On 25 March 2026, the Agency of Regional Development of the Ternopil Region (UA) signed a Grant Contract with the Managing Authority for the implementation of the Small Projects Fund under the ENVIRONMENT priority entitled “CrossEco: Integrated Solutions for a Shared Environment” (acronym: CrossEco).
The second Small Projects Fund in the Programme, with a total budget of EUR 5.1 million, opens up opportunities to support Polish–Ukrainian initiatives focused on:
- improving waste management,
- promoting the transition to a circular economy,
- raising awareness of environmental challenges.
Under the Fund, projects may be implemented by, among others, local and regional authorities, non-governmental organisations, educational institutions, and municipal companies from Poland and Ukraine.
Each project may receive funding ranging from EUR 20,000 to EUR 90,000 (up to 90% of eligible expenditure). The maximum project implementation period is 12 months.
The support will cover activities such as educational campaigns, training sessions, pilot initiatives, as well as the development of selective waste collection infrastructure. The Fund will also foster cross-border cooperation through the exchange of experience and the establishment of partnerships between institutions from both countries.
The signing of the contract marks not only an important step towards further joint actions for environmental protection and more efficient use of resources in the Programme area, but also represents a valuable contribution of the Programme to strengthening the capacities and experience of Ukrainian institutions in managing EU funds. It is the first Fund in the Programme’s history to be implemented independently by a Ukrainian public institution.
Two calls for proposals are planned, with the first one scheduled for the first half of 2026. Information will be published on the Operator’s website, the Programme website in news section, the dedicated SPF section, and on the Programme’s Facebook profile.
More information about the project is available HERE.