Cross-border cooperation: the EU Interreg programme celebrates 30 years of bringing citizens closer together
The year 2020 marks 30 years since the start of Interreg, the EU's emblematic programme that aims at encouraging territorial cooperation between border regions.
In view of this celebratory year, Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, Elisa Ferreira, issued the following statement: “Interreg is a programme that is very dear to my heart. As a unique instrument of cooperation, supported by cohesion funding, Interreg allows regions and countries to work together to solve common challenges. Interreg projects are concrete examples that borders do not have to be barriers, but can be an opportunity for growth and successful cooperation. Over the past 30 years, and thanks to numerous projects supported by the EU, Interreg has brought the more than 170 million Europeans living in border regions closer together, improved their lives and created new opportunities for cooperation.
“The 30-year celebration of
Interreg happens in a crucial time of the EU's history. As we face serious global and local challenges, we need to regain citizens' trust and ensure we deliver. Interreg has been acting now for 30 years to leave no one behind and to build Europe brick-by-brick. The intention is to continue this mission but also to use this celebrative occasion to question, to re-think and to give a new breath to what we consider as a fundamental value in the European Union: the spirit of cooperation, driven by the firm belief that we are stronger together."
Launched in 1990, the European Territorial Cooperation, better known as Interreg, is an emblematic Cohesion Policy programme that provides a framework for the implementation of joint actions and policy exchanges between national, regional and local actors from different member states.
The overarching objective of European Territorial Cooperation is to promote a harmonious economic, social and territorial development of the Union as a whole. Interreg is built around three strands of cooperation: cross-border (Interreg A), transnational (Interreg B) and interregional (Interreg C).
Five programming periods of Interreg have succeeded each other: Interreg I (1990-1993) − Interreg II (1994-1999) − Interreg III (2000-2006) − Interreg IV (2007-2013) − Interreg V (20142020).
The Interreg cooperation programmes cover the entire European continent with a total budget of over €12bn, including EU and member states' contribution, during the 2014-2020 programming period.
The Interreg 30-year campaign will roll out throughout 2020 under the themes: neighbours, green and youth. The campaign will take stock of the past achievements and look forward to what can be done more and better in the future.