Interreg brings its community’s voice to the European Parliament

Stories of Cooperation: making European cooperation tangible 

A central reference point throughout the event was Stories of Cooperation, a publication highlighting concrete experiences from Interreg projects across Europe and beyond. 

The Stories illustrate how cooperation is lived in practice in very different territorial contexts - from outermost regions to cross-border and neighbouring areas - and how it contributes to addressing shared challenges. They grounded the discussion in real-life examples, showing how European cooperation takes shape through daily work on the ground. 

Youth voices through Interreg Volunteer Youth 

Young people were given a central role in the exchange through the Interreg Volunteer Youth (IVY) initiative. Four IVY volunteers shared experiences from projects they supported across Europe, reflecting the diversity of cooperation realities. 

Their contributions covered areas such as climate resilience, sustainable food systems, urban development and cross-border security, illustrating how cooperation enables learning, trust-building and practical solutions. These testimonies showed how Interreg supports youth engagement while strengthening cooperation capacity within regions and programmes. 

Projects improving access to services 

Interreg programmes and projects also shared examples of how cooperation changes the way services are organised and accessed across borders. 

An example from the Interreg Danube Region Programme presented a project developing a single digital gateway for travellers with disabilities across the Danube region. The initiative aims to allow users to plan and book assistance for journeys covering several countries along the Danube through one single application, rather than navigating separate systems for each service provider. 

This example illustratedillustrates how territorial cooperation can reduce barriers and improve accessibility for citizens travelling across borders. 

Members of the European Parliament reacting to Interreg experiences 

Within this institutional exchange, Members of the European Parliament shared reflections in response to the experiences and examples presented during the discussion. 

Raquel Garcia Hermida-van der Walle underlined the role of Interreg actors in bringing Europe closer to citizens through practical action: 

'I am really impressed with how everyone involved in Interreg-programmes, from local and regional governments to small and medium businesses to civil society organisations and volunteers, contributes to bringing Europe as close as possible to our citizens. Not with big words, but with daily actions and delivering tangible results. Interreg is Europe at its best.'

Lukas Mandl reflected on the importance of regional cooperation for Europe’s cohesion: 

'The regional structures of Europe are much more than just a geographical matter. They are a core part of Europe's very identity. Cross-border regional projects strengthen the confidence Europeans have in their own continent.'

Looking ahead 

The roundtable concluded with exchanges on the future of Interreg in the context of the next Multiannual Financial Framework. The discussion reaffirmed the importance of territorial cooperation in translating European priorities into practical solutions, based on cooperation between regions, programmes and people working together on the ground.