Faces of Interreg: Nathalie Verschelde on managing a unit at the European Commission

Seven questions for Nathalie Verschelde

What led you to work in Interreg or in European cooperation?

I think deep down, it is in my genes and linked to where I was born and my early life with one foot on each side of my “local” border.  Professionally, it was a little bit by chance, as I applied and got a job when living in Scotland. That job took me right to the heart of cooperation (not Interreg though, it was called ECOS).  Later on, things evolved quite naturally to bring me to Interreg.

If you had to define Interreg to a citizen using only three words, which would they be?

Together, for a better Europe (I did not count the article and preposition).

What impact of Interreg (on a territory or a community) has impressed you the most?

To go to the cross-border region I know best as I was born there, I am hugely impressed by the work done on cross-border health care for border citizens.  The whole thing started 25 years ago with Interreg II, with the establishment of a cross-border health observatory.  This collected data and evidence led to further work under each Interreg programming period to build step by step a strong and sustainable cross-border health care system, based on the needs and strengths of each sub-regional part of the border (which is not a territorially coherent border, there are hyper urban centres alongside very rural areas).  A wonderful example of persistence, rigour and a constant focus on citizens (patients in this case).

What does your job involve day-to-day? In this sense, what’s harder than people think?

Well, managing a unit is indeed challenging because it involves not only following the substance of our mission, but also all other aspects of looking after a team such as HR (timesheets, holidays, training, etc), motivation and animation, including fun moments.

In such a demanding role, what is the one hobby or ritual that keeps you grounded?

I do not have any particular ritual or hobby that I can call upon to keep me grounded.  But be certain that what keeps me with my two feet on the ground, but also with dreams and intent is the presence of two highly interesting teenagers in my house.

If you could have dinner with any founding figure of the EU, who would it be and what would you ask them about today’s Europe?

I would for sure want to have quality time with Jacques Delors, one of the most visionaries among recent politicians, at least when it comes to European integration. I would ask him whether he is happy that some of his most far-reaching European proposals are still here (euro, Schengen, Erasmus) and what he would propose now to re-set some of his European spirit.  Whispering in his ear that Interreg deserves more!

What is the one personal contribution you want to be remembered for in the European world?

Well, that would be a bit presumptuous since everything we do depends very much on teamwork in our Interreg units, and strong buy-in from our senior management.  But at a push, I would be very happy in my retirement if people remembered how much I pushed for the Interreg CBC work to be coordinated with policy work on cross-border regions across the EU.  I would be content if I was recognised for my persistent crusade in favour of border regions, with Interreg as one of the most important tools, but not the only one.