The European Territorial Cooperation (ETC), better known as INTERREG Programme is financed through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
Its overarching objective is to promote a harmonious economic, social and territorial development of the Union as a whole. Interreg is built around three strands of cooperation: Cross-Border (Interreg A), Transnational (Interreg B) and Interregional (Interreg C).
The Fifth programming period of Interreg has a budget of some €10.1bn and supports over 75 Cross Border, Transnational and Inter-regional programmes. Ireland is eligible to participate in a total of six programmes and compared to the 2007-2013 programme period the overall budget for these programmes has increased as has the grant intervention rate to projects. The relevant programmes to Ireland are: –
Cross Border:
- Ireland/Northern Ireland/Scotland Programme
- Ireland/Wales Programme
Transnational:
- Atlantic Area Programme
- Northern Periphery and Arctic Programme (NPA)
- North West Europe Programme
Inter-regional:
- Interreg EUROPE Programme (EU 28 MS)
- ESPON
- URBACT
The Assembly has been actively involved in managing Interreg Territorial Co-Operation Programmes in Ireland since 2000. Assembly Director, David Minton represents the region at a strategic level on the Programme Monitoring Committee of the Ireland/Northern Ireland Cross Border Programme as well as the Atlantic Area, NPA and Interreg Europe programmes.
