Ukraine officially joins Interreg Europe Programme. Interreg Europe is an interregional cooperation programme with a budget of 394 million euro to help local, regional and national governments across Europe to develop and deliver better policy. Interreg Europe supports the exchange of good practices and policy learning.
Following Ukraine’s request to participate in the Programme, the European Commission amending decision was signed on 14 December 2023 by Commissioner Elisa Ferreira, to increase the Interreg Europe programme funding and scope for cooperation with Ukraine and Moldova. An extra 5 million euro has been allocated to support new interregional cooperation activities across Europe with these countries.
On 20 December 2024, the Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine, Ms Olga Stefanishyn, signed the Financing Agreement for the Interreg Europe 2021-2027 programme. The next step is the submission of the Agreement for ratification of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.
Ukrainian organisations may now apply to all relevant calls for proposals and activities under the Interreg Europe programme. The implementation of this Agreement provides legal grounds for engaging EU financing for the purpose of implementing joint projects with partner countries.
To facilitate Ukraine's integration into the programme, information events have been organized throughout 2023 and 2024, to introduce Ukrainian potential beneficiaries to the programme’s objectives and opportunities. Ukrainian organisations and new partner states of Interreg Europe had the possibility to join the ongoing selected projects (first and second Calls for projects from 2022 and 2023) and also to participate in the Third Call of project published in 2024 (results were announced to successful applicants at the end of 2024). More than 50 Ukrainian partners have been selected so far in more than 50 Interreg Europe projects.
This development is an important step towards the integration of the Ukrainian regions into the European ecosystem. This will enable Ukrainian regions and municipalities to collaborate with counterparts across the EU on projects related to innovation, climate resilience, mobility, social issues, and local development.
At the same time, expanding the Interreg Europe programme to Ukraine will enrich the EU diversity, contribute to deepening good-neighbourly relations, allowing peers from these regions to engage in exchanges of experience, forming joint solutions to overcome challenges.
The territory of the Interreg Europe program covers now all 27 EU Member States, as well as Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, Montenegro, Northern Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, Switzerland and Ukraine.
See the relation from the roundtable discussion dedicated to the achievements gained by Ukraine within the framework of the first competition of the Interreg Europe program.
Brief
"On December 14, 2023, Commissioner Elisa Ferreira signed the amending decision to increase funding and scope for Ukraine's participation in Interreg Europe. On December 20, 2024, Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Olga Stefanishyn signed the Financing Agreement, paving the way for Ukrainian organisations to apply to calls for proposals and activities under the programme."
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Purpose
Ukraine’s official membership in the Interreg Europe Programme marks a significant step towards enhancing regional cooperation and policy learning among European countries. This development aims to foster exchange of good practices, promote innovation, climate resilience, mobility, social issues, and local development initiatives across participating regions.
Effects on Industry
The expansion of the Interreg Europe programme to Ukraine is expected to have a positive impact on various industries, including innovation, transportation, and sustainable development. By facilitating collaboration among Ukrainian regions and municipalities with their EU counterparts, this initiative will enable the sharing of best practices, expertise, and resources, ultimately leading to more effective policy implementation and better regional development outcomes.
Relevant Stakeholders
The stakeholders most affected by Ukraine’s membership in the Interreg Europe Programme include:
- Ukrainian organizations, which can now apply for funding and participate in programme activities
- EU Member States and partner countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, Switzerland, and Ukraine), which will benefit from increased regional cooperation and knowledge sharing
- Local governments and municipalities within these participating regions, which can engage in joint projects and exchanges with their counterparts
Next Steps
To fully capitalize on this development, Ukrainian organizations should:
- Familiarize themselves with the programme’s objectives, funding opportunities, and application procedures through information events and online resources
- Develop partnerships with EU-based organizations to collaborate on project proposals and activities under the Interreg Europe Programme
- Engage in ongoing projects and participate in future calls for proposals to leverage programme funding and expertise
Any Other Relevant Information
The expansion of the Interreg Europe programme to Ukraine reflects a broader effort to strengthen good-neighbourly relations, promote regional integration, and address common challenges. This initiative will enrich EU diversity, facilitate policy learning, and contribute to more effective regional development outcomes across participating regions.
* Over 50 Ukrainian partners have been selected for participation in more than 50 Interreg Europe projects
* The programme covers all 27 EU Member States, as well as eight partner countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, Switzerland, and Ukraine)
