![20 years of Interreg Europe celebration Two staff members pose holding a wooden hashtag](https://www.interregeurope.eu/sites/default/files/styles/banner_image/public/paragraph_image_100/Banner 20years_0.png?itok=Xh_88PML)
20 years of Interreg Europe
We are celebrating 20 years of Interreg Europe and interregional cooperation. Discover our story and how we've made a contribution to cohesion and the European Union’s larger goals.
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Our story
Our story really begins in the 1990s with the piloting of interregional cooperation. Ten years on, in 2002, we became part of the C strand of European territorial cooperation, today known as Interreg.
Back then, we were divided into four programmes called Interreg IIIC (2000-2006). Each one of us was responsible for a European geographical area (north, south, east and west). We gave public authorities the chance to make their regional development and cohesion policies more effective.
In 2007, the four programmes merged into INTERREG IVC, the direct predecessor of Interreg Europe. In this new pan-European programme, public authorities from the EU Member States, Norway, Switzerland and the UK (until 2020) have been exchanging experience, sharing good practices and building up their staff capacity, with the support of the programme's secretariat based in Lille, France.
Where will we go next? Only time will tell!
![Timeline of the Interreg Europe programme over the past 20 years Timeline of the Interreg Europe programme over the past 20 years](https://www.interregeurope.eu/sites/default/files/styles/paragraph_image_100/public/paragraph_image_100/20 years of Interreg Europe timeline_2022_1.png?itok=9Y9Aa2GL)
Key numbers
Have look at some of the key numbers our programme has reached over the past 20 years. They show our continuous efforts to foster interregional cooperation across Europe.
Interreg Europe is a gate opener. And once you're in this cooperation spirit, suddenly it opens up new opportunities.
Years of cooperation have created confidence in the partners' work and a great exchange of experience.Â
Our achievements
Discover our past achievements through the news stories we've shared with you.Â
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Interreg Europe hosts its first IVY Volunteer!
We joined with pleasure the Interreg Volunteer Youth (IVY) Initiative and we are now very enthusiastic to welcome Pauline Djian as an Interreg reporter.![](https://www.interregeurope.eu/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_height_180/public/news/08-meeting_proposal_park.png?itok=JshWEvfA)
From ideas to results with interregional cooperation
Cooperation works! We've looked into the effects of past projects in their regions and can't wait to share the results with you. Here are some first examples.![](https://www.interregeurope.eu/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_height_180/public/news/297A5477.jpg?itok=Mi4CCqA9)
5 first-time experiences from 2018
2018, what a year! If we had to sum it up shortly, it would be the 'year of firsts'. What do we mean by that? Read on and let us explain!![](https://www.interregeurope.eu/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_height_180/public/news/bookcase-books-classroom-289742.jpg?itok=PKzsqG3X)