Both cities have promised €100,000 for preparatory studies, though the relevant ministries of each country have refused to grant any funding. In 2008, a funding application was about to be approved by the, enabling countries to acquire between €500,000 and €800,000 of the additional funds required for a comprehensive survey. On 13 January 2009, newspaper reports suggested the application to the EU, through the programme, for comprehensive surveys had been denied. A.