INTERREG EUROPE

• Regions and Local Development

The overall objective of the INTERREG EUROPE programme is to improve the implementation of policies and programmes for regional development, principally of programmes under the Investment for Growth and Jobs goal and, where relevant, of programmes under the ETC goal,by promoting exchange of experience and policy learning among actors of regional relevance.

The specific objectives are:

1. To facilitate ongoing EU-wide policy learning and capitalisation of practices among actors of regional relevance in order to strengthen regional policies, and in particular the implementation of programmes for Investment for Growth and Jobs and, where relevant, European Territorial Cooperation (ETC).
2. To support exchange of experience and sharing of practices among actors of regional relevance with the aim to integrate the learning from the cooperation into regional policies, in particular through their programmes for Investment for Growth and Jobs and, where relevant, ETC.

Regional and local authorities and other actors of regional relevance.

INTERREG EUROPE targets the whole EU territory and Norway and Switzerland.

The programme will address four thematic objectives:

• Strengthening research, technological development and innovation
• Enhancing the competitiveness of SMEs
• Supporting the shift towards a low-carbon economy in all sectors
• Protecting the environment and promoting resource efficiency

Two actions are envisaged in this programme:

• The programme will fund interregional cooperation projects which allow partners from the different EU Member States, Norway and Switzerland to work together on a shared regional policy issue under the four thematic objectives supported. By adopting successful approaches from other project partners, the regions involved in these projects should improve the way their programmes and policies are implemented.
• The programme will provide assistance to all European regions through policy learning platforms covering the four thematic objectives. These platforms will offer services such as individual advice, peer reviews, thematic seminars and recommendations on the design and implementation of Structural and Investment Funds programmes.

The cofinancing rate is 81%. This is an average, based on the 3 different co-financing rates that will be applied.For Interregional Cooperation Projects two co-financing rates apply at partner level: 75% and 85%, it depends from countries.

The Policy Learning Platforms will be financed at 100%.