amp;ldquo;It has been an excellent opportunity to concretely verify how it&amp;rsquo;s possible to build up and develop sustainable policies for the local development thanks to the financial support of the European funds. The sharing and exchanges with the partners involved in the project about energy solutions is perfectly in line with the path that the Municipality of Pesaro is going through, started with the signature of the Covenant of Mayors&amp;rdquo;.&amp;nbsp;]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=748]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[21/03/2012 - 500 APPLICATIONS FOR THE 'TWELTH NIGHT']]></title><description><![CDATA[500 applications received for the casting of actors for the new production of the teatro stabile delle marche, &amp;ldquo;the twelth night&amp;rdquo; by William Shakespeare, directed by Valentina Rosati. The play is being produced within the frame work of the Archeo.S. Project.The call for applications to select interpreters for the new production has just been closed and more than 500 applications have been received.&amp;nbsp;  ]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=751]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[04/04/2012 - SECOND CALL PROJECTS PROPOSALS ADMITTED TO THE QUALITY ASSESSMENT]]></title><description><![CDATA[On 29 and 30 March 2012, the JMC approved, for the 3 Priorities, the lists of projects admitted to the Quality Assessment. The Managing Authority acknowledges the approval with decision n. DA2/33 of 04.04.2012. Some projects are instead admitted under condition and in the next days Lead Applicants will receive a request for clarification from the JTS. Lead Applicants of projects not admitted to the Quality Assessment will instead receive a communication from the Managing Authority with the reason/s for exclusion.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=753]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[16/04/2012 - SIMPLE SEMINAR AND WORKSHOP]]></title><description><![CDATA[Within the project SIMPLE, the department for Equal Opportunity of the Region of Abruzzo and the social enterprise Progetti Sociali have organized a transnational training seminar and open workshop that will focus on minority women and other vulnerable groups (as lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people), who often face a multiple discrimination that expose them to the complex interplay of racial and gender inequalities. Indeed, they suffer gender-based discrimination (perpetrated both within and outside their communities) and racially motivated discrimination connected to their ethnic minority background.The aim of the two working days is to look at the best practice against racial and gender inequalities and present a governance model applicable in the Adriatic area. SIMPLE&amp;rsquo;s partners will look at these issues together with representatives from minority and migrant associations, mediators, social assistants, educators and professionals from the Region of Abruzzo and from the other countries partners of the project.For more information about the project SIMPLE, please follow this link&amp;nbsp;www.progettisociali.it&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;or visit the project's website&amp;nbsp;www.simpleproject.eu&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=755]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[27/04/2012 - NEW TEMPLATE VERSION OF THE LIST OF EXPENDITURES ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Beneficiaries we would like to inform you that you can find a new version (V.2.) of the template (list of expenditures) to be used for progress reports. This new version solves all the previous problems encountered.&amp;nbsp;In order to use the file you need the 2003 excell version or following one&amp;nbsp;.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=758]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[10/05/2012 - GUIDE FOR THE NEW PROJECT CHANGE PROCEDURE]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Beneficiaries we would like to inform you that you can find the guide for the new project change procedure.The &amp;nbsp;excel &amp;nbsp;&amp;lsquo;Project change form&amp;rsquo; is customized for each approved project and for each request of project changes. It is available upon request and, consequently, when needed, LBs shall ask it to the JTS to the following email info@adriaticipacbc.org&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=759]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[28/05/2012 - II CALLS ORDINARY PROJECTS - FINAL RANKING LISTS OF PROJECTS ADMITTED TO THE QUALITY ASSESSMENT]]></title><description><![CDATA[After the verifications made on the 19 projects that were eligible under condition, 16 project proposals finally resulted to be eligible. The lists of admissible projects, were approved with the Managing Authority decision &amp;quot;Determinazione Dirigenziale&amp;quot; n&amp;deg; 54/DA2 of 25 May 2012. You can find here enclosed the complete lists.