Interreg IPA Romania-Serbia Programme (2021-2027)

Second call for proposals (deadline for submission: 23.05.2025)

Q1 – How can I submit the concept note?

A1 – Concept Notes will be submitted via email: ipacbc@brct-timisoara.ro and romaniaserbia@mdlpa.gov.ro until 23 May 2025, following the template Annex A-Concept note available on the programme website ( https://romania-serbia.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Annex-A_Concept-note.doc )

Q2- When I should elaborate the application form?

A2 – After the selection of the list of concept notes by the MC, respecting two criteria: receiving after evaluation the minimum required score of 70 points and falling within the financial allocations, will be requested to submit a full application form within one month after the MC decision on the selection of the Concept Note. The concept notes scoring higher than 70 points, but which don`t fall within the financial allocation for this call for proposals, will be placed on a reserve list. In this sense, a working group comprised by MA, NA and JS members will be organized, helping the beneficiaries to draft the full application form in line with the Programme documents. For the present call for project proposals, the application process shall be done through the programme’s Electronic Management System (JeMS). The JeMS is accessible at the following web address: https://jems-rors.mdlpa.ro . The Applicant’s Guide and JeMS manual provide potential beneficiaries with detailed guidelines on the application for funding process. The Applicant’s Guide, Annexes and JeMS manual are available on the following website: https://romania-serbia.net/ .

Q3 – Activities of the project could be implemented outside the programme area?

A3 – As a general rule, activities for which funding is sought have to be carried out in the area of the programme. However, as an exception, a part of an operation may be implemented outside the programme area but within the territory of the countries participating to the Programme, provided that the activities contribute to the objectives of the programme and are in the benefit of the programme area. When a part of an operation is implemented outside the programme area, the selection of that operation shall require the explicit approval by the managing authority in the monitoring committee (Art. 22, Regulation (EU) 2021/1059). Please take into consideration that: Investments (“Infrastructure & works” and “equipment” expenditures) linked to an Investment defined in JeMS, shall be done only in the Programme area.

Q4 – What activities are financed under this call for proposals?

A4 – The activities supported under this call for proposals need to be linked / to contribute to the specific objective/s under which the project is submitted and to their subsequent types of actions. Therefore, it is mandatory that in the Concept Notes and in the Application Form, under section “Project`s Domain” or “Project overall objective”, the applicant clearly specifies to what type(s) of action(s) the project contributes. These types of actions for each Specific Objective are mentioned in the Applicant` Guide at pages 26 and 28 (https://romania-serbia.net/second-call-for-proposals/).

Q5 – How many pilot actions and how many solutions can a project deliver?

A5 –There is no limitation regarding the number of pilot actions a project can deliver, but please carefully analyse the conditions described in the Applicant`s Guide under the sections dedicated to Indicators, at pages 26-29 (https://romania-serbia.net/second-call-for-proposals/).  As a general rule, each “pilot action” represents an output delivered by the project and each pilot action cannot generate more than one solution. So, ideally, each pilot action will generate a solution (which becomes a contribution to the corresponding result indicator if it is taken up or upscaled by other organization/s).

However, if a pilot action proves not to be successful and its testing fails thus not generating any solutions, then of course there will be no solution which cand be adopted or upscaled further (no contribution to the corresponding result indicator). This does not mean that there aren`t valuable lessons which can be learnt from the outcomes of this pilot action and this is why ensuring the visibility of each developed pilot action is essential.

Q6 – Which are the supporting documents to be submitted with the concept note?

A6 – The second call for project proposals of the Interreg IPA Romania–Serbia Programme was launched on December 17, 2024, with the deadline for submitting concept notes set for May 23, 2025, at 16:00 (Romanian time).

This second call follows a two-step application process. The first step involves submitting a concept note (Annex A of the Applicant’s Guide). In the second step, only projects selected by the Programme Monitoring Committee based on the evaluation of the concept notes will be invited to submit the full application form.

Therefore, by May 23, 2025, at 16:00, applicants must submit only the concept note (Annex A of the Applicant’s Guide) via the two email addresses specified in the Applicant’s Guide: ipacbc@brct-timisoara.ro  and romania-serbia@mdlpa.gov.ro.  No additional supporting documents are required at this stage.

Q7 – Can a project address both specific objectives launched under the second call for proposals?

A7 – One single project can address both specific objectives, also combining eligible types of actions of the two (Applicant’s Guide, Chapter 3.3.4 Eligibility of actions (operations)). If that will be the case for your project, please mention that clearly in all the relevant sections of the concept note (III.1, III.5, III.6, III.7).