Summary of the consultations about the future of Interreg NPA

The activities carried out included an online survey, an online consultation workshop "Shape the Future Interreg" with help from the European Policies Research Centre, an exercise during a Lead Partner Seminar, and consultations carried out by Regional Contact Points in Finland and Iceland.

In total, 196 participants were consulted, most of which (86%) were already familiar with the programme, and some were not so familiar with the programme.

In general, the consultation input was very constructive, and demonstrated a great appreciation for what is already working well in the programme.

The Harvesting Report concludes with a number of recommendations for improvements based on the consultation input, covering topics to be addressed by Interreg, the programme geography and recommendations for the implementation of programmes and projects.

Harvesting Reports from all Interreg programmes will be analysed, and the outcomes will be presented by the European Commission at the Interreg GO! Event on 27th-28th March 2025 in the twin cities of Gorizia (IT) and Nova Gorica (SI).

We thank all consultation participants for their valuable input!

Please read the full text in the Harvesting Report.

Summary of the recommendations

Recommended topics for cooperation

The consultation participants emphasised the continued importance of sustainable development, climate change, and sustainable tourism that respects natural and cultural heritage. They expressed a desire for increased focus on biodiversity, land use, youth engagement, resilience, security, and health in the context of these challenges. Many of these topics align with the sub-themes defined by the Interreg NPA Monitoring Committee under Specific Objective 1 (ISO1). It is recommended to maintain ISO1 as a flexible priority to foster institutional capacity for these emerging areas.

Improve geographical and partnership balance

Respondents appreciated the Interreg NPA programme’s place-based approach, particularly its focus on remote and sparsely populated communities. They expressed a desire for increased geographical flexibility to be able to include partners from third countries, such as Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Canada, as well as the potential inclusion of Denmark.

Additionally, there was a wish for improved funding availability and enhanced systems for national or regional match funding across Interreg NPA countries to foster balanced partnerships. It is recommended that these considerations be taken into account by the programme partner countries.

Flexibility is essential

Respondents provided constructive feedback regarding the functioning of the programme, highlighting its effective focus on the needs of remote and sparsely populated communities and the support from the programme administration. They praised the flexibility in project types, especially preparatory projects, and appreciated the straightforward application process. Recommendations include maintaining this flexibility for various project formats to engage smaller organisations and underrepresented groups, while also considering larger “projects of excellence.”

More opportunities for meeting and building capacity

Suggestions for improvement included regular stakeholder workshops to identify needs, enhanced partner search support, and funding for small-scale investments and pilot demonstrations. Stakeholders also expressed a desire for better access to cross-project learning opportunities and post-project policy development initiatives. It is recommended to explore these suggestions within the frameworks of Interreg Arctic Cooperation and the wider Interreg network.