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=764]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[19/06/2012 - II CALLS ORDINARY PROJECTS - UPTATED RANKING LISTS OF PROJECTS ADMITTED TO THE QUALITY ASSESSMENT]]></title><description><![CDATA[After the requests of readmissions submitted to the Managing Authority, the following 8 additional projects have been admitted to the Quality Assessment. The so updated lists of admissible projects for Priority 1 and Priority 2, approved with the Managing Authority decision &amp;quot;Determinazione Dirigenziale&amp;quot; n&amp;deg; 67/DA2 of 15 June 2012 can be downloaded from here.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=766]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[31/07/2012 - PROGRAMME MANAGEMENT AND CONTROL MANUAL (new version)]]></title><description><![CDATA[We would like to inform that during the JMC of last 26th July due to some amendments (3.4 Project changes; 3.4.1 Changes, 3.4.2 Substantial changes of the approved Application Form, 4.2 Public procurement, 4.2.2 Derogation to rule of origin and nationality, 4.4 State aid and &amp;quot;de minimis&amp;quot; regime, 4.7.3 Treatment ofrevenues, 5.1. General elegibility principles, 5.1.1 Overview of eligible and not eligible costs, 5.3.1 Staff costs, 5.3.4. external expertise, 5.3.7 Equipment, 6.1.1.1 Requirements for the costs to be reported, 6.1.2.2. Financial Report) e the new version of the PMCM was approved&amp;nbsp;]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=772]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[31/07/2012 - II CALLS ORDINARY PROJECTS - PROVISIONAL RANKING LISTS ]]></title><description><![CDATA[On the 31st July 2012 the Managing Authority approved the provisional ranking lists of projects admitted to the Quality Assessment listed according to the final score achieved under Priority 1, under Priority 2 and under Priority 3, respectively with its decisions &amp;quot;Determina Dirigenziale&amp;quot; n&amp;deg; 87/DA2 (for Priority 1), n&amp;deg; 88/DA2 (for Priority 2) and n&amp;deg; 89/DA2 (for Priority 3).According to the call rules, project proposals not achieving at least 70 points or not achieving at least half the points foreseen in each section of the evaluation grid cannot be financed by the Programme.Lead Applicants of projects that could be financed according to the available budget (27.327.300 EUR for each Call) will be required to provide specific documents according to the rules of the Call (&amp;sect;13), to the administrative requirements and/or due to the law in force. In case the Lead Applicant does not provide the required documents in the duly form and in time, the project will be rejected and cancelled from the ranking list.&amp;nbsp;The three ranking lists will remain valid until 31.12.2013 and, in case additional funds will be available under the specific related Priority, additional projects will be financed according to the score achieved.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=773]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[03/08/2012 - Documents to be submitted by the projects that will be financed]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Lead Beneficiaries of projects selected for funding will be notified by the Managing Authority on the amount of Programme contribution approved and on the conditions of approval of the Project (if any). At the same time they will be requested to submit &amp;ndash; also on behalf of the partnership &amp;ndash; documents necessary for the finalization of the signature of the IPA Subsidy Contract with the Managing Authority. In the file &amp;ldquo;II Call_documents to be submitted by financed projects.pdf&amp;rdquo; Lead Beneficiaries may then found a list of documents that could be requested to them for the signature of the IPA Subsidy Contract.&amp;nbsp;]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=774]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[03/09/2012 - FIRST CALL FOR STRATEGIC PROJECT PROPOSALS]]></title><description><![CDATA[The first Call for Strategic Project Proposals is now opened for each Priority from September 3rd 2012 until 2rd &amp;nbsp;November 2012. The Calls address eight strategic topics chosen by the Joint Monitoring Committee based on the number of challenges and opportunities identified as of strategic importance to be tackled in the Adriatic area. These are: Priority 1, Theme 1-Innovation as key for economic development in the Adriatic area; Priority 2, Theme 1 - Improving marine, coastal and delta rivers environment by joint management in the Adriatic area, Theme 2 - Protection from ballast water pollution in the Adriatic area, Theme 3 - Integrated and sustainable management of drinking water resources in the Adriatic area, Theme 4 - Protection and prevention of natural risks in the Adriatic area, with particular attention to fire risk, Theme 5 - Tourism with emphasis on sustainable management and marketing of natural and cultural resources in the Adriatic area; Priority 3, Theme 1 - Improvement of integrated plans aimed at multi-modal solutions, especially links between coastal zones and hinterland in the Adriatic area, including improvement of port, airport systems and connected services, Theme 2 - Promotion of common models on sustainable transport services to improve links in the Adriatic area including improvement of port, airport systems and connected services. Budget available is &amp;euro; 90.860.776: &amp;euro; 12.500.000,00 for Priority 1, &amp;euro; 45.360.776,00 for priority 2, &amp;euro; 33.000.000,00 for Priority 3.The interested Applicants have to fill in all the necessary application documents and submit them to the Joint Technical Secretariat in L'Aquila as required in the relative Call announcement. The Calls documents are available in the section &amp;lsquo;How to apply&amp;rsquo;. For any additional question the Joint Technical Secretariat stays at your disposal.