Building Bridges: How Interactive Maps Foster Regional Cooperation

In today’s interconnected world, regional challenges often transcend borders, making collaborative efforts more crucial than ever. The 2021-2027 programming period has underscored this objective, mandating member states to incorporate cooperation actions into each specific goal, thereby broadening the scope of required collaboration (Reg. EU No. 2021/1060 Art. 22 3 d) vi). Despite this, executing cooperation action projects demands significant partnership efforts, as well as the exchange of knowledge and best practices within the EU context. Stakeholders often find themselves confined to their existing partnerships, lacking opportunities to engage with others, which could be the key to successful cooperation actions.

To address these challenges, Interact introduced a new map tool: www.cooperationactions.eu. This tool is dedicated to all parties interested in finding their best match for cooperation actions. It provides a straightforward map interface that highlights key categories of cooperation and includes an automated search option. The map facilitates the search for partners based on several criteria, such as: programme title, country, NUTS III region, topic of cooperation actions, and scope of partnership needed. By offering a visual and practical means of connecting stakeholders across regions, this tool aims to enhance the effectiveness and support the successful implementation of cooperation actions.

Interact will organize the workshop “Cooperation Actions: Shared Knowledge Towards Greater Impact”, on 5 – 6 June 2025 in Arnhem, Netherlands. It will cover key elements for building successful cooperation actions, including practical tools for planning and implementation, mechanisms to support partnerships, analytical tools, including AI.