Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,

The Managing Authority of European Territorial Cooperation Programmes on behalf of the Joint Programming Committee of the “Greece-Albania 2014-2020” applying the partnership and multilevel governance principles in the development of the CBC Operational Programmes, announce a public consultation process for the drafting of the new IPA II CBC Programme “Greece - Albania 2014-2020” and invite the following groups of stakeholders to actively participate: (a) Relevant National, regional, local, urban and other public authorities; (b) Economic and social partners; and (c) Bodies representing civil society, including environmental partners, non-governmental organisations, and bodies responsible for promoting social inclusion, gender equality and non-discrimination. Your input to the drafting of the new IPA II CBC Programme “Greece - Albania 2014-2020” is considered valuable in order to respond effectively to challenges and opportunities in the cross-border area and establish productive cross-border cooperation in the new programming period. The present marks the beginning of Phase A of the consultation process. This phase will be followed by policy development workshops (Phase B) and then a second questionnaire will accompany the publicizing of the first draft Operational Programme (Phase C), which will allow you to comment on specific programme provisions. The results of the whole consultation process will be incorporated in the final Operational Programme to be submitted to the European Commission. In the current consultation phase (Phase A) we invite you to submit your views – in conjunction with your specific thematic field of expertise – with regards to: 1. Your past experience with the Greece-Albania 2007-2013 Programme and the aspects of this programme that could be improved upon in the new programming period 2014-2020. 2. The current challenges, needs and development priorities in the eligible cross-border area. 3. The suitability of available policy tools for responding to those challenges. By answering the questionnaire, you will directly contribute to the design of the new Operational Programme Greece-Albania 2014-2020. Please make sure you fill in the questionnaire by 20.05.2014. For further information, please contact the Joint Technical Secretariat at: jts_gral@mou.gr