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=775]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[09/10/2012 - SEMINARS FOR PROJECTS APPROVED UNDER 2ND CALLS FOR ORDINARY PROJECT ]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Seminars for the Lead Beneficiaries and Final Beneficiaries of projects approved under the 2nd Calls for ordinary project proposals are going to be organized in October 2012 in the participating Countries of the IPA Adriatic CBC Programme.&amp;nbsp;We invite the Lead Beneficiary and Final Beneficiaries of each approved project &amp;nbsp;to attend the Seminar organized in their Countries.&amp;nbsp;The Seminars will illustrate the project management and implementation rules, the reporting procedure, the information and communication requirements and the public procurement procedure. The Agendas of the Seminars for the Lead Beneficiaries and Final Beneficiaries of projects approved under the 2nd Calls for ordinary project proposals can be consulted in the section &amp;ldquo;EVENTS&amp;rdquo;]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=787]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[10/10/2012 - CORRIGENDUM TO THE CALLS AND APPLICANTS' MANUAL]]></title><description><![CDATA[On 10.10.2012, the amendment to the Calls for Strategic Project Proposals, approved with Decision &amp;quot;DGR n. 622&amp;quot; of 2/10/2012, has been published on the Official Journal of the Abruzzo Region (BURA) n. 53. The corrections to the Calls concern:a) &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;page 7, paragraph 1, line 4, of the Section 4 of each Call, the word &amp;ldquo;activities&amp;rdquo; is replaced with the word &amp;ldquo;outputs&amp;rdquo;;b) &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;page 9, paragraph 1, bullet 1, line 2, of the Section 6.3 of the Call for Priority 1 and the Call for Priority 3, the words &amp;ldquo;Economic Regional Development&amp;rdquo; are replaced with the words &amp;ldquo;Economy, Regional Development&amp;rdquo;;c) &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;page 20, table &amp;ldquo;Assessment criteria under the 2nd step of the selection procedure&amp;rdquo;, line b.2, of the Section 14 of each Call, the words &amp;ldquo;activities fully implemented&amp;rdquo; are replaced with the words &amp;ldquo;specific objectives fully achieved&amp;rdquo;;d) &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;page 24, list of annexes, Section 19 of each Call, the Annex &amp;ldquo;The Applicants&amp;rsquo; Manual&amp;rdquo; is not numbered]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=791]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[13/11/2012 - CALLS FOR STRATEGIC PROJECT PROPOSALS - 1ST STEP CLOSED]]></title><description><![CDATA[On&amp;nbsp; 2nd November 2012 (14:00 Rome time) the submission of proposals  under the 1st Step of the Calls for Strategic Project Proposals  (Priority 1, Priority 2 and Priority 3) was closed.57 proposals were submitted, of which 14 for Priority 1, 36 for Priority 2 and 7 for Priority 3.The  Managing Authority as responsible of the procedure is now performing  the formal admissibility check with the support of the Joint Technical  Secretariat.Lead Applicants of not admissible projects will be  informed about the reasons of rejection at the end of the formal  assessment phase.The admissible Projects will be assessed  against the set of quality assessment criteria defined in the Calls  Announcement (&amp;sect; 14). Only the Projects that have been selected at the  end of the first step procedure, will be invited to submit the Final  Strategic Project Proposal under the 2nd step selection procedure.Please check our website regularly for future updates regarding the selection process.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=812]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[08/01/2013 - CALLS FOR STRATEGIC PROJECT PROPOSALS - PROJECTS ADMITTED TO THE 1ST STEP QUALITY ASSESSMENT PHASE]]></title><description><![CDATA[On 12th&amp;nbsp;December 2012 the Managing Authority has completed the formal admissibility check of the 57 proposals submitted under the 1st&amp;nbsp;Step.&amp;nbsp; 41&amp;nbsp;proposals resulted to be formally admissible (7 proposals under Priority 1, 28 under Priority 2 and 6 under Priority 3) and will be then subject to the Quality Assessment, performed on the basis of the&amp;nbsp;quality assessment criteria of &amp;sect; 14 of the Calls.