SAVE THE DATE - EU Neighbours in action: Knowledge across borders

Partnerships Programme communication capacity Capitalisation Post 2027 (Interreg VII) Interreg IPA Interreg NEXT Macro-regional strategies (MRS)

Interact is pleased to invite you to a dedicated event focusing on external cooperation programmes, with particular attention to cooperation involving EU enlargement countries. The event offers a focused setting for peer exchange on how these programmes can respond to shared challenges while strengthening their strategic impact. It will provide a structured space to share practical experience, address common implementation challenges and reinforce the strategic contribution of external cooperation programmes within a changing European policy context. 

Objective

The event is designed as a structured peer-learning and exchange platform, bringing together programme authorities, managing authorities, joint secretariats, and key cooperation stakeholders from Interreg IPA, IPA–IPA and Interreg NEXT as well as European Commission services and EU Delegations engaged in enlargement and neighbourhood cooperation. It aims to facilitate joint reflection on shared, cross-cutting challenges and emerging opportunities across external cooperation frameworks.

Thematic focus

Discussions and interactive sessions will address, among others, the following thematic areas:

• Enhancing project quality and strengthening assessment and selection practices
• Partnership development, trust-building, and long-term cooperation dynamics
• Cooperation as a confidence-building and soft diplomacy instrument
• Communication and visibility of programme results
• Contribution of external cooperation programmes to European values
• Raising awareness of macro-regional strategies for territorial development and result uptake

Participants will engage in structured exchanges to identify common challenges, share practical solutions, and reflect on implementation experiences across different programming contexts. Contributions from Interreg programmes will complement these discussions by sharing relevant thematic perspectives and transferable experiences.

What participants can expect

• In-depth peer learning and exchange of practices across programmes
• Identification of thematic synergies and complementary
• Strengthened professional networks across Interreg IPA, Interreg NEXT, and IPA–IPA communities
• Reflections supporting both current programme implementation and future programme design

Further information, including the final agenda and registration details, will be shared in due course. For any questions, please contact Ivana Lazic and Besiana Ninka.