Programme structure

The Interreg Europe programme is managed and supported by a number of different bodies responsible for administering the programme and assisting projects. A clear organisational structure ensures that funds are spent in the best way possible.

Learn more about the programme's different bodies.

Full details of the role and responsibilities of each programme body can be found in the Cooperation programme. 

The monitoring committee (MC) is the central decision-making body for the programme and its overall task is to ensure the quality and effectiveness of the programme's implementation. Project applications are approved (or not) by the monitoring committee.

Each country involved in the programme (27 EU member states, Norway and Switzerland) is represented on the committee and decisions are made by consensus. The MC meets on a regular basis, twice a year.

Download the list and decision notes

The audit authority is responsible for system audits and sample audits of projects. For Interreg Europe, the audit authority is the French Interministerial Commission for the Coordination of Controls on European Structural Funds (CICC).

The audit authority is assisted by a group of auditors comprising representatives of each partner state.

The certifying authority is the body responsible for checking project expenditure, making claims for funding to the European Commission and making payments to projects. For Interreg Europe, the certifying authority is the Province of East Flanders.

The managing authority (MA) is the body formally responsible for managing the programme on behalf of the participating partner countries. It is the MA that signs the subsidy contracts on behalf of the programme with the selected projects. The managing authority for Interreg Europe is the Hauts-de-France Regional Council, France.

The public facing bodies are the joint secretariat  and each country's points of contact, who work directly with applicants and project representatives. 

The Interreg Europe secretariat carries out the day-to-day operational administration of the programme, including publicising funding opportunities, supporting applicants, evaluating applications and monitoring projects, as well as managing the technical assistance budget etc. It also assists the other programme bodies with their tasks. It is staffed by an international team based in Lille, France.

Interreg Europe involves 29 partner states – 27 EU member states plus Norway and Switzerland. Each partner state has one more more national or regional representatives who can provide programme information in local languages.

All partner states support the programme implementation by:

1. Checking the eligibility of partner status
2. Checking the relevance of the letter of support's signatory
3. Providing specific national information
4. Providing a point of contact for potential applicants
5. Widely disseminating programme information
6. Organising national or regional events to inform or disseminate, aimed at project partners or first level controllers.