From 4 to 8 May 2026, the BRIDGE project, Strengthening EU Integration Capacities in Brčko District through Italian Know-how and Regional Cooperation, carried out its study visit in the Puglia Region (Italy), bringing together representatives of the Government of Brčko District of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Brčko District Development-Guarantee Fund, and the Italian firm Orange Public Management for an intensive programme of institutional exchange, peer learning and practical capacity building.
Launched in February 2026, BRIDGE is funded under the CEI Know-how Exchange Programme (KEP), supported by the CEI Fund at the EBRD, financed by Italy. The project promotes the transfer of Italian expertise to strengthen administrative capacities in Brčko District, particularly in the design, management and implementation of EU-funded projects.
A core component of the programme was the Smart Onboarding Lab, where participants worked on developing project ideas aligned with EU priorities. A particularly significant moment was the visit to the Joint Secretariat of the Interreg IPA South Adriatic Programme in Bari, which offered practical insight into how EU programmes are managed and coordinated.
The study visit also included presentations of EU-funded initiatives demonstrating tangible results in areas such as cultural and creative industries, sustainable mobility and environmental conservation, and explored how these experiences can be adapted to the Brčko District context. Operational sessions facilitated by Orange Public Management further supported the translation of lessons learned into practical tools, methodologies and project ideas.
By combining field experience with structured training, the study visit significantly enhanced the transfer of Italian know-how to Brčko District institutions, strengthening participants' understanding of how EU-funded projects can be planned, managed and adapted to local needs. Following the in-person sessions, participants will continue with online activities to conclude the Smart Onboarding Lab and finalise project outputs.
The CEI Fund had already supported the Government of Brčko District. In 2022, it financed the Brčko Green City Action Plan (GCAP), contributing to its strategic planning in areas such as sustainable mobility, environmental protection and urban development within the framework of the EBRD Green Cities initiative.
For more info: dovier@cei.int
