Our programme
Interreg CENTRAL EUROPE is a European Union funding programme that supports transnational cooperation.
We fund projects that make central Europe more resilient to challenges that know no borders and cannot be solved alone. For more than 25 years, we have been bringing regions together beyond borders to find fitting solutions for their citizens – in a fair and equal way everywhere.
Our funding in a nutshell
2021-27
207m €
Available ERDF Funding
48%
Already Allocated
To Projects
9
81
4
9
Priority 1: Cooperating for a smarter central Europe
Central Europe is a key economic area in the EU with a robust industrial core. Long-lasting cooperation on trade as well as on investment and industry issues have resulted in strong functional ties across the programme area.
To remain competitive, territories have to manage the ongoing transition to a more digitalised, greener and more resilient economy. Crucially, they have to achieve this in a socially inclusive and just way.
With our funding, we help cities and regions to jointly address innovation-related challenges. We facilitate their cooperation beyond borders to develop and test innovative solutions that incubate the transition to a green and digital Europe.
Priority 2: Cooperating for a greener central Europe
Central Europe is an area rich in natural heritage resources and biodiversity. This important location factor is, however, threatened by climate change, industrial activities and unsustainable consumption and mobility patterns.
Territories need to respond to the challenges of environmental degradation and climate change, by boosting the efficient use of resources, protecting and restoring biodiversity as well as cutting pollution.
With our funding, we help regions and cities to work together on the above challenges. We facilitate their cooperation beyond borders to develop and test inspiring solutions for a greener central Europe.
Priority 3: Cooperating for a better connected central Europe
Central Europe is an important junction for European north-south and east-west transport connections. For centuries, transnational trade and transport routes rely on central Europe’s rivers, roads and railways. Today, the area hosts key European transport corridors to which many regions are physically or socio-economically connected. Connectivity between and within regions is an important factor ensuring the economic prosperity and cohesion of central Europe.
Transport connections of rural and peripheral regions in central Europe have to be improved. Sustainable, intelligent and intermodal transport needs to be enhanced, including connections to the trans-European transport network (TEN-T).
With our funding, we help cities and regions to address transport-related challenges together. We facilitate their cooperation beyond borders to develop and test inspiring solutions for greener transport and better connections in central Europe.
Priority 4: Improving governance for cooperation in central Europe
Central Europe shares a common identity based on longstanding cultural and historical ties between its cities and regions. This is an intangible but crucial asset for addressing challenges in a cooperative way. Central Europe, despite many functional connections, is rather heterogeneous in socio-economic and territorial terms. The area faces numerous challenges and barriers for regional development that do not stop at borders or administrative units.
Capacities of public authorities need to be improved on all territorial levels for setting up and implementing integrated territorial development strategies through cooperation.
With our funding, we help cities and regions to jointly address governance-related challenges. We facilitate their cooperation beyond borders to develop and test inspiring solutions that will make territorial development in central Europe more integrated.
Latest news
Programme
NEWS
14.09.2023
Regiostars: Vote now for our shortlisted projects
We are excited that two of our transnational cooperation projects have been selected as finalists in the European Regiostars awards: Dynaxibility4CE and SIforREF. Support them with your vote now! Since 2008, this competition awards the best cohesion-funded projects that demonstrate excellence and new approaches in regional development.
Programme
NEWS
31.08.2023
Transnational cooperation has a lasting impact on regions
In 2021, we launched an independent impact evaluation of our 2014-20 funding programme. In their final report, a group of external experts found evidence that the programme played a significant role in enhancing stakeholder capacity, building trust, and delivering innovative and high-quality products and services.
Other
EVENT
Other
10.10.2023
EU Regions Week: Register to our talk on impacts of transnational cooperation
Join our talk session at the EU Regions Week 2023 on Tuesday, 10 October in Brussels. In this talk, our speaker will reflect on the process of better coordination among EU funds and present results from the recent impact evaluation.