Regional solutions for a modernised cohesion policy
Interreg Europe has always played an active role in advancing the European Union’s strategic ambitions.
In April 2025, the European Commission proposed a modernised cohesion policy. In the context of its mid-term review, the Commission called on the Member States and regions to realign their cohesion investments with new political priorities. To address today’s challenges, European policymakers should look for solutions to boost competitiveness, enhance defence, ensure affordable housing, improve water resilience, accelerate the energy transition, and unlock the potential of every territory in the EU, while holding on to the cohesion policy's principle of solidarity.
Interreg Europe is already contributing to the Union’s new strategic priorities. Find out how our projects and the Policy Learning Platform are aligned with the new cohesion agenda.
Innovation, competitiveness and decarbonisation
Interreg Europe helps to shape a more innovative Europe. We support projects and policy-learning activities that strengthen regional value chains and boost technological capacity.
Projects such as AI4Citizens, Deep Tech Valleys, and RAW4RES focus on cutting-edge fields like artificial intelligence, deep tech, and critical raw materials. Others, including UnicornQuest and CROWDFUNDMATCH, promote start-up growth and explore new financing models.
These interregional cooperation projects echo the goals of the EU’s Competitiveness Compass and the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform.
Defence and security
Interreg Europe does not focus on defence. Yet, some of its projects enhance regional preparedness and crisis readiness.
The SafeSkills project involves partners from Finland, Poland, and Ukraine to address labour market needs in safety and cybersecurity. It demonstrates how regional cooperation can build capacity in vital security domains.
The MAE project aims to strengthen the strategic sector of aerospace. The project partners work on developing internationally connected aerospace value chains and on policy improvements to support areas such as unmanned aircraft, drones, sustainable aviation, and satellites. They are all significant for the European aerospace and defence sector.
Affordable housing
Interreg Europe addresses the pressing challenge of housing affordability through projects like HEROES. It brings together nine countries to improve policies for social housing, urban regeneration, and inclusive governance.
Water resilience
In response to climate-driven water pressures, our projects promote adaptive water management.
Projects like GOV4water and WATERADAPT, and peer-learning activities facilitated by the Policy Learning Platform such as thematic workshops or policy briefs enable regions to improve drought resilience, flood preparedness, and ecosystem restoration.
Energy transition
Interreg Europe is a key actor in Europe’s climate transformation. Over 40 Interreg Europe projects pursue clean energy goals.
Projects such as BIOWiND, PRHyUS, and UNIFHY advance the deployment of renewables. The PRHyUS project, for example, supports the uptake of renewable and low-carbon hydrogen, which is in line with the flagship actions under the EU’s Clean Industrial Deal.
Other projects, such as CHARGE and Net Zero SMEs focus on industrial decarbonisation, and DISCO and REEF work on other energy efficiency upgrades.
Clean mobility is another well represented topic for interregional cooperation. Projects MaaSolutions and SMARTAUTO work on improving their regional policies linked to sustainable mobility.
Projects REC4EU and LEEWAY foster energy communities through citizen-led actions. Their aim is to empower households and local actors to co-own and benefit from renewable energy.
Eastern border regions
Interreg Europe can also provide tailored support to regions affected by the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine.
With the Regio-Silience initiative, developed through the Policy Learning Platform and led by the Polish Warmińsko-Mazurskie region, Interreg Europe has helped regions at the EU’s eastern border. Partners from 19 territories neighbouring Russia can now share solutions, identify joint investments, and strengthen institutional resilience.
It proves Interreg Europe’s agility in times of crisis.
Prosperity for all territories
Interreg Europe ensures through its cooperation opportunities that no region, no territory is left behind. Over 90% of regions in Interreg Europe's area are represented in the cooperation projects and in the policy-learning activities. Every territory can benefit from cooperation.
On top of that, some of our projects promote tailored approaches to local development. The Start in Mountains project supports rural youth retention. The UrbanCOOP project works on enhancing participatory governance in cities. The PICOBELLO project applies the New European Bauhaus values in regional transformation. These projects showcase how place-based innovation can drive sustainability, inclusion, and quality of life across all types of territories and regions.
The RuralYouthFuture project complements this effort. The project partners work on rural revitalisation and entrepreneurship, helping to rebalance population trends and support territorial equity.
Conclusion
Interreg Europe is an important contributor to the EU’s new cohesion goals. Through cooperation, shared learning, and flexible policy tools, the programme equips regions with solutions to adapt, innovate, and thrive.
We help to build a stronger, fairer, and more connected Europe for all regions and territories.