The adopted Cross-border Co-operation Programme follows an INTERREG Community Initiative for the period 2000-2006. Its main purpose is to make the cross-border area between Croatia and Slovenia highly competitive and also to create sustainable living conditions and prosperity for its inhabitants by exploiting development opportunities arising out of joint cross-border actions. The aims will be achieved by boosting the competitiveness of key sectors and supporting co-operation between these (tourism, SME development) as well as through the protection of nature, the environment and cultural heritage for sustainable development. The programming area has a key geostrategic location as a gateway between central-western and south-eastern Europe.