Every border region in Europe has its own Interreg programme. Interreg is a European Union funding programme that addresses disparities between regions and encourages cross-border collaboration. Its objective is the economic, social and territorial development of Europe’s regions. Interreg is managed by the European Commission’s Directorate for Regional and Urban Policy.

European Regional Development Fund

Interreg is part of the European Union’s Cohesion Policy and is funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). This fund strengthens economic and social cohesion in the European Union by correcting imbalances between regions. A total of € 10.1 billion of subsidies from the European Regional Development Fund is available for the period 2014-2020.

The Euregio Meuse-Rhine is one of the 60 Interreg areas in Europe where European Union funds are made available for cross-border collaboration. At Interreg Euregio Meuse-Rhine (EMR), we fund projects where partners work together across borders to improve social and economic cohesion.

Together, we develop shared solutions to common challenges in our cross-border area of Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands. This gives Interreg its own, distinct spirit of cooperation between regions in the European Union.

Budget

In 2014-2020, we invest EUR 96 million from the European Regional Development Fund in the areas of innovation, economy, social inclusion, education and territorial development. The partner regions of Interreg Euregio Maas-Rijn provide co-financing whenever they see fit.

Programme Partners

Interreg Euregio Meuse-Rhine is a collaboration between the following partners:

Interreg Euregio Meuse-Rhine has selected four investment priorities for the period 2014-2020. Projects should address one of the four to be eligible for project funding.

1. Innovation
2. Economy
3. Social inclusion and education
4. Territorial development

These four investment priorities are linked to the European Union’s objectives from the 2020 strategy. This strategy sets sustainable, intelligent and inclusive growth as the main goal for the European Union for 2020. More specifically, it lists 11 thematic objectives.

Interreg programmes are required allocate 80% of their spending of the European Regional Development Fund on 4 of the 11 thematic objectives of the European Union.

Interreg is currently in the 5^th period which runs from 2014 to 2020. The 5^th period is usually indicated with a Roman 'V'. The next period (‘Interreg VI’) will run from 2021 until 2027. You can find out more about the programme period VI at www.interregmeuserhine.eu.