Connecting borders, people, and dreams since 2012
Celebrating 15 years of Interreg Cooperation Day
For 15 years, Interreg Cooperation Day has brought communities together to celebrate the impact of cooperation across borders. From its beginnings in 2012 to today, the campaign has grown into a Europe-wide tradition of connection, creativity, and shared experiences.
Explore the story, milestones, and moments that shaped this journey!
How do you make cooperation visible?
In 2011, Interreg programmes across Europe came together to answer that question, creating a day to celebrate the power of cooperation.
A year later, Interact brought it to life with a joint campaign!
281 events, 36 countries, 70 programmes. That started a tradition.
The campaign in figures
15 years, 15 defining moments
The campaign has evolved with the years, at the rhythm of the Interreg community. See the main milestones per year.
The first edition of European Cooperation Day, marking the start of a tradition
It becomes a fixed date in September, consolidating its place as an annual celebration.
A video contest with the theme "Border Issues, Border Solutions" receives 214 entries and 15,060 votes, boosting the campaign's visibility.
The slogan contest "Co-Operation for a Better Europe" is launched, and the winning slogan is unveiled during the Interreg 25 Years event in Luxembourg.
As an example, Interreg Greece-Bulgaria programme celebrates European Cooperation Day with a blood donation campaign.
The slogan "To go far, go together" is introduced, symbolizing the spirit of collaboration.
The campaign strengthens its social media presence, with Facebook reach jumping to over 2 million people.
The campaign emphasizes individual stories and personal connections with the slogan "Europe Is You!"
Despite COVID-19, 36 programmes across 28 countries organise events, with 72% of organsers saying they would do it again.
The 10th anniversary of Cooperation Day reaches over 13.5 million people since 2012, with 101 events across 31 countries.
The first edition of the Best Local Event Competition is launched, encouraging creativity and participation.
The campaign is renamed to Interreg Cooperation Day
Interreg Day was also used as an opportunity for programmes to conduct the Post-27 consultation with citizens, gathering input on the future of EU cohesion policy
Events are celebrated across four continents: Africa, America, Asia, and Europe, marking 35 years of Interreg
Join us as we celebrate 15 years of Interreg Cooperation Day!
Moments that unite us
Over the years, Interreg Cooperation Day has brought people together through all kinds of events. From sports to culture, from nature to unique experiences, these are the ways we celebrate cooperation.Sports and games
Football, basketball, tennis, hikes, bike rides, charity runs, old games festivals, tabletop games competitions, dance-offs, chess, and video game tournaments
Nature
Tree planting, cave tours, hikes, bike rides, canoeing, clean-up events, nature protection workshops, recycling drives, cross-border area tours, picnics, and stargazing.
Competitions
Cooperation rallies, photo/art competitions, cross-border sports tournaments, marathons, bike races, storytelling competitions or cooking competitions, for example.
Cultural, Arts & Crafts
Exhibitions, crafts workshops (calligraphy, pottery, painting), theatre and puppet shows, concerts, marching band parades, dancing lessons, comedy shows, circus performances, and painting camps.
Unique experiences
First aid and rescue training, hot air balloon rides, concerts in caves, sailboat tours, group art performances, treasure hunts, escape rooms, fashion shows, medieval festivals in real castles, and bouncy castle games.
The journey continues
As Interreg Cooperation Day celebrates 15 years, its mission remains the same: bringing people together and making cooperation visible for future generations.