Macedonian Vice Premier for European Affairs Teuta Arifi and Kosovo Minister of European Integration Vlora Citaku signed Monday a EUR 600,000 financing agreement under the Cross-Border Cooperation Programme IPA 2011.

The signing ceremony was also attended by the Head of EU Office in Skopje and Head of Operations of EU Office to Kosovo, Aivo Orav and Christof Stock respectively.

“The EU programme for cross-border cooperation is a significant instrument for providing balanced development and integration of the European continent,” Arifi said.

"The IPA component for cross-border cooperation is designed to promote good-neighborly relations, stability, security, to stimulate balanced, sustainable development, which is in favor of the both neighboring countries," Arifi said.

For Citaku, the cross-border cooperation in economy, culture, trade and other spheres is rather important for creating mechanisms that will bring people together and bolster the common aspirations for the EU membership.

"The regional dimension of such policies will generate positive energy for advancing the economic cooperation and social cohesion," she said.

The cross-border cooperation contributes to building the confidence and understanding in favor of establishing long-term partnerships, Orav said.

Stock considers that the cross-border cooperation is one of the key EU-integration instruments, which fosters the sustainable development of both sides of the border.

The cross-border cooperation programme aims to promote sustainable development in the cross-border area, by supporting joint actions and cross-border projects that would have an impact on the social and economic situation of the population, improvement of the joint management and valorisation of human, natural and cultural resources and strengthen the image and the cohesion of the region.

Potential beneficiaries of the programme are non-profit organisations, local and regional authorities, associations, foundations and chambers of commerce.

For the period 2007-2013, the EU has earmarked over EUR 25 million for funding projects in five cross-border programmes between the country and Greece, Albania, Kosovo, Bulgaria and members states that are participating in the South East Europe Transnational Cooperation Programme.