&amp;nbsp; The lists of the admissible proposals can be dowloaded from here:&amp;nbsp;Priority 1Priority 2Priority 3  Lead Applicants of rejected projects will be notified by the Managing Authority about the reasons for rejection. This communication will be made to the fax-number indicated in the Declaration of Lead Applicant, according to &amp;sect; 17.3 of the Calls.Due to the inconsistence between the Call for strategic project under Priority 3 and the relative Terms of Reference (caused by a wrong indication of the number of the&amp;nbsp;strategic themes), it is necessary to clarify as follows:&amp;nbsp;under Priority 3,&amp;nbsp;Theme 1&amp;nbsp;is meant as &amp;ldquo;Promotion of common models on sustainable transport services to improve links in the Adriatic area including improvement of port, airport systems and connected services&amp;rdquo;&amp;nbsp;and&amp;nbsp;Theme 2&amp;nbsp;is meant as &amp;ldquo;Improvement of integrated plans aimed at multi-modal solutions, especially links between coastal zones and hinterland in the Adriatic area, including improvement of port, airport systems and connected services&amp;rdquo;.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=817]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[10/01/2013 - VACANCY IN THE JOINT TECHNICAL SECRETARIAT]]></title><description><![CDATA[The IPA Adriatic CBC Programme is looking for a Coordinator and a Legal expert. The public Announcement can be downloaded from the OICS (Osservatorio Interregionale sulla Cooperazione allo Sviluppo) web site (www.oics.it), which is engaged to set up the Joint Technical Secretariat. The selected candidate will be hired according to the Italian law and will work in the JTS&amp;rsquo;s premises in L'Aquila.The latest date for application: 16 January 2013]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=818]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[14/01/2013 - FOR ITALIAN PUBLIC BODIES AND BODIES GOVERNED BY PUBLIC LAW FINAL BENEFICIARIES ONLY]]></title><description><![CDATA[Si ricorda a tutti i beneficiari italiani enti pubblici o organismi di diritto pubblico che ai sensi dell&amp;rsquo;art. 35, commi 8&amp;ndash;13, del decreto legge 24 gennaio 2012, n. 1 sono tenuti all&amp;rsquo;utilizzo della tesoreria unica presso la Banca d&amp;rsquo;Italia, di comunicare quanto prima all&amp;rsquo;Autorit&amp;agrave; di Gestione la variazione del conto corrente sul quale effettuare i relativi pagamenti (quota IPA per il solo Lead e cofinanziamento nazionale per tutti i beneficiari).Tale comunicazione va effettuata tramite la presentazione di un nuovo Bank Account Identification Notice, correttamente compilato in tutte le sue parti (IBAN compreso), per posta all&amp;rsquo;indirizzo dell&amp;rsquo;AdG o via fax al seguente numero: 0862 22520.Si ricorda inoltre, a quanti non abbiano gi&amp;agrave; provveduto, di comunicare all&amp;rsquo;AdG il codice CUP assegnato all&amp;rsquo;ente per il progetto finanziato nell&amp;rsquo;ambito del Programma IPA Adriatico.Si segnala infatti che, in mancanza o del codice CUP o dell&amp;rsquo;indicazione del conto presso la Banca d&amp;rsquo;Italia, non potranno essere effettuati i dovuti rimborsi ai beneficiari da parte delle competenti Autorit&amp;agrave;.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=819]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[31/01/2013 - VACANCIES IN THE JOINT TECHNICAL SECRETARIAT]]></title><description><![CDATA[OICS (Osservatorio Interregionale sulla Cooperazione allo Sviluppo), which is engaged to set up the Joint Technical Secretariat, is selecting a Coordinator, a Legal expert and a Senior Project Manager to join the Joint Technical Secretariat of the IPA Adriatic CBC Programme. The public Announcement and all the required documentation can be downloaded below or from the following web site http://www.oics.it and http://www.regione.abruzzo.it.The selected candidates will be hired according to the Italian law and will work at the JTS&amp;rsquo;s premises in L'Aquila.The latest date for application is 18th February 2013      Public announcement  Annex A1  Annex A2  Annex A3  Annex B  Annex C  ]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=820]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[01/02/2013 - Adriatic Clusters Conference. Strategies & services to promote excellence and competitiveness of the nautical industry and its related sectors in the Adriatic area. ]]></title><description><![CDATA[The conference will be an  opportunity for  representatives of the  clusters of the nautical industry and its supply chain, located in the Adriatic area, to  share experiences and  knowledge and to coordinate common activities and proposals.  The goal is to initiate constructive dialogue between clusters in the Adriatic area in order to identify new opportunities for cooperation and new services through an active collaboration with research centres located in the area. 	 The conference focuses on innovation and  internationalization of districts and of nautical districts in particular. The approach to these issues will be concrete with the presentation of case studies and best practices. The event will also include an opportunity for representatives from the clusters to participate in sector working groups in order to identify best practices, strengths and opportunities within the same sector and also across the sectors.  This event is part of the European project &amp;ldquo;Adriatic Economic Cluster Club&amp;rdquo; whose aim is the development and integration of  the nautical industry in the Adriatic  area. The project is co-funded  by the IPA  Adriatic Cross Border Cooperation Program. The partnership includes 15 partners from Italy, Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia Erzegovina, Albania and Greece. To reach its objectives the project operates at the level of companies and  districts. In terms of companies two Business to Business meeting have already been organized in Venice and  in Pula.  