Supports interregional cooperation for better regional policies.
Interreg Europe is an EU-funded programme that supports interregional cooperation across Europe. It aims to help regional and local governments develop and deliver better policies by creating an environment for sharing solutions and learning from each other's experiences. The programme focuses on four key policy areas: research and innovation, SME competitiveness, low-carbon economy, and environment and resource efficiency. For the 2021-2027 period, Interreg Europe has a budget of €379 million from the European Regional Development Fund. Typical project financing ranges from €1-2 million over 3-5 years. To receive funding, projects must involve partners from at least three different countries, with at least one being an EU member state. Projects should aim to improve regional development policies and programmes, particularly those under EU Cohesion Policy. Recent projects funded include LCA4Regions, which promotes the use of life cycle assessment methods in policymaking, and REPLACE, which supports the transition to renewable energy heating and cooling systems in buildings. Interreg Europe also operates a Policy Learning Platform, providing resources and expert support to regional policymakers across Europe, even if they are not directly involved in Interreg projects.