Panorama

The Youth for Future Cooperation - On the Road to Interreg GO! event brought together 100 young people from across Europe and neighbouring countries on 15 November 2024 to discuss the future of cooperation within European regional policy. The event was organised by the European Commission’s DG for Regional and Urban Policy (DG REGIO) and aimed to provide young people with a platform to contribute directly to the wider consultation of citizens and stakeholders on the future of territorial cooperation.

The importance of bringing young voices in cohesion policy

The event's focus on youth involvement is crucial, as European Regional Policy, also known as Cohesion Policy, accounts for approximately one third of the European Union's budget. Interreg, a series of programmes focused on cooperation across borders funded within the Regional policy, plays a vital role in promoting cross-border mobility, environmental protection, emergency services, skilled jobs, and access to public services. Over one third of the EU's population lives in cross-border areas, facing challenges such as barriers to movement, fragmented labour markets, and limited access to public services. Addressing these issues requires bringing neighbouring regions together, promoting a more cohesive and closer European Union.

In her opening speech, Director-General of DG REGIO Themis Christophidou emphasised the importance of cross-border and transnational cooperation in tackling today's key challenges, from the environment to security and migration. The legislative process to establish the rules for Cohesion Policy after 2027, including Interreg priorities, is expected to start in the first half of 2025, making this a crucial moment for young generations to contribute to the shaping of European policy, ensuring that it remains closer to their expectations and needs.

 

The discussions - Diverse Voices, Diverse Perspectives

Participants from 21 EU Member States and 13 neighbouring countries shared their diverse experiences and backgrounds to enrich the discussion and provide their unique views. These young students and professionals are engaged in territorial cooperation through various initiatives under the Youth4Cooperation brand: Interreg Volunteer Youth (IVY), Cross-Border Ambassadors, and Youth Councils from Macro-Regional Strategies and related initiatives.

Director-General Christophidou encouraged the participants to engage actively in the discussions, stressing the importance of their perspectives in shaping the future of Interreg. She noted that young people can act as bridges between different places, people, and institutions, fostering cooperation and implementing cooperation on the ground.

The event consisted of panel discussions, breakout sessions, and networking opportunities. First, three selected participants debated with Head of Unit Jean-Pierre Halkin on the nature of future cooperation, improving the impact of cooperation programs, and the role of Interreg for EU neighbouring and candidate countries. The panellists - Vincent De Keer (Cross-Border Ambassador from Belgium), Jana Burzyková (IVY and Member of the Danube Youth Council from Czechia) and Ana Šabanović (Member of the Danube Council from Serbia) - reflected the variety of initiatives and territories involved in cooperation. This preliminary discussion aimed at paving the way for the breakout sessions, providing new ideas and fostering the participation of the audience with questions and observations.

The breakout sessions focused on eight topics related to the role of youth in cooperation, namely:

• Life close to a border
• Obstacles to cooperation
• Existing cooperation structures
• Dream cooperation project
• Youth involvement
• Dream cooperation project specifically targeting young people
• Interreg priorities
• Geopolitical situation and EU enlargement

Participants emphasized the need to integrate and empower border regions, break down barriers to foster cooperation, involve a wider audience in policy objectives, and mainstream youth engagement.

A final declaration by young people

At the end of the day, the conclusions from the 8 thematic sessions led to a final declaration, "by young people on the future of territorial cooperation" summarising the priorities and suggestions brought forward by participants. The declaration contains recommendations and concrete actions for their implementation. Overall, these conclusions stress the importance of four main issues.

• Integrating and empowering border regions to create a more connected and inclusive approach to border regions in areas such as transport, education, and labour markets.
• Breaking down barriers to foster cooperation and making it easier for people and businesses to work together across borders.
• Involving everyone by engaging diverse stakeholders, including young people and underrepresented communities.
• Mainstreaming youth by prioritising inclusion in all policy objectives, increasing education and communication efforts.

The declaration will be officially presented by 30 selected participants at the Interreg GO! high-level event in March 2025.

The issue of inclusiveness proved to be particularly important. Luca Palis from Italy, a representative of the Interreg Alcotra Youth Council (Interreg Italy-France), underlined the need for simplification to improve accessibility and inclusiveness of Interreg. During the “Cooperation project of your dreams” breakout session, he stressed the urgency of bringing people closer to Interreg, in order to “make it more accessible for those outside of this bubble that are not aware of what Interreg is”.

In the same vein, Simona Jakaitė, a student from Lithuania and member of the Baltic Sea Region Youth Forum, reported her contributions to the "Youth Involvement" breakout session. The discussion focused on lowering barriers to engage more young people in EU projects, encouraging grassroots participation, and fostering initiatives “by youth for youth.” She emphasised the importance of amplifying these efforts, noting that it can inspire others to explore the opportunities available and get involved: “people here do so many amazing things, but it is important to encourage other young people to do it as well”.

Closing the event, Director Slawomir Tokarski praised the participants for their active contributions during the discussions and their commitment as young professionals in cross-border cooperation.

The event also proved to be a powerful platform for young participants to interact with each other, acquiring valuable insights and creating new relationships and networks. Maria-Parthena Moula, a former IVY Volunteer and Cross-border Youth Ambassador from Thessaloniki, Greece, described how the “insightful discussion” gave her the opportunity to gain valuable perspectives on the varying levels of integration across European border regions and reflected on Greece’s unique challenges and opportunities in striving for deeper cross-border collaboration and integration. At the same time, she highlighted the event's role in connecting young people and providing a direct platform to unite their diverse visions and influence decision-making: “I think there is no other way for us to be heard than being here in Brussels and talking to people from the Commission and policymakers”.

 

 Participants are encouraged to join the Youth4Cooperation Group animated by the Commission and use it as a platform for engagement of different groups of young people in cooperation. The Commission will make its best to keep the momentum and further promote active participation of young people in Interreg and macro-regional strategies.

On the road to Interreg GO!

The "Interreg GO! Post-2027 High-level event" organised by DG REGIO will take place in March 2025 in Nova Gorica (Slovenia) and Gorizia (Italy), two twin cities on the border which are symbolically awarded cross-border European Capital of Culture 2025. Here, the final declaration will be officially presented among the results of the EU-wide consultation of citizens and stakeholders on the future of territorial cooperation. This event will gather political representatives at local, national, and EU levels to discuss the future of regional policy and represents the best opportunity to ensure the best coverage to the declaration.