Europe closer to citizens under PO5: Taking stock and looking ahead

Localism (PO5 CLLD etc) Post 2027 (Interreg VII)

Policy Objective 5 (PO5) focuses on bringing Europe closer to citizens by supporting the integrated and sustainable development of all types of territories. It places a strong emphasis on place-based approaches, local needs, and the active involvement of stakeholders.

This event will bring together Interreg programmes and stakeholders working on, or interested in, PO5 to exchange experiences, take away practical insights for implementation, and explore future perspectives. It will provide a dedicated space for mutual learning and strategic dialogue on how PO5 is being applied across different programme contexts.

We will begin by setting the scene with an overview of the 11 Interreg programmes currently implementing PO5, highlighting the diversity of approaches developed so far. This will be followed by success stories and good practices, showcasing concrete examples and allowing participants to learn from practical experience and reflect on approaches that may be transferable to other contexts.

A key focus will be on what makes a strong PO5 project, encouraging discussion on how to move beyond stand-alone initiatives towards more integrated approaches that combine infrastructure, soft measures, and stakeholder engagement to identify common lessons and transferable approaches across programmes.

On the second day, the focus will shift to discussing key challenges in implementation, including administrative, technical, and governance-related aspects, providing space for exchange on possible solutions and shared learning among programmes.

Finally, we will look ahead to the future of PO5 beyond 2027, exploring possible directions for the next programming period and discussing how future approaches could be both more strategic and more adapted to the needs of territories.

Target group

The event is aimed at all those working on, or interested in, Policy Objective 5 (PO5), including representatives of Managing Authorities, Joint Secretariats, National Authorities, and other relevant stakeholders.

Registration is now open!