BMW Regional Assembly - Interreg Index

Interreg co-operation initiatives

For the 2007-2013 structural funds period, Interreg will be an objective in its own right. Unlike previously when Interreg programmes were grouped under the EU Community Initiative Programmes, the new Territorial co-operation objective or objective 3 of the Structural funds will be representative of all Interreg cross border, transnational and inter-regional programmes in the 2007-2013 programming period.

The various co-operation programmes are categorised into three core strands: -

Strand A Cross Border

Strand B Transnational

Strand C Inter-regional

Click here to log onto the Transnational: Atlantic Area Programme website

A total budget of €7.5bn has been allocated by the EU for territorial co-operation initiatives. Cross Border co-operation accounts for the lions share of the budget at 77% followed by 21% for transnational co-operation projects and the balance for inter-regional co-operation projects. Strand C inter-regional initiatives involve co-operation between public and public like bodies throughout the EU 27 member states.

Irish organisations from the public, private, community and voluntary sectors and business representative groupings are eligible to participate in all three co-operation strands of Interreg. In the case of cross border and transnational co-operation programmes, Irish partners can participate in the following programmes: -

Cross Border:

Ireland/Northern Ireland/Scotland programme
Ireland Wales Programme

Transnational: Atlantic Area Programme

Northern Periphery Programme
North West Europe Programme

While the Cross Border and transnational programmes support co-operation within specified geographical areas, inter-regional co-operation projects are EU wide with no geographical limitations.

In Ireland, the BMW Regional Assembly, Southern and Eastern Regional Assembly and the Special EU Programmes Body will be involved in the management and dissemination of all three strands of Interreg co-operation initiatives during the period 2007-2013.

The BMW Regional Assembly is the designated National contact point in Ireland for the Interreg Atlantic Area Programme 2007-2013 and the Interreg Northern Periphery Programme 2007-2013.

The fifth call for applications under the Northern Periphery Programme will run from February 3rd to March 24th 2010. The fifth call will be a focussed call where projects should demonstrate their potential to fight the impacts of the economic crisis and stimulate job creation. Read More

Click here for information on recent Interreg Events

For more information, please contact:

Mr. Michael O Brien - Programme Liaison Officer - Phone: 094 9862970 or Email: mobrien@bmwassembly.ie

For more information on Interreg North West Europe, please contact:

Ms. Antoinette Jordan - Programme Liason Officer, Interreg North West Europe, Southern and Eastern Regional Assembly - Phone: 051 860709 or Email: ajordan@seregassembly.ie or log onto http://www.nweurope.eu/