Interreg IPA: Cooperation with candidate countries

For the 2021-2027 programming period, Interreg IPA combines an allocation of EUR 1.2 billion stemming from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) for EU Member States and the Instrument for Pre-Accession (IPA) for candidate countries*. The total budget of Interreg IPA is topped up by national co-financed of the cooperating countries.

Interreg IPA works under shared management compared to IPA-IPA cross-border cooperation programmes in direct management, i.e. implementation tasks lie within the responsibility of EU Member States. The cooperation ranges from cross-border cooperation (Strand A), transnational cooperation (Strand B) and interregional cooperation (Strand C).

The cooperation between EU Member States and candidate countries strengthens social and economic cohesion, better neighbourly relations and brings EU initiatives and objectives closer to candidate countries. Since Interreg IPA stands for cooperation on equal footing, cooperation on each side of the border strengthens ownership, mutual trust and builds capacities among beneficiaries and local, regional and national Ministries dealing with EU Cohesion Funds. Building such capacities is important for candidate countries to advance with Chapter 22 (Regional Policy and Coordination of Structural Instruments) under window but also through the five policy objectives relevant for achieving the revised enlargement methodology .

For the 2021-2027 programming period, Interreg IPA programmes are ruled by the Interreg Regulation (EU) 2021/1059, the Common Provisions Regulation (EU) 2021/1060 and the IPA III Regulation (EU) 2021/ 1529.

* The transnational Danube programmes combines ERDF, IPA and funds from the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI).

The Interreg IPA programme underwent territorial assessments to choose the most relevant policy objectives out of:

• five policy objectives for a smarter, greener, more connected and more social Europe, closer to citizens
• Interreg specific objectives: good cooperation governance and more secure borders.

Special focus is given to:

• the objectives of the European Green Deal to preserve nature and biodiversity, energy efficiency, circular economy, climate change adaptation and to decrease water, air and soil pollution.
• investments in sustainable tourism and development of cultural and natural heritage being renowned for its high number of UNESCO sites and cultural diversity
• better connectivity including the strategic project of the Prespa area between Interreg IPA Greece - North Macedonia to provide opportunities for tourism, improvement of the business environment and support citizens in their everyday lives.
• common and shared approaches between EU Member States and candidate countries by Interreg IPA ADRION in the fields of a more innovative, greener and connected Europe. In addition, the programme will fully support the implementation of the EU Strategy for the Adriatic-Ionian Region (EUSAIR) e.g. by implementing three projects to support EUSAIR’s governance structure.