Around  300 companies from the project area participated in the events. The conference in Padua  is an attempt to better identify and meet the needs of these companies and to offer new opportunities of  cooperation, growth, and competitiveness at a district level. For more information on the project check the website www.clusterclub.eu.  Participation  is free of charge but registration is required by the 8th of  February 2013. To register at the event use the attached registration form and send it by e-mail to luana.rotari@ve.camcom.it.        ]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=821]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[13/02/2013 - Strategic project ALTERENERGY: Expression of interest notice addressed to Apulian Municipalities published]]></title><description><![CDATA[&amp;nbsp;Alterenergy project (Energy Sustainability for Adriatic small communities) invites all the Apulian municipalities with less than 10.000 inhabitants (Istat data January 1st 2010) to respond to a public call for the submission of expressions of interest (deadline: March 11th, 2013).&amp;nbsp;The public notice for the submission of expressions of interest can be downloaded below as well as the press releases of the launching event took place in Bari.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=822]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[15/02/2013 - IMPLEMENTATION DOCS UPDATED]]></title><description><![CDATA[A new &amp;quot;Project change pack&amp;quot; has been published in the &amp;quot;Implementation docs&amp;quot; section, thus, for further requests of project modifications they are recommended to refer to this new pack, which also includes updated instructions to submit any request for project changes.Additionally, in the same section, under &amp;quot;Procurement rules&amp;quot;, a guide on how to deal with the rule of origin of goods has been published, with a new form of request of derogation to the Managing Authority, if needed. Final Beneficiaries are then advised to read carefully this guide before launching any procurement for supplies.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=823]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[25/02/2013 - ALTERENERGY, Project  Management Board and Steering Committee Meeting in Bari]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Third Project Management Board and Steering Committee Meeting &amp;ndash; Strategic Project ALTERENERGY (Energy sustainability for Adriatic small communities) was held in Bari, on 18 and 19 February 2013, promoted by Puglia Region - Mediterranean Department in cooperation with ARTI Puglia Regional Agency. Purpose of the meeting: jointly agree on the administrative and financial aspects, the already undertaken work and plan future activities.(more)]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=825]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[01/03/2013 - SIMPLE seminars & workshop: LANGUAGE DIVERSITY AND FAIR CITIZENS' SERVICES -      Rovinj-Rovigno, 4-5 March 2013]]></title><description><![CDATA[Within the project SIMPLE, the lead partner Istria Region has organized two transnational training seminars and an open workshop that will be held in Rovinj-Rovigno in the 4-5 March 2013. (more)]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=829]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[04/03/2013 - PUBLIC PROCUREMENT UNDER IPA ADRIATIC CBC PROGRAMME AND PRAG 2013]]></title><description><![CDATA[Public procurement provisions in the IPA Adriatic CBC Programme are defined in Article 121 of the IPA Implementing Regulation (EC) No. 718/2007 (&amp;ldquo;IPA IR&amp;rdquo;), establishing&amp;nbsp; that one single set of procurement rules should be applicable and that these rules are expected to be those applicable to external actions, as set out in the Financial Regulation (EC, Euratom) No. 1605/2002 and its Implementing Rules (EC, Euratom) No. 2342/2002, as well as the decision C(2007) 2034 &amp;ldquo;Rules and procedures for service, supply and works contracts financed from the general budget of the European communities for the purposes of cooperation with third Countries&amp;rdquo;. Therefore, procurement procedures to be used by grant beneficiaries in providing services, supplies or works to implement the project, for which they received the grant by the Programme, are established under the above mentioned rules. Final Beneficiaries must verify whether national procurement rules have to be respected as well (as for Italian Final Beneficiaries). As explained in &amp;sect; 4.2 of the PMCM, Final Beneficiaries are even suggested to consult Practical Guide to Contract procedures for EU external actions (the so called &amp;ldquo;PRAG&amp;rdquo;), available on the following website: http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/work/procedures/implementation/practical_guide/index_en.htm) to implement in practice the Community procurement rules for external actions. In any case it is necessary to remind that &amp;ldquo;PRAG&amp;rdquo; contents are not binding, just indicative. &amp;nbsp;Therefore, the new version of &amp;quot;PRAG&amp;quot; (http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/prag/document.do) entered into force on 1st January 2013, with some substantial differences compared to the previous version (i.e. as concerns thresholds for the application of the selection procedure as for single tender &amp;ndash; 20,000 instead of 10,000 - or for international tenders) cannot be applied for public procurement launched under the IPA Adriatic CBC Programme since the only legal base for public procurement in the Programme is Art. 121 of IPA IR and Decision C(2007)2034. Unfortunately, Art 121 does explicitly mention Decision C(2007)2034 without any reference to possible or future amendments of it and consequently we must stick to it, waiting for an up-dated modification of that Decision. Consequently, Final Beneficiaries are recommended, for the time being, to maintain thresholds ruled by EC Decision 2034/2007 and not the ones indicated in PRAG 2013, not being in line with the above mentioned regulation and decision.&amp;nbsp; ]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=830]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[18/03/2013 - First Youth Adrinet Cross-Border Event]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Province of Campobasso, in collaboration with the Molise Job agency and the Youth Forum of the Province of Campobasso, promotes an important international event named &amp;ldquo;First Youth Adrinet Cross-Border Event&amp;quot;. The event is part of an European project granted by the European Commission - IPA Adriatic program, named &amp;ldquo;Youth Adrinet&amp;rdquo; that includes the Province of Campobasso as partner.The event is&amp;nbsp; a three day event. (more)]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=833]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[11/04/2013 - Local Workshop "Integrated Management of the Coast: Strategies and Proposals" - Pescara, 18th of April 2013 at 9.00 am]]></title><description><![CDATA[It will be held in Pescara at Aurum - Sala Tosti the Local Workshop &amp;ldquo;Integrated Management of the Coast: Strategies and Proposals&amp;rdquo;. This event, organized within the Project SHAPE&amp;rdquo; ( Shaping an Holistic Approach to Protect the Adriatic Environment: between coast and sea), IPA Adriatic CBC Programme, is aimed at disseminating locally the activities of the SHAPE Project and at involving the local stakeholders on the topic of the Integrated Management of the Caost.The main topics of the SHAPE Project, regarding the Adriatic Basin, regard:-&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;the coordination of the legal framework and policies for an Integrated Management of the Coastal Areas;-&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;the design and use of the Maritime Space;-&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;the realization of the activities related to the Marine Strategy, as foreseen by the European Directive for the Adriatic Basin.During the Local Workshop, the Project SHAPE themes will be analyzed together with the governance aspects related to the coastline: territorial, mobility and environmental aspects as well as issues linked to the management of the beaches.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=835]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[17/04/2013 - Joint Monitoring Committee meeting of the IPA ADRIATIC Cross-border Programme]]></title><description><![CDATA[A meeting of the Joint Monitoring Committee (JMC) of IPA ADRIATIC Cross-border Programme will take place in L&amp;rsquo;Aquila (Italy) on the 18th-19th of April 2013 at the Regione Abruzzo&amp;rsquo;s premises.The JMC, which includes representatives of both central and regional administration from participating Countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Greece, Italy, Montenegro, Serbia and Slovenia), will tackle many significant topics regarding the overall Programme running and the approval of the strategic projects to be invited to the 2nd step of the Calls for Strategic Project Proposals.This is the first meeting chaired by the new Managing Authority of the IPA ADRIATIC Cross-border Programme, Ms. Paola Di Salvatore, appointed on 13th March 2013, with formal act as of 18th March 2013. ]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=837]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[24/04/2013 - 14th JMC meeting held]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Joint Monitoring Committee (JMC) for the IPA Adriatic Cross-Border Programme was held on 18-19 April 2013 in L&amp;rsquo;Aquila (Italy). The Meeting was organized by Abruzzo Region (&amp;ldquo;Direzione Affari della Presidenza, Politiche Legislative e Comunitarie, Servizio Cooperazione Territoriale&amp;rdquo;), Managing Authority of the Programme, with the assistance of the Joint Technical Secretariat. The meeting was attended by the representatives of seven (7) of the eight (8) voting members coming from the participating Member States (Greece, Italy, Slovenia), from the acceding Country (Croatia), Candidate Country (Serbia) from Potential Candidate Countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina), as