CHALLENGES OF THE CROSS-BORDER COOPERATION PROGRAMMES AT THE EASTERN BORDER OF THE EUROPEAN UNION

The Joint Operational Programmes, financed through the European Neighbourhood Partnership Instrument, are the financial tool that put in practice the European Neighbourhood Policy with the potential Eastern candidate countries. The aim of the programmes is generous wishing to create bridges between the partner states for sustaining the communities in the border areas in order to find common solutions to similar problems they face. Through the programmes, the local authorities and the organizations from the border area are encouraged to cooperate for the local economy development, common management of environment issues or emergency situations preparedness and not the last for a good interaction between the border communities. The paper aims to explore what the main challenges are that the applicants, beneficiaries and the institutions involved face and how they affect reaching the aim of the programme.