FAQs

Policy Learning Platform

• What is the Policy Learning Platform?
• Who are the experts behind the platforms and how are they recruited?
• Is the use of the programme platforms mandatory for projects?

What is the Policy Learning Platform?

The Policy Learning Platform is the second action of the Interreg Europe programme, established to boost EU-wide policy learning and capitalisation on practices from regional development policies.

The platform offers the following services to support policy learning:

• Expert advice
• Community
• Knowledge hub
• Good practices

Who are the experts behind the platforms and how are they recruited?

The Policy Learning Platform was launched in October 2016, covering all the four priority areas of Interreg Europe. The Platform was set up to support policymakers in delivering better policies in their regions through:

• a knowledge and education centre;
• networking and partnering opportunities;
• an expert helpdesk for policy advice;
• peer reviews; and
• expert support for policy learning.

A European call for tenders was launched to select the team of experts gathering the different kinds of expertise needed to deliver the platform services; for example, thematic specialisation in all policy fields covered by the platforms, experience in EU Cohesion policy, knowledge management and communication competences, moderation and facilitation of learning skills.

Is the use of the programme platforms mandatory for projects?

Yes. Partners in interregional cooperation projects should be actively involved in the work of the platforms during the lifetime of their project. Projects are required to report on their participation in policy learning platform activities in their progress reports. Projects should contribute to the platforms' content and share their knowledge and experience.

For instance, each region participating in a project has to feed in the platforms' interactive online interface interesting and innovative good practices developed in their region. Furthermore, projects should participate in platform events and can avail of platform services such as peer reviews or expert support for policy learning. They should also add a contact person for their specific policy field in order to create a community of regional practitioners throughout Europe.