A Partnership forum for the first Call for Proposals of the Cross-Border Cooperation Programme, co-financed by the Instrument for Pre-Accession, CCI Number 2007CB16IPO007 took place on October 15, 2009. 
The event was organized by the Ministry for Regional Development and Public Works (Managing Authority) in cooperation with the Ministry of Local Self-Government (National Authority).
Over 60 representatives of local authorities, branch organizations, the non-governmental sector and schools took part in the forum. The experts from the Ministry of Local Self-Government (National Authority), the Technical Secretariat in Kyustendil and the Technical Assistance Team answered to numerous questions about the application guidelines.
The participants in the forum showed keen interest in both priority axes: Economic Development and Social Cohesion and Improvement the Quality of Life by making suggestions in the field of agriculture, social activities, tourism, infrastructure. 
Opportunities for new partnerships between potential beneficiaries from both countries were created while at the same time partnerships from previous occasions were reaffirmed.
Under present Call for Proposals an indicative amount of EUR 4 131 652 is available for the project
The Call was launched on September 14. Project proposals would have to target one of the following priority axes:
1. Economic Development and Social Cohesion
2. Improvement the Quality of Life
The deadline for submission of project proposals is 4 p.m. local time on December 14, 2009 on the address, indicated in the Applicant's Guide for the Call for Proposals for the current Call for Proposals.
See details about the Programme and the events within the communication campaign for the First Call for Proposals on the website of the programme http://ipa-cbc-007.eu , on the web-page of the Managing Authority http://www.mrrb.government.bg and of the National Authority http://www.mls.gov.mk .
The events within the information campaign are organized by Consortium „STRATEGMA - European Institute" with the financial support under the BG 2006/018-389.01.03.01 Technical Assistance Project.