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The managing authority of the Interreg Europe 2021-2027 programme has launched the second call for interregional cooperation projects, a category of projects aiming to improve the implementation of regional development policies through the exchange of experiences and good practices.

The programme is structured around one single cross-cutting priority, the Interreg-specific objective ‘a better cooperation governance’. This means that beneficiaries can cooperate on any topics of shared relevance in line with their regional needs, as long as this falls within the scope of cohesion policy. The first three years of the projects (‘core phase’) are dedicated to exchange and transfer of experience among the participating partners in order to improve the policy instruments addressed by the project. In the fourth and last year (‘follow-up phase’), the regions mainly focus on monitoring the results and impact of the cooperation. 

This scope includes a wide range of themes, divided into the following 5 thematic priorities and their related specific objectives: 

1 – A smarter Europe (80% of the allocated budget)

Specific themes/objectives:

1. Research and innovation capacity, adoption of advanced technologies;
2. Digitalisation for citizens, businesses, research institutions and public bodies;
3. Sustainable growth and competitiveness of SMEs and job creation in SMEs, including through productive investments;
4. Skills for smart specialisation, industrial transition and entrepreneurship;
5. Digital connectivity.

2 – Greener Europe (80% of the allocated budget)

Specific themes/objectives:

1. Energy efficiency and reduction of greenhouse emissions;
2. Renewable energy;
3. Smart energy systems, grids and storage;
4. Climate change adaptation, disaster risk prevention, resilience; 
5. Access to water and sustainable water management; 
6. Circular and resource efficient economy; 
7.  Protection and preservation of nature and biodiversity, green infrastructures, pollution reduction; 
8. Sustainable urban mobility for zero carbon economy.

4 – More social Europe (80% of the allocated budget)

The following specific themes/objectives:

1. Effectiveness and inclusiveness of labour market, access to quality employment, social economy;
2. Equal access to health care, health systems resilience, family-based and community-based care;
3. Culture and tourism for economic development, social inclusion and social innovation.

3 – More connected Europe (20% of the allocated budget)

All specific objectives: 

1. Climate resilient, intelligent, secure, sustainable and intermodal TEN-T; 
2. Sustainable, climate resilient, intelligent and intermodal national, regional and local mobility.

4 – More social Europe (20% of the allocated budget)

The following selected specific objectives: 

• Accesses to education, training and lifelong learning, distance and on-line education and training; 
• Inclusion of marginalised communities, low-income households and disadvantaged groups;
• Socio-economic integration of third country nationals, including migrants.

5. Europe closer to Citizens (20% of the allocated budget)

All specific objectives: 

1. Sustainable integrated territorial development, culture, natural heritage, sustainable tourism and security (urban areas); 
2. Sustainable integrated territorial development, culture, natural heritage, sustainable tourism and security (other than urban).

The following organisations are eligible to receive ERDF or Norwegian funding:

• Public authorities, 

• Public law bodies (bodies governed by public law), 

• Private non-profit bodies. Private non-profit bodies and partners from Switzerland cannot take on the role of lead partner.

The involvement of the policy responsible authority as partner is compulsory for at least 50% of the policy instruments addressed in a project application. For the remaining policy instruments (if any), these authorities must be involved as an ‘associated policy authority’.

Projects must involve partners from at least three countries, at least two of which must be beneficiaries from EU Member States, with the latter applying for Interreg Europe funding. Furthermore the programme requires a wide geographical coverage which ensures that the four areas below are represented in the partnership with at least one project partner:

North: Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Sweden 

East: Austria, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia 

South: Croatia, Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Spain

 West: Belgium, France, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Switzerland

The total budget of the call is 130 million euros.

The eligible project activities are co-financed by the ERDF at a rate of either 70% or 80% depending on the legal status of the EU partner. Partners from Norway and Switzerland are not eligible to receive ERDF but can receive co-financing from their respective national funds. 

The second call for proposals closes on 9th June 2023, at 12:00 p.m. (midday) CEST.

More information can be found here: Next call for projects | Interreg Europe – Sharing solutions for better policy