Interreg is one of the key instruments of the European Union supporting cooperation across borders through project funding. Its aim is to jointly tackle common challenges that are faced by citizens and businesses on a daily basis and find shared solutions in fields such as health, environment, research, education, transport, sustainable energy and more.
The key is to find employment, receive better healthcare, make use of public facilities or receive emergency support in cross-border cooperation. In Europe there are currently 79 INTERREG programmes. In the 2014-2020 period it has a budget of EUR 10.1 billion.
Since 2004, non-EU countries have also joined INTERREG, giving Serbia the opportunity to join territorial cooperation programs.
Currently, Serbia is implementing seven Cross-Border programmes with its neighbours’ states and two programmes with other states (on Danube and Adriatic-Ionian programmes).
By 2016, more than 1000 projects were funded and implemented by 700 organizations from Serbia were funded through INTERREG programs in Serbia, and more than 220 million euros were contracted.
Through the implemented projects, hospitals, schools, kindergartens have been equipped, children from border regions of Serbia and neighbouring countries competed in sports, churches have been renovated, joint emergency response and counter-narcotics services have been cooperated, border crossings have been built, factories for wastewater treatment have been built, bicycle paths opened, etc.
In the 2014-2020 financial period, the European Union has allocated to Serbia EUR 260 million for the implementation of nine programs.
About the programme
About Serbia's participation
