Interreg Europe 2021-27
Interreg Europe is an interregional cooperation programme, co-funded by the EU. The EU strives to reduce disparities in the levels of development, growth and quality of life in and across Europe’s regions. Our programme contributes to this objective and runs 2021-27.
The programme has a budget of €379 million to help local, regional and national governments across Europe to develop and deliver better policy, and create an environment and opportunities for sharing solutions to regional development issues. It also supports the exchange of good practices and policy learning among European regions in 29 countries - the EU27, Norway and Switzerland.
Interreg Europe contributes to all EU priorities and strives for better regional governance through capacity building.
Who can benefit?
- Public authorities
- national, regional, local public authorities
- other relevant bodies responsible for developing and/ or implementing regional development policies
- authorities responsible for developing and/or implementing the Investment for jobs and growth programmes
- Organisations relevant for regional development policies
- Business support organisations (development agencies, chambers of commerce, clusters, etc.)
- Environmental organisations (energy agencies, NGOs, etc.)
- Education and research institutions
Check when the next call for proposals will be under Interreg Europe.
Two paths to better policies
Interregional cooperation projects: projects bring together a fixed number of partners from different regions who exchange and transfer experience on a shared regional development issue.
Policy Learning Platform: platform's team of experts make our programme's results and achievements accessible to all through a range of policy-learning services.
Find out about the Interreg Europe programme in 2014-2020.
Interreg NWE Call 1 Launch
Interreg North-West Europe
Preliminary agreement has been reached on the focus of the new NWE Programme. Below are the priorities and specific objectives under which the projects will be approved.
Please note that the programme is still subject to approval and may still change. Keep up to date with progress on the 2021-27 programme, including upcoming calls for proposals, on the dedicated 2021-27 webpage
- SO: Enhancing nature protection, biodiversity and reducing all forms of pollution
- SO: Promoting climate change adaptation and disaster risk prevention resilience
- SO: Promoting energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions
- SO: Promoting renewable energy
- SO: Promoting the transition to a circular and resource efficient economy
- SO: Developing and enhancing research and innovation capacities and the uptake of advanced technologies
- SO: Enhancing the effectiveness & inclusiveness of labour markets and access to quality employment through developing social infrastructure & promoting social economy
- SO: Ensuring equal access to healthcare through developing infrastructure, incl. primary care, & promoting the transition from institutional to family & community-based care
- SO: Enhancing the role of culture and sustainable tourism in economic development, social inclusion and social innovation
NextGenerationEU
The overall objective of Ireland’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan is to contribute to a sustainable, equitable, green, and digital recovery effort, in a manner that complements and supports the Government’s broader recovery efforts. Ireland’s Plan will do this through a set of 16 investments and 9 reform commitments, to a total value of just under €1 billion, to be supported both by grants from the Recovery and Resilience Facility and national funds. Click here for more information on the Resilience & Recovery Plan for Ireland.
The Plan includes three priorities:
Brexit Adjustment Reserve
The Brexit Adjustment Reserve aims to help the Member States and sectors worst affected to counter the adverse economic and social consequences of Brexit. The initial allocation is valued at €5.4bin in current prices. Further funding of €1.1bn in current prices will be made available to the EU-27 in 2024.
Ireland is the biggest beneficiary of the Reserve and the first Member State to receive pre-financing. This funding will help Ireland's economy to mitigate the impact of Brexit through support to regions and economic sectors including job creation and protection, such as short-time work schemes, re-skilling, and training.
Ireland will receive €361.5m in 2021, €276.7m in 2022 and €282.2m in 2023. The funding can cover expenses directly relating to Brexit since 1 January 2020.
Overall, Reserve funding will be distributed in two rounds:
- the majority through pre-financing in 2021, calculated on the basis of the expected impact of the end of the transition period on each Member State's economy, taking into account the relative degree of economic integration with the UK, including trade in goods and services, and the negative implications on the EU fisheries sector,
- smaller additional support in 2024, in case the actual expenditure exceeds the initial allocation, thus justifying the need for additional solidarity from the EU.
The Reserve can support measures related to:
- economic sectors, businesses and local communities, including those dependent on fishing activities in the UK waters,
- employment, including through short-time work schemes, re-skilling and training,
- ensuring the functioning of border, customs, sanitary and phytosanitary and security controls, fisheries control, certification and authorisation regimes for products, communication, information and awareness raising for citizens and businesses.
For further information visit the Brexit Adjustment Fund.
Interreg Northern Periphery & Arctic
For 20 years, the Northern Periphery & Arctic Programme (NPA) has provided a framework for regions to work together with a focus on promoting sustainable development in remote and sparsely populated communities. The 2021-27 programme will continue to do this, focusing on themes and activities to benefit most from transnational cooperation between the regions in the NPA area.
Pending final approval by the Commission, the most up-to-date information about the Interreg NPA 2021-2027 programme can be found here. See the priorities and specific objectives under which projects will be approved by the programme below.
SAVE THE DATE: The first call for main projects is planned to open on 17th March and close on 20th June 2022 for Priority 1 & 2 project applications only. Further details here.
EU Post-2020: The New Framework
The focus of EU Funds 2021-27 is shaped by EU regulations which identifies five objectives where the EU is best placed to deliver investments in 2021-27:
Smarter Europe through innovation, digitisation, economic transformation and support to small & medium-sized businesses
Greener, carbon free Europe implementing the Paris Agreement and investing in energy transition, renewables and the fight against climate change
More Connected Europe with strategic transport and digital networks
More Social Europe delivering on the European Pillar of Social Rights and supporting quality employment, education, skills, social inclusion and equal access to healthcare
Europe closer to citizens by supporting locally-led development strategies and sustainable urban development across the EU.
ERDF investments will strongly focus on objectives 1 & 2. Between 65- 85% of ERDF resources will be allocated there, depending on Member States’ relative wealth.
Click here for more information on the 2021-27 roadmap.
What’s new for the 2021-27 programming period?
EU priorities: 5 policy objectives focused on key objectives and thematic concentration on those most relevant for a competitive and future-proof Europe
Climate targets: weighted climate & environmental contribution of investments, min. targets for funds, climate adjustment mechanism
Greater empowerment in the management of the funds: dedicated policy objective implemented only through territorial and local development strategies
Simplification: one set single of rules for the eight Funds and significantly reduced secondary legislation
Conditions for success: streamlined & clear enabling conditions to be respected throughout the whole programming period for reimbursement from the Union budget.
Flexible programming adjusted to new challenges & emerging needs: allocation of flexibility amount only after mid term review of socio-economic situation/ new challenges
Reinforced visibility & communication: requirements for beneficiaries and operations of strategic importance
