PREVIOUSNEXT
Quarterly tribute:
Creative Change in EU Project Management
- tlab
- 11/05/2025
- 9:26 PM
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Interreg 2025: Cross-Border Collaboration Opportunities
Interreg 2025 unlocks €10.1 billion for cross-border innovation, connecting regions and people to tackle shared challenges. Discover how EU project managers can harness this funding to drive sustainable growth, resilience, and solidarity across Europe’s borders.
Chapter 1: Prologue – Key Terms Explained (Q&A)
Q: What is Interreg?
A: Interreg is the European Union’s flagship initiative for territorial cooperation, supporting cross-border, transnational, and interregional projects to promote harmonious development and reduce obstacles created by borders.
Q: What is Cross-Border Cooperation (CBC)?
A: CBC, or Interreg Strand A, funds joint projects between neighboring EU regions, with a €6.5 billion budget for 2021–2027, aiming to turn border obstacles into opportunities.
Q: Who can participate?
A: Public authorities, NGOs, research institutions, and private organizations from eligible regions can apply for funding, with Interreg typically covering up to 80% of project costs.
Q: What are the main funding strands?
A: Interreg is divided into four strands: A (Cross-Border), B (Transnational), C (Interregional), and D (Outermost Regions), covering a total budget of €10.1 billion across 86 programmes.
Q: Why is cross-border cooperation important?
A: It builds solidarity, trust, and mutual understanding, addressing shared challenges like environmental threats, migration, and public service access.
Chapter 2: The Scale of Interreg Funding
Interreg’s 2021–2027 budget totals nearly €10.1 billion, distributed across 86 programmes and four strands. Cross-border cooperation (Strand A) alone commands €6.5 billion, supporting 49 intra-EU programmes and additional initiatives at external borders. Funding rates typically cover up to 80% of project costs, making participation accessible for a wide range of stakeholders. The 2025 Interreg GO! event in Gorizia and Nova Gorica highlighted the programme’s impact, with input from nearly 15,000 citizens and stakeholders shaping future priorities. This scale of investment underscores Interreg’s critical role in fostering integration, innovation, and resilience in border regions.
Chapter 3: Cross-Border Project Development – Opportunities and Challenges
Developing cross-border projects under Interreg involves navigating administrative, legal, and cultural differences between regions. Yet, these projects unlock significant opportunities: harmonized public services, joint environmental initiatives, and coordinated responses to migration and disasters. The 2025 Interreg GO! event showcased best practices and lessons learned, emphasizing the importance of stakeholder engagement and robust project management. Obstacles such as regulatory misalignments and language barriers persist, but dedicated support structures and capacity-building initiatives help partners overcome these challenges.
Chapter 4: Thematic Priorities and Strategic Impact
Interreg’s cross-border programmes target key EU priorities: climate adaptation, digital transformation, health, research, and education. For 2021–2027, thematic concentration ensures that at least 80% of transnational programme funds align with macro-regional strategies. Projects are selected based on their contribution to sustainable development, resilience, and social inclusion. The integration of candidate and neighboring countries, including IPA and NEXT programmes, broadens the impact beyond the EU’s internal borders, fostering stability and capacity-building in the wider region.
Chapter 5: Application Process and Funding Mechanisms
Interreg regularly publishes calls for project proposals, detailing eligibility, objectives, and funding rates. Applicants must form partnerships across eligible regions, prepare detailed project plans, and demonstrate alignment with programme priorities. Funding covers up to 80% of eligible costs, with the remainder provided by project partners. Transparent selection criteria and rigorous monitoring ensure effective use of EU resources. The application process, while competitive, is supported by guidance documents and dedicated contact points, making it accessible for both experienced and emerging project managers.
Chapter 6: Case Studies – Success Stories from the Border
Recent Interreg-funded projects illustrate the programme’s transformative potential. For example, the new fire station in Vučevica, Croatia, funded by Interreg, exemplifies how joint investment improves safety and resilience across borders. Other initiatives have enhanced cross-border healthcare, environmental protection, and cultural exchange, particularly in symbolic locations like Gorizia and Nova Gorica, the 2025 European Capital of Culture. These projects demonstrate measurable outcomes: improved public services, increased mobility, and stronger regional economies.
Chapter 7: Looking Ahead – The Future of Cross-Border Collaboration
The 2025 Interreg GO! event marked a milestone in shaping post-2027 programmes. Consultations involving thousands of citizens and stakeholders have set new priorities: digitalization, green transition, and resilience to global challenges. The next Multiannual Financial Framework will likely reinforce cross-border cooperation as a pillar of EU cohesion policy. For project managers, staying informed about evolving priorities and funding opportunities will be key to leveraging Interreg’s full potential for regional development and integration.