INTERREG VI – Strand A (Cross-Border Cooperation)

Building on a successful pilot action from 2014-2020, the Commission proposes to create the Interregional Innovative Investments. Regions with matching ‘smart specialisation’ assets will be given more support to build pan-European clusters in priority sectors such as big data, circular economy, advanced manufacturing or cybersecurity.

For cross-border cooperation, the regions to be supported by the ERDF shall be the NUTS level 3 regions of the Union along all internal and external land borders with third countries or partner countries. Regions on maritime borders which are connected over the sea by a fixed link shall also be supported under cross-border cooperation.

Specific objectives under PO4:

1. enhancing the effectiveness of labour markets and improving access to Quality employment across borders;
2. improving access to and the quality of education, training and lifelong Learning across borders with a view to increasing the educational attainment and skills
3. levels thereof as to be recognised across borders;
4. enhancing the equal and timely access to quality, sustainable and affordable healthcare services across borders;
5. improving accessibility, effectiveness and resilience of healthcare systems and long-term care services across borders;
6. promoting social inclusion and tackling poverty, including by enhancing equal opportunities and combating discrimination across borders.

Proposals should focus also on:

• Enhance the institutional capacity of public authorities, in particular those mandated to manage a specific territory, and of stakeholders;
• Enhance efficient public administration by promoting legal and
• administrative cooperation and cooperation between citizens and institutions, in particular, with a view to resolving legal and other obstacles in border regions;