Executive Vice-President Fitto and Commissioner Kos in Italy and Slovenia to discuss the future of the EU's Interreg cooperation programmes

Tomorrow, Executive Vice-President Raffaele Fitto and Commissioner Marta Kos will kick-start the much anticipated Interreg GO! event held in the twin cities of Gorizia, Italy, and Nova Gorica, Slovenia. The two cities are the European Capitals of Culture in 2025.

The two-day event is poised to attract approximately 500 decision-makers from local, regional, national, and European levels. Over the two days, participants will explore the evolution of Interreg cooperation programmes and their significant role in preparing candidate countries for EU accession.

Key highlights will include the presentation of findings from extensive consultations on the future of the Interreg programmes post-2027. This process has notably involved cross border bodies, regional and local authorities, enterprises, civil society organisations, current and former beneficiaries, and, for the first time, nearly 15,000 citizens from regions covered by current Interreg initiatives.

Discussions will also focus on the effectiveness of Interreg programmes in addressing cross-border challenges. Key topics will include enhancing resilience to climate change and natural disasters, overcoming legal and administrative hurdles in public service provision for individuals and businesses, fostering people-to-people projects, safeguarding shared cultural heritage, improving cross-border healthcare, and bolstering border security. Additionally, the expansion of cooperation with candidate and neighbouring countries, including those near the EU's outermost regions, will be a primary focus.

The entire Interreg GO! event will be webstreamed.

(For more information: Maciej Berestecki: +32 229-66483; Isabel Arriaga e Cunha +32 229-52117)