The meeting of the Joint Monitoring Committee under the Bulgaria – Serbia IPA Cross-border Programme was held on 27.05.2014 in the town of Pravets, Bulgaria.

The meeting was conducted under the presidency of Ms. Klimentina Deneva – Chief Secretary of the Ministry of regional development /MRD/ and Co-chairperson of the Joint Monitoring Committee, and Ms. Maria Duzova, Head of the Managing Authority of the Programme and Director General of “Territorial Cooperation Management” DG at the Ministry of regional development. On behalf of the National Authority – Serbian European Integration Office, Co-chairperson of the meeting was Ms. Kristina Askovic, Head of the Group for cross-border and transnational cooperation programs with EU member states. The “Regional policy” DG at the European Commission has been represented by Ms. Ann-Jasmin Krabach, Programme Manager - EU policies.

The Joint monitoring committee includes representatives of central and local administrations of both countries, and representatives of NGOs acting in the cross-border area. The JMC members reviewed and approved the Annual report of the Programme implementation for 2013.

During the meeting were reviewed possibilities for additional financing of project proposals of the reserve list of project proposals, received under the Second Call. JMC took decision for additional financing of projects, in order to ensure the good management of the available financial resources, as well as to raise the percentage of absorption of funds under the Programme.

In addition, Mr. Vladan Vasic, Mayor of the Municipality of Pirot greeted the Committee. Representatives of the municipalities of Pravets and Pirot made a short presentation of one of the successfully implemented cross-border investment project, co-financed under the Bulgaria – Serbia IPA Cross-border Programme.