well as by one observer from the Delegation of the European Union Commission.The agenda of this 14th meeting focused on the progress of the Programme regarding the ordinary projects approved under the 1st and 2nd Calls for project proposals, the Programme&amp;rsquo;s budget reduction, the increasing of the pre-financing granted to 2nd Calls Ordinary Projects, Technical Assistance Projects and Strategic Projects. The Joint Monitoring Committee approved a list of 25 strategic projects proposals to be invited to the 2nd step of the Calls for Strategic Project Proposals. The proposals, which involve partners from at least 6 out of the 8 participating Countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Greece, Italy, Montenegro, Serbia and Slovenia), cover the 8 strategic themes (innovation, improvement of marine, coastal and delta rivers environments, ballast water, drinking water, tourism, multimodal solutions to link coastal zones and hinterland and for services).The projects will be invited to submit the full Application Form within 60 days after having received the notification from the Managing Authority. The Strategic Projects eligible to be financed will be finally approved during the next JMC meeting, scheduled at the middle of September. National delegations have also shared a common statement in favour of the financing of the preparation of new Programmes that involves IPA Adriatic Programme territories, in view of the next Programming period 2014-2020. ]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=838]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[26/04/2013 - FIRST CALL FOR STRATEGIC PROJECTS PROPOSALS ]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Joint Monitoring Committee of the Adriatic IPA CBC Programme during its last meeting held in l&amp;rsquo;Aquila (IT) on 18 and 19th April 2013 approved the ranking lists of the strategic projects proposals eligible to be invited to the 2&amp;deg; Step procedure of the Call for Strategic Project Proposals for Priority 1, Priority 2 and Priority 3.The proposals which involve partners from at least 6 out of the 8 participating Countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Greece, Italy, Montenegro, Serbia and Slovenia) cover the 8 strategic themes (innovation, improvement of marine, coastal and delta rivers environments, ballast water, drinking water, tourism, multimodal solutions to link coastal zones and hinterland and for services). Priority 1 &amp;ndash; seven (7) projects under this priority were evaluated and five (5) of them have score above 52,49 points. All five projects were invited to the Second Step of the Strategic Call, under the strategic theme &amp;ldquo;Innovation as key for economic development in the Adriatic area&amp;rdquo;.Priority 2 &amp;ndash; twenty seven (27) projects under these priority were evaluated and twenty two (22) of them have score above 52,49 points. Fifteen projects have been invited to the Second Step:-&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;2 projects under the Strategic Theme 1 &amp;ldquo;Improving marine, coastal and delta rivers environment by joint management in the Adriatic area&amp;rdquo;-&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;1 project under the Strategic Theme 2 &amp;ldquo;Protection from ballast water pollution in the Adriatic area&amp;rdquo;-&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;5 projects under the Strategic Theme 3 &amp;ldquo;Integrated and sustainable management of drinking water resources in the Adriatic area&amp;rdquo;-&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;2 projects under the Strategic Theme 4 &amp;ldquo;Protection and prevention of natural risks in the Adriatic area, with particular attention to fire risk&amp;rdquo;-&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;5 projects under the Strategic Theme 5 &amp;ldquo;Tourism with emphasis on sustainable management and marketing of natural and cultural resources in the Adriatic area&amp;rdquo;Priority 3 &amp;ndash; six (6) projects under this priority were evaluated and five (5) of them had score above 52,49 points. All five projects were invited to the Second Step of the Strategic Call: -&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;4 projects under the Strategic Theme 1 &amp;ldquo;Promotion and common models on sustainable transport services to improve links in the Adriatic area including improvement of port, airport systems and connected services&amp;rdquo;-&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;1 project under the Strategic Theme 2 &amp;ldquo;Improvement of integrated plans aimed at multi-modal solutions, especially links between coastal and hinterland in the Adriatic area, including improvement of port, airport systems and connected services&amp;rdquo;. These projects have been notified on 24th April by the Managing Authority to submit the Final Application package for the 2nd Step procedure, following what ruled in &amp;sect; 12 of the Call, within 60 days from this notification. The Final Application package is available in the section How to apply - Call for strategic project. Lead Applicants of project proposals invited to the 2nd Step have been even invited by the Managing Authority to join on next 15th May a specific seminar concerning the rules and procedures for the correct submission of the final Application package.The Strategic Projects eligible to be financed will be finally approved during the next JMC meeting, scheduled at the middle of September. ( more ) ]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=840]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[06/05/2013 - 2013 SIMPLE project seminars & workshop: Multiculturalism and Inclusive Education   -    Podgorica, 8-9 May 2013]]></title><description><![CDATA[Within the project SIMPLE, the Ministry for Human and Minority Rights of Montenegro has organized two transnational training seminars and an open workshop focused on Intercultural Education, which will take place in Podgorica on the 8th and 9th of May. The two working days will see experts from different fields considering multiculturalism through the exchange of ideas and good practices in order to reach a sustainable co-existence of concepts in complex, modern societies. ( more )]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=844]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[06/05/2013 - Adria.MOVE IT! Project: Sustainable transport improvement in the city of Piran]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Municipality of Piran has purchased 97 bicycles and 3 tricycles, it has launched a library-like bike-sharing system and it has purchased an electrical freight vehicle in order to improve accessibility to the centre of Piran as part of the pilot actions of the Adria.MOVE IT! project, financed under the First CfP of the IPA Adriatic CBC Programme. All the activities are part of the new sustainable mobility model for improvement the mobility and transport in the Municipality of Piran which is developed within the Project. The model intends to meet the needs of improved transport due to increased tourist presence in the Adriatic area especially during the summer season. The Municipality of Piran also plans on purchasing electrical vehicles for public transport in the fall 2013.  ]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=845]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[08/05/2013 - BWS Project and the Europe Day]]></title><description><![CDATA[From 9 to 12 May 2013, the Municipality of Macerata, organizes this year for the 7th edition the Event for the Celebration of the European Day, in remembrance of the European Union foundation.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; This Year&amp;rsquo;s celebrations put the spotlight to the IPA Adriatic BWS Project &amp;ldquo;Build Waste Sustainability: New Capacities for a Sustainable Waste Management&amp;rdquo; under the slogan &amp;ldquo;Lets grow up together&amp;rdquo; and promotes the values of partnership building and cooperation for development between Countries, cities and realities from both sides of Adriatic and wider.Furthermore, the Partnership Building and Cooperation are promoted also on the occasion of the celebrations of the 50th Anniversary of the twinning of Macerata with Weiden, a city in south Germany and therefore all the other twinned cities among which Floriana (Malta), Issy Les Molinous (France), Kamza (Albania), will be participating at the celebrations, by putting more emphasizes to the collaboration between the European member States and the future new members. ( more ) ]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=848]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[09/05/2013 - INFO DAY FOR SLOVENIAN APPLICANTS 2ND STEP STRATEGIC PROJECTS]]></title><description><![CDATA[Ministry of Economic Development and Technology (MEDT), in cooperation  with the Joint Technical Secretariat of the IPA Adriatic CBC Programme,  is organizing the Info day on the 2nd step of the Calls for strategic  project proposals. The event, which will be only in the Slovenian  language, will be held on 22 May 2013 in Debeli rti&amp;#269;. You can find more  information on the MEDT web site: www.mgrt.gov.si.( more )]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=850]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[14/05/2013 - CALLS FOR STRATEGIC PROJECTS PROPOSALS - 2nd Step - UNPDATE OF THE Final strategic project proposal]]></title><description><![CDATA[Lead Applicants invited to the 2nd Step procedure are informed that the Final strategic project proposal (excel form) has been amended in its version No. 2 as of 14/05/2013. The excel form can be downloaded from here or in the &amp;ldquo;How to apply - 1st Calls for Strategic Project Proposals&amp;rdquo; Section of the Programme website.]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=851]]></link></item><item><title><![CDATA[20/05/2013 - IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR ALL FINAL BENEFICIARIES FROM BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA]]></title><description><![CDATA[INFO POINT office in Bosnia and Herzegovina has been established. Here below and under the section Contact you can find all the details: Velibor Sudar, Info point Task Manager (BiH), IPA Adriatic Cross-border ProgrammeHusnije Repca b.b., 88 000 Mostar, Tel: + 387 36 580 531, velibor.sudar@dei.gov.ba]]></description><link><![CDATA[http://ipa.netra.it/index.asp?page=interna&level=news_detail&idcontent=853]]></link></item></channel></rss>