European Commission approves transborder cooperation programs involving 10 EU states, Ukraine and Moldova worth 533 mln euro

BRUSSELS. Dec 2 (Interfax) - The European Commission on Friday approved four new EU programs for trans-European cooperation for balanced development (Interreg) involving ten EU member states, as well as Ukraine and Moldova worth 533 million euro.

"These programs for the 2021-2027 period are aimed at supporting in these countries not only green transition, but also healthcare and education. The budget provided for these programs has been increased by 26.2 million euro by the commission's decision in March 2022 to suspend cooperation with Russia and Belarus," the European Commission's official spokesman Stefan De Keersmaeker told a briefing in Brussels.

The European Commission said in a communique that 215 million euro is being provided for transnational cooperation in the Danube region in the sphere of innovations and renewable energy resources.

Fifty-four million euro is intended for border cooperation between Romania and Ukraine for improvement of education, healthcare and nature protection.

Seventy-seven million euro is being provided for cooperation between Romania and Moldova or similar purposes.

A total of 187 million euro is envisaged for border cooperation between Poland and Ukraine in the sphere of nature protection, healthcare and border management.

In general, six Interreg programs with a total budget of 665 million euro are envisaged in 2021-2027, the European Commission spokesman said. "These programs will support transborder and transnational cooperation between member states of the union and Ukraine and Moldova," De Keersmaeker said.