EU-funded multi-beneficiary project ‘Cross-border Institution Building – CBIB+ Phase II’ in close cooperation with the Ministry of Local Self-government, under the auspices of the European Commission (EC), on the 17^th  and 18^th of October 2017  organized the 5th Regional CBC Forum in Struga, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

 Over 80 representatives of the institutional structures managing the EU-funded cross-border programmes under the Instruments for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA and IPA II) actively participated in this event. The participants came from Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Kosovo, all beneficiary territories of the financial assistance provided by the 2007-2013 IPA and 2014-2020 IPA II.

The main topic of the Forum was the Evaluation of the IPA CBC Programmes 2007-2013 and lessons learned through the implementation of these programmes. Also the start of the new IPA CBC Programmes 2014-2020 was part of the discussion and the improvement of the implementation of the programmes, management of the programme, future strategic projects and performance framework was also part of the Forum work.

Representing the IPA CBC Programme Kosovo – Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia in Forum participated the CBC Programme Manager Mr. Dardan Sadriu and Mrs. Aida Rexhepi-Xhemajli from the EU Office in Kosovo, representatives of the Operating Structures: the General Secretary Mrs. Rozafa Ukimeraj and Mr.Trim Berisha from the Ministry of Local Government Administration of Kosovo, Mrs. Mjellma Mehmeti Petersen, Mrs. Nita Krliu Hajrullai, Mr. Arsim Fidani and Mr. Arlind Nuhiu from Ministry of Local Self Government in Skopje and the Head of JTS Mrs. Albertina Binaku.