Interreg was created in a spirit of knowledge-sharing and collaborative thinking both within the EU and beyond to help create a peaceful and prosperous union. At a time when the European Union is facing a lot of changes, when political dialogue often questions its functioning, when new European leaders and new priorities are emerging, Interreg has been acting for more than 30 years to leave no one behind.

In 2020, we celebrated 30 years of Interreg. However, it was also a year in which our cooperation and solidarity were tested and challenged. After a year much focused on national responses to a global pandemic, we could not agree more with EU Budget Commissioner Johannes Hahn, who said: 

Cooperation is central. In our globalised and polarised world,
we need the spirit of cooperation more than ever!”

We are proud to be part of the Interreg community. With this page we would like to share with you some of our successes and celebrate cooperation beyond borders, because we believe that  #cooperationiscentral now more than ever. 


Raffaele Cattaneo

COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS
lombardy italy

© Twitter Raffaele Cattaneo

"Interreg adds the value to our territories and proved to be a lab for ideas, innovative policies and solutions across Europe."

  Watch the full video statement

Brigitta Pallauf

COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS
salzburg Austria

© European Union / FRED GUERDIN

"Participation in Interreg projects offers Salzburg the opportunity to develop or intensify partnerships with other regions in Europe."

 Watch the full video statement

herbert dorfmann 

MEMBER OF EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT Italy

© Herber Dorfmann

"We feel how important exchange, cooperation, coordination is for people to have a real exchange."    

 Watch the full video statement

Johannes Hahn

COMMISSIONER for budget and administration

© European Union 2020 - Source : EP

"Most importantly, Interreg stands for the truly European spirit of crossing borders."  

  Watch the full video statement

AGNES RAMPAL

REGIONAL COUNCILOR PROVENCE-ALPES-CÔTE D’AZUR

© Ville de Nice

"We must all work together. It is not an option, it’s not a choice. It’s a necessity."

  Watch the full video statement

Younous Omarjee

CHAIR OF COMMITEE FOR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT

© European Union 2019 - Source : EP

"More than ever, the Covid19 crisis has demonstrated the great need for Interreg programmes."

►  Watch the full video statement

NIKLAS NIENASs

MEMBER OF EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT GERMANY

© European Union 2019 - Source : EP

"Interreg is a great programme! I'd like to see MORE MONEY spent on this very, very important issue!"

►  Watch the full video statement

Erik Bergkvist

MEMBER OF EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT SWEDEN

© Erik Bergkvist

"The more we cooperate and get to know each other, the more European we become." 

►  Watch the full video statement

ZDENĚK HŘIB

MAYOR OF PRAGUE
CZECH REPUBLIC

© ZDENĚK HŘIB Twiter

"Interreg helps building a strong united voice where even a smallest regions matter."                                      

►  Watch the full video statement

MIRJA VEHKAPERAE

COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS 
OULU CITY COUNCIL FINLAND

© European Union 2019 - Source : EP

"It is very important to do the work together because in this crisis we don’t have actual borders at all."

  Watch the full video statement

JOSÉ MARIA DA CUNHA COSTA

MAYOR OF VIANA CASTELO
PORTUGALs

© www.themayour.eu

"In Portugal, Interreg has been an important financial instrument to boost population of inland and border regions."

►  Watch the full video statement

ISABELLE BOUDINEAU

PRESIDENT COTER COMMITTEE NOUVELLE AQUITAINE

©European Union / John Thys / Philippe Buissin

"The future of Europe is ensured thanks to cooperation."                           

►  Watch the full video statement

SATU HAAPANEN

COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS OULU FINLAND

© Satu Haapanen

"We need people who can build bridges, who can govern and be familiar with other cultures."

  Watch the full video statement

Michael schneider

COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS 
SAXONY-ANHALT GERMANY

© European Union / John Thys

"Diseases don't stop at borders. We should reconsider fundamental values of EU. Interreg helps finding common solutions.'"

 Watch the full video statement

CONCHA ANDREU 

COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS
LA RIOJA SPAIN

© El Mundo

"It is fundamental that we join strengths and willingness to look for joint solutions!"                                      

  Watch the full video statement

PEDRO MARQUES

MEMBER OF EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT PORTUGAL

© Twitter Pedro Marques

"The response to this crisis is always better if it is built on cooperating together."

  Watch the full video statement


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10 REASONS FOR TAKING COOPERATION FORWARD 


"This is Europe" podcast

 

Stories of collaboration and cooperation from across the European Union, brought to you by the Interreg community. In this podcast series, broadcaster Shahidha Bari talks to the Europeans whose lives have been transformed by Interreg. Across the series you’ll hear how the Interreg community works with everyone from fisherman to farmers, and city planners to entrepreneurs, forging stronger bonds across borders, tackling pressing issues such as climate change and investing in young Europeans


Listen now





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