Interreg Programme aim

Interreg is a European territorial cooperation programme that is connected to the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). It is one of the many funding programmes in the European regional policy, such as the programmes of the Cohesion fund and the European Social Fund. Interreg aims to promote a harmonious economic, social and territorial development of the Union as a whole. The focus of the programme is on strengthening cross-border collaboration and it provides a framework for implementation of joint actions and policy exchanges between actors from different Member States. Many member states, regions and cities have made use of Interreg to fund climate change adaptation (CCA) planning and implementation.

The structure

The first Interreg programme was launched in 1990 (Interreg I (1990-1993)), followed by Interreg II (1994-1999), Interreg III (2000-2006) and Interreg IV (2007-2013). While the 2021-2027 Programme is in preparation,  Interreg V (2014-2020) is in operation and is structured as follows:

1. Interreg A – Cross-Border: to enhance cross-border cooperation between NUTS III regions from at least two different Member States lying directly on the borders or adjacent to them. Interreg A can be used to invest in innovation, health care, education, employment and labour mobility. Risk prevention and emergency response as part of climate adaptation can be financed by this programme.
2. Interreg B - Transnational: to enhance transnational cooperation between regions from several countries by developing a joint approach to tackle common issues like in the fields of innovation, environment, accessibility, telecommunication, urban development. This programme can finance climate change adaptation strategies as for instance related to, for instance flood management, nature based solutions.  
3. Interreg C - Networking: to enhance interregional cooperation to build up networks to develop good practice and to facilitate the exchange and transfer of experience by successful regions.

For more information check the Interreg and Interreg Europe websites.

Budget for Interreg 2014-2020

Interreg V is based on 11 investment priorities laid down in the ERDF Regulation contributing to the delivery of the Europe 2020 strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. At least 80% of the budget for each cooperation programme must focus on a maximum of 4 thematic objectives among the eleven EU priorities:

Interreg V has a budget of EUR 10.1 billion invested in over 100 cooperation programmes between regions and territorial, social and economic partners. This budget also includes the ERDF allocation for Member States to participate in EU external border cooperation programmes supported by other instruments (Instrument for Pre-Accession and European Neighbourhood Instrument).

Source: http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/EN/policy/cooperation/european-territorial/

Some Interreg V (2014-2020) projects on climate change adaptation

There are already some climate change adaptation projects that are financed by Interreg. These can be found in the KEEP database.

Climate change adaptation projects financed by Interreg A - Cross-Border

One of the many Cross-Border programmes is Interreg 2 Seas Mers Zeeën. This is the collaboration between coastal areas of England, France, Flanders (Belgium) and the Netherlands that are located at the Channel and North Sea. Seven projects on CCA are at this moment launched. One of them is SPONGE2020, started in July 2016 and lasting 4 years, that aims to improve the adaptation capacity of cities and densely built areas in the 2 Seas region by co-creating and implementing innovative climate change solutions with stakeholders. Experiences are shared and nature based solutions for CCA are co-created. By 2020, this project will have resulted in an increase of adaptation capacity of densely built areas of at least 25,000 m³ and cost saving of 10 – 50% compared to traditional CCA investments. The total project budget is € 6 840 257 and is implemented by regional and local authorities like the Rotterdam, Antwerp, Somerset County Council, Essex County Council, Regional water authority of Delfland, Westcountry River Trust, Westland, and Southend-on-Sea Borough Council. SPONGE2020 is a good example to show that Interreg programming can be used to implement nature based solutions for climate change adaptation.

Climate change adaptation projects financed by Interreg B - Transnational

There are also many Interreg Transnational programmes that finance climate change adaptation projects.  In particular, Eastern European countries may have limited funds for CCA. The Interreg Programming is a good way to support them in a transition towards an adaptive society.

One of the project funded by Interreg V B Alpine Space Programme 2014-2020 is GoApply. The project is a collaboration between authorities in Austria, Germany, Switserland and Italy and observing partners from these countries and Slovenia, France and Liechtenstein. The project aims to tackle multilevel governance barriers on adaptation in the Alpine countries. The project costs €734.331 and has started 1/11/2016. It will be finalised 30/4/2019. 

Climate change adaptation projects financed by Interreg C - Networking

To ensure knowledge sharing on climate change adaptation among the member states, Interreg Networking has financed several knowledge exchange projects. One of them is PERFECT – Planning for Environment and Resource Efficiency in European Cities and Towns. This network aims to improve the implementation of regional development policies for the protection and development of natural heritage through the recognition of the multiple benefits of Green Infrastructure by Managing Authorities, partners and stakeholder groups. PERFECT partners will work with regional stakeholders and inter-disciplinary teams within their organizations to identify and integrate the multi-use of Green Infrastructure into long-term policies and practices, and crucially, investments.

PERFECT outputs will include 7 Action Plans for GI, expert paper, factsheets, guidance and a matrix of good practices. The total budget is € 1,839,719.60. Partners in this network are local authorities of the Netherlands, Slovenia, Slovakia, Italy, Austria, Hungary and United Kingdom.

Climate change adaptation financed by Interreg IPA Cross-Border

Climate change adaptation can be one of the topics to foster stable relations with candidate countries, potential candidate countries and EU Member States. The IPA Cross-Border Co-operation Programme Hungary-Serbia has received funds in the period 2014-2020. One of the projects is PROTECT-HUSRB that has the objective to decrease environmental risks and preventing the negative effects of climate change on nature-protected areas in the Hungary-Serbia border regions by joint actions in monitoring, mapping and preventing invasive species. The project has started in January 2018 and will continue until September 2019. Total budget is €284.817, 34.

Climate change adaptation projects financed by ENPI/ENI Cross-Border

Collaboration with non-EU countries at the borders of the European Union help to stabilize the area. Interreg V has not yet climate change adaptation projects. Interreg IV has included ENPI/ENI cross-border projects for CCA. Climate change adaptation has been one of the topics for collaboration in the Black Sea Region, for instance by the financing and the launch of MAREAS – the Black Sea Joint Regional Research Centre for Mitigation and Adaptation to the Global Changes Impact. Institutes of Romania, Bulgaria, Georgia, Ukraine and Turkey have collaborated in this centre. Interreg has financed this centre by €459.169, 29.