The European Commission adopted the 2014-2020 cross border cooperation program, worth 54 million euros (59.67 million US dollars), between Greece and Cyprus, according to a statement issued here on Wednesday by the Commission.

With nearly 46 million euros coming from the European Regional Development Fund, the program will help Greece and Cyprus further develop their local economies with the objectives of creating jobs, improving infrastructures and protecting the environment, by promoting active cooperation in these areas.

The program will focus on three priorities that is enhancing competitiveness and entrepreneurship, efficient use of energy and sustainable transport, and conservation and protection of the environment and risk prevention.

The EU side expects to get progress in the regional cooperation in areas such as increasing the use of information and communication technologies by businesses and the public sector, enhancing accessibility in the border region while improving transport safety, and improving maritime spatial planning and integrated coastal zone management.

This program is part of the Interreg program framework which has a budget of 10.1 billion euros for the period 2014-2020, invested in over 100 cooperation programs between regions. (1 euro = 1.10 US dollars)