B-BRUSSELS: IPA — CROSS-BORDER INSTITUTION BUILDING (CBIB +) — REGIONAL TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO CROSS-BORDER COOPERATION AT INTRA-WESTERN BALKAN BORDERS 2011/S 146-241271

Contract description:                                                                                Maximum budget: EUR 2.500.000

The purpose of CBIB+ is to provide technical assistance in the context of component II of the Instrument of Pre- accession Assistance (IPA) and in particular enhance regional coordination and harmonisation of approaches  and mechanisms in the field of cross-border cooperation at intra-western Balkan borders, in line with EU  frameworks and guidelines in the area of territorial cooperation.
Technical assistance has been provided since 2006 in order to sustain efficient programming and management  of cross-border cooperation in the western Balkans (CBIB I and CBIB II). In the context of EU accession, it is  understood that the next phase of regional technical assistance for cross-border cooperation in the western  Balkans should not only be limited to support for implementation of IPA component II but also future planning  and preparation of territorial cooperation programmes and projects supported under the European Regional  Development Fund (ERDF) upon accession. As such, the goal is to invest in capacities for future efficient  management of one of the important objectives of the EU regional development policy.

The results to be achieved are the following: regional coordination and interaction between cross-border  cooperation stakeholders and target groups in the western Balkans are sustained; efficiency and effectiveness  of programmes as well as project management and implementation are improved and in line with EU standards  and IPA requirements; best practice culture and cross-fertilisation of experiences is promoted; pathways with  EU practices and stakeholders in relation to territorial cooperation are established; visibility on cross-border  cooperation at intra-western Balkan borders is enhanced.

Implementation of activities will be agreed, developed and coordinated:

   (a) on an institutional and beneficiary level, by a CBC regional consultative body; and
   (b) on an operational level, by the CBIB+ Secretariat (with staff hired as part of this service contract and offices  based in the western
        Balkans).

Budget:

Maximum budget: 2 500 000 EUR.

Eligibility:

Participation is open to all legal persons (participating either individually or in a grouping (consortium) of  candidates) which are established in a Member State of the European Union or in a country or territory of the  regions covered and/or authorised by the specific instruments applicable to the programme under which the  contract is financed. Participation is also open to international organisations. The  participation of natural persons is governed by the specific instruments applicable to the programme under  which the contract is financed.

Deadline: 2 July 2012

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