Interreg: the main European instrument to promote territorial cooperation between regions and countries

The Interreg programme is the main European instrument to promote territorial cooperation between regions and countries. The total budget of the new Interreg 2021-2027 amount to 10 billion euros for 7 years. 
Interreg is made up of almost 100 programmes across Europe’s internal and external borders. 
They are organised along 4 levels or “strands” of Interreg programmes: 
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   1. Cross-border
​With a budget of 6.5 billion EUR over 7 years, there are 73 different programmes to ensure cross-border barriers and challenges within and at External borders of the EU are addressed, i.e. 

• 49 programmes within the EU 27 across its internal borders
• 10 Interreg IPA (Instrument for pre-Accession Assistance) which are operating at EU’s border with Turkey, Albania, Montenegro, Serbia and the Republic of North Macedonia.
• 14 Interreg NEXT programmes, implemented at the borders with Neighbouring (ENI) countries of the EU, namely: Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Egypt, Georgia, Israel, Jordan, Kyrgyz Republic, Lebanon, Libya, Moldova, Morocco, Palestine, Syria, Tunisia, Ukraine (Cooperation with Belarus and Russia have been suspended) 
• The PEACE + Programme between the border counties of Ireland and Northern Ireland. 

 

​   2. Trans-national
This strand allows for cooperation over larger transnational territories or around sea basins. The total budget is 1.5 billion Euros between 2021 and 2027, you can see in the picture below the 14 various Trans-national Interreg co-operation programmes: 

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     3. Interregional
​It aims at boosting the effectiveness of cohesion policy by promoting exchange of experiences, innovative approaches, and capacity building between regions, 550 million Euro budget has been allocated to interregional cooperation. There are four interregional cooperation programmes within this strand: 

• Interreg Europe, aiming to share innovative and sustainable solutions to regional development challenges.
• Interact, which helps cooperation among Interreg programmes 
• URBACT, the programme helps cities to develop an integrated set of actions for sustainable change
• ESPON, works on policies for territorial cohesion. 

 
   4. Outermost regions’ cooperation
This 4th strand which has a 208 million euro budget covers the following Outermost regions: 

• Amazonia, Caribbean,
• Middle Atlantic/Gulf of Guinea (MAC),
• Indian Ocean,
• Mozambique Channel

100 programmes but 7 common policy objectives
The programmes although they are managed independently are aiming to contribute to 7 policy objectives of EU’s cohesion policy: 

• A more competitive and smarter Europe 
• A greener, low-carbon transitioning towards a net zero carbon economy and resilient Europe 
• A more connected Europe 
• A more social and inclusive Europe 
• A Europe closer to citizens 
• A better Cooperation governance 
• A safer and more secure Europe

 
Who can apply ? 
Consortia with various profiles can apply. The lead entities are often public authorities at local , regional or higher level, non for profit entities are usually welcome, however depending from an Interreg programme to another , a call to another, private for profit entities may also be involved, e.g for the testing of some pilots. 
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Where to get more information?
Understand better and identify all Interreg programmes : https://interreg.eu/
Consultants can help you identify an Interreg call that suit your need and help you apply to a future call, find out about the best EU consultancies specialised in EU programmes: http://www.eaic.eu/all-members.html

Courtesy of EAIC member Euro-Funding