The overall objective of the Programme is to strengthen territorial cohesion of the Bulgarian–Serbian cross-border region, its competitiveness and sustainability of its development through co-operation in the economic, social and environmental area over the administrative borders.

The overall objective of the programme, together with the core elements of the strategy derived from the SWOT analysis, have together led to the formulation of the following specific objectives of the IPA CBC Programme, which should be taken into account when preparing a project:

Specific objective No. 1:  To bolster the infrastructure enabling social and economic development and improvement of the environment on both sides of the border through improving access to transport, information and communication services, and through improving the cross-border systems for utilities and environmental protection.

Specific objective No. 2: To increase economic synergy in the region and improve the capacity to jointly make use of common regional potential  for improving regional well being, through developing policy and social networks, a sound framework for (cross-border) business support, collaborations in particular sectors such as culture, tourism, research and development,  environmental protection and education, an active exchange of best practices, and joint regional planning and the preparation of the region’s economic sector for participation in the joint EU market.

Specific objective No. 3: To promote the principles of sustainable development of the cross-border region in all matters pertaining to increased mutual understanding and respect, through developing successful models of cooperation, on the business, local stakeholder and policy levels in key priority areas.