Cabo Verde takes a leading role with 28 Interreg approved projects

 Interreg MAC Programme boosts Euro-African cooperation

At an event in Praia on 10–11 September 2025, Cabo Verde presented 28 projects approved under the 1st call of the programme, showcasing the country’s growing role as a strategic bridge between Europe, Africa and Macaronesia.

A long-standing track record of results

With a budget of €169.9 million from the European Regional Development Fund – of which €154.45 million is dedicated to co-financing cooperation projects at an 85% rate – the Interreg MAC Programme covers partnerships between Madeira, the Azores, the Canary Islands, and African countries including Mauritania, Senegal, Cabo Verde, Ivory Coast, Gambia, Ghana and São Tomé and Príncipe.

This investment reflects the EU’s broader ambition to support stability, prosperity and sustainability in its neighbourhood, aligning with Global Europe instruments, which dedicate €10 million in 2025 to cooperation with the Atlantic outermost regions.

Since its creation, Interreg MAC has already supported 415 projects over 23 years, reflecting its impact as a driver of territorial cohesion and regional cooperation. The challenge ahead is to capitalise on this experience, ensuring knowledge transfer and scaling up synergies across regions.

Cabo Verde’s strategic role

Cabo Verde is involved in 28 out of 34 projects approved in the first call, with participation from around 31 Cape Verdean institutions. These projects cover a wide spectrum of priority areas:

• Innovation & Competitiveness – initiatives such as Ecomaris, InnoVamos and TecnoMac bring together universities, research institutes and enterprises to drive knowledge transfer, entrepreneurship and blue economy solutions.
• Sustainability & Climate Action – projects like IDIWATER, GEOTERMAC, CIRCULAROCEAN and PLANCLIMAC2 strengthen water management, renewable energy use, and resilience to climate change.
• Blue & Circular Economy – with projects such as SANIFISH and Blue Supply Chain, Cabo Verde partners with Canarian, Madeiran and Azorean institutions to develop sustainable fisheries, aquaculture and maritime logistics.
• Risk prevention & resilience – RESMAC, IMPLACOST and RENATURMAC address natural hazards, coastal protection, biodiversity and disaster preparedness.
• Mobility, migration & skills – MAC Skiling and SOTAVENTO focus on workforce training, tourism skills, and improving port connectivity between the islands.

The ATLANTE Strategic Project

The Praia event was organised within the framework of ATLANTE, a strategic project supporting programme governance under Priority 3 “MAC Governance.” ATLANTE builds on the earlier HEXAGONE project (2014–2020) and creates dialogue platforms, thematic working groups (such as Sustainable Tourism), and networking actions. It also promotes coordination between EU and international funding streams, including Global Europe.

Voices from Praia

The event brought together high-level representatives, including:

• Myrian Vieira, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Cabo Verde
• Duarte Freitas, Regional Secretary for Finance of Madeira
• Artur Lima, Vice-President of the Regional Government of the Azores
• Luís Padilla, Director General for Relations with Africa, Government of the Canary Islands
• Representatives of the European Commission and Ambassadors of Portugal and Spain to Cabo Verde

This broad institutional presence underscores the strategic importance of Cabo Verde in Euro-African territorial cooperation, and the shared commitment to innovation, sustainability, and regional stability.

Background

The Interreg Madeira-Açores-Canarias Programme 2021-2027 is part of the EU’s Cohesion Policy, supporting cooperation between the Outermost Regions of Macaronesia and their neighbouring African countries. Its priorities include innovation, competitiveness, green transition, climate action, risk prevention, mobility and migration governance.