Thematic objectives
Find detailed information about the thematic objectives of Interreg
What are the Interreg themes?
Turning Cohesion Policy into action
Interreg focuses on seven thematic objectives during the 2021-2027 period. These objectives are part of the EU regulation and reflect Interreg's mission to build a more united, inclusive and resilient Europe by promoting cooperation and addressing shared challenges. The seven objectives include five EU policy objectives and two Interreg-specific objectives.
Each thematic objective addresses a key area. Below, you can explore a brief description of each theme and learn how they contribute to both EU policy priorities and Interreg's broader mission.
A Smarter Europe
Interreg drives innovation, competitiveness, digitalisation, and smart specialisation across regions. It supports research, technology, and entrepreneurship to build strong, future-ready economies.
A greener Europe
Interreg invests in projects that promote a low-carbon economy, tackle climate change, and encourage a circular economy. It supports risk prevention, nature protection, sustainable energy, and water management to help build a greener, more sustainable future.
A more connected Europe
Interreg focuses on improving mobility by enhancing transport networks and digital infrastructure. This ensures better connections for people, goods, and information across regions.
A more social Europe
Interreg promotes inclusion, employment, and access to quality health, education, training, and skills. It also supports culture, sustainable tourism, and equality to create a fairer, more inclusive society.
Europe for citizens
Interreg adopts place-based and community-based approaches to support integrated territorial strategies. It prioritises local ownership and sustainable partnerships to address the unique needs of regions and communities.
Better governance
Interreg strengthens institutional capacity and encourages cross-border collaboration. It addresses legal and administrative obstacles, promotes mutual trust, and helps build more transparent, inclusive, and sustainable democratic governance.
A safer Europe
Interreg supports better border management and migration processes. It helps enhance the social and economic integration of migrants and third-country nationals, creating more inclusive communities and fostering secure and efficient border operations.
Latest news and stories
Discover how Interreg brings its thematic objectives to life through real-world projects and success stories. Learn how collaboration across borders is driving positive change and making a tangible impact on communities across Europe.
Building resilience in the digital jungle: How Europe can face disinformation together
Disinformation and online hate are not confined by borders, they require shared resilience. During Interreg Cooperation Day 2025 in Bratislava and Senec, regional politicians, psychologists and artists spoke directly with young people about how to face the digital jungle. Their message was clear: critical thinking, cooperation and creativity are key to safeguarding democracy and building stronger regions. For 35 years, Interreg has shown that cooperation across borders makes this possible.
06 October 2025
Stronger together: Lithuania and Poland join forces to secure their shared border
Borders are not just lines on a map. They are also places where people, goods and ideas move. Along the Lithuanian-Polish border, there is a concrete example that cooperation matters just as much as fences and checkpoints. This joint project is making an impact to make everyone safer, while making life easier for travelers and communities by working together over the border lines.
26 September 2025
Collaboration for circular textiles: Three projects, one shared challenge
How can municipalities, researchers, and industry collaborate to make the textile sector more sustainable? This was the main theme when the Interreg project TRÅD gathered stakeholders from across the Nordic region for a seminar in Trondheim. The focus was on challenges related to overproduction, poor utilization, and lack of responsibility in the textile value chain.
23 September 2025
How b-solutions can support the Interreg community in solving border obstacles
For decades, Interreg has been the beating heart of cross-border cooperation in Europe—funding transformative projects, building trust across boundaries, and improving lives in border regions. However, even the most promising Interreg projects can stumble when faced with structural legal or administrative obstacles. That’s where b-solutions steps in.
22 September 2025