Interreg

Interreg A supports cooperation between NUTS III regions (i.e. regions with a population of between 150,000 and 800,000 inhabitants) from at least two different Member States that are located directly on the border or adjoining it. It aims to tackle common challenges identified in the border regions and exploit the untapped growth potential in the border regions, while reinforcing the process of cooperation for the harmonious overall development of the Union. Interreg A’s budget for the funding period from 2021 to 2027 comprises EUR 6.7 billion and 49 programmes.

Bavaria participates in the following three Interreg A programmes:

• Germany/Bavaria-Czech Republic (Bayern-Tschechien)
• Austria-Germany/Bavaria (Bayern-Österreich)
• Germany-Austria-Switzerland-Liechtenstein (Alpenrhein-Bodensee-Hochrhein)

Interreg B, known as trans-national cooperation, allows cooperation in larger transnational areas or in maritime areas. A project includes national, regional and local programme partners from at least three different states, two of them from EU Member States, but also in some non-EU countries, such as Iceland or Liechtenstein, enlargement and neighbourhood partner countries and overseas countries and territories, in order to achieve a higher degree of territorial integration. Like all Interreg programmes, it aims to promote better trans-national cooperation within the designated regions in order to find efficient solutions to common territorial, economic and social challenges that are too extensive to be tackled efficiently at national level. Interreg B’s project investments contribute in particular to the following objectives:

• Innovation, especially networks of universities, research institutions and SMEs
• Environment and climate change, especially sustainable green and blue economy, water resources and flood management
• Digital connectivity and sustainable transport
• Sustainable regional development, especially in terms of education, labour markets and cooperation
• Cultural heritage and sustainable tourism development
• Capacity building and governance
• People-to-people actions and engagement.

In the funding period from 2021 to 2027, Interreg B’s budget is close to EUR 1.5 billion, see https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/en/policy/cooperation/european-territorial/trans-national.

Bavaria participates in the following Interreg B programmes:

• Alpine Space
• Danube Region
• Central Europe
• North West Europe

Interreg C, the interregional cooperation, operates at pan-European level and covers all 27 EU Member States. It aims to improve regional governance through capacity building. A project consists of programme partners from at least three different countries, two of which must be EU Member States. Norway and Switzerland are participating in the programmes with their own funds. Interreg C builds networks to develop best practices and facilitate the exchange and transfer of experiences of successful regions. They show what regions are doing well for the benefit of those who are still investing.

For the period 2021-2027, four programmes will continue under Interreg C:

• Interreg Europe
• Interact
• URBACT
• ESPON

Bavaria participates in all four Interreg C programmes. In addition to the 27 EU Member States, Norway and Switzerland also participate in Interreg Europe, Interact and URBACT. In addition to Norway and Switzerland, ESPON also includes Lichtenstein and Iceland.

Interreg C has a budget of more than EUR 550 million.

The 2021-2027 funding period recognises the specificities of the outermost regions through a specific cooperation (Interreg D). It helps these regions to cooperate with their neighbouring countries and territories in the most efficient and easy way possible. Calls for proposals can be launched for combined financing under the ERDF and the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI) established by a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council.

Interreg D includes 4 geographical areas:

• Amazonia “Plateau des Guyanes”/Caribbean Space
• Mid-Atlantic/Gulf of Guinea (MAC)
• Indian Ocean
• Mozambique Channel

Interreg D has a budget of over EUR 280 million. However, Bavaria does not participate in Interreg D.

Further information on Interreg on the Web

Website of the European Commission on Interreg
Website of the European Comission on Interreg A
Website of the European Commission on Interreg B
Website of the European Commission on ERDF

Information on Interreg projects of BayFOR

AlpBC
GeoMol
GRETA
MOVECO
S3-4AlpClusters
WINALP