Interreg in a nutshell
Interreg is a key funding instrument to foster cooperation and cohesion in the European Union. The programme was first set up in 1990 to fund cross-border cooperation in the border regions between countries.
From disasters to fruitful cooperation
In 1993 and 1995, two flooding disasters in the Rhine-Meuse catchment areas made 50,000 people homeless. This tragedy showed that shared challenges often transcend border and that there is a need to tackle them through cooperation in larger geographic regions. This led to the formation of the first Interreg transnational cooperation programmes.
The North Sea Region Programme was founded in 1997. Today, there are 15 transnational Interreg programmes including three in overseas territories. They tackle a wide range of pressing issues, from supporting the digital transformation to protecting ecosystems and reducing climate impacts.
The ABC of Interreg
Interreg is divided into three strands - A, B and C.
A: Cross-border cooperation
The 177 cross-border programmes support cooperation in border regions between at least two Member States.
B: Transnational cooperation
The 15 transnational programmes also support cooperation across borders, but in larger areas. These include 12 regions in Europe and 3 overseas territories. The Interreg North Sea Region Programme belongs to this strand.
C: Interregional cooperation
The 15 interregional Interreg programmes work at pan-European level, covering all EU Member States.
10 things to know about transnational cooperation
In 2018, the transnational Interreg programmes published a joint paper presenting 10 high points about working together across borders. You can flip through the publication below or download the paper.