Interreg Atlantic Area is a European funding programme that promotes transnational cooperation between 36 Atlantic regions in five European countries. With a total budget of 185M€, 140M€ of which is from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), this programme co-funds cooperation projects in the areas of Innovation & Competitiveness, Resource Efficiency, Territorial Risk Management, Biodiversity, and Natural and Cultural Assets.
Interreg Atlantic Area Programme 2021-2027: a new programme, a renewed commitment to the Atlantic regions
The Interreg Atlantic Area 2021-2027 programme was formally adopted by the European Commission on 8 September 2022. The design and development of this new programme began in 2020, through a Working Group made up of representatives from four countries - Portugal, Spain, France and Ireland - as well as the Managing Authority, the Joint Secretariat, and the European Commission.
Through this new Interreg Atlantic Area programme, we are renewing our commitment to the Atlantic regions to support innovative initiatives that contribute to their growth by solving common challenges by implementing joint actions, exchanging good practices, and contributing to new or current policies. Read the Interreg Atlantic Area 2021-2027 cooperation programme here.
// Objectives
The programme supports cooperation in the four thematic priorities and eight specific objectives, based on the outcomes of the territorial analysis:
1. Blue innovation and competitiveness (smarter Europe)
1.1. Developing and enhancing research and innovation capacities and the uptake of advanced technologies
1.2. Reaping the benefits of digitalisation for citizens, companies, research organisation, and public authoritities
2. Blue and green environment (greener Europe)
2.1. Promoting energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions;
2.2. Promoting climate change adaptation and disaster risk prevention, resilience, taking into account eco-system-based approaches;
2.3. Promoting the transition to a circular and resource efficient economy;
2.4. Enhancing protection and preservation of nature, biodiversity, and green infrastructure, including in urban areas, and reducing all forms of pollution.
3. Blue tourism and sustainable culture (social Europe)
3.1. Enhancing the role of culture and tourism in economic development, social inclusion, and social innovation
4. A better governance for cooperation (Interreg objective)
// Funding
The programme budget for 2021-2027 is of 113 million euros from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
The co-financing rate for projects approved is up to 75% of the total investment.
// Who can benefit from the funding?
The Atlantic Area community is made up of business support organisations, social enterprises, third sector organisations, public authorities, education and training organisations, environmental protection agencies, local communities, civil society clusters, universities, upper education bodies and research/innovation institutions.
// The Atlantic regions
As in the previous programme, the Interreg Atlantic Area 2021-2027 programme covers the western part of the Atlantic Ocean and includes all regions of Ireland and Portugal, as well as several French and Spanish regions close to or on the Atlantic Ocean coast.
Total list of regions
_ Spain: Basque Country, Navarra, La Rioja, Cantabria, Principality of Asturias, Galicia, Andalusia, and the Canary Islands
_ France: Brittany, Normandy, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, and Pays-de-la-Loire
_ Ireland: Northern and Western, Southern, Eastern and Midland
_ Portugal: North, the Algarve, Centre, Lisbon, Alentejo, the Autonomous Region of the Azores, and the Autonomous Region of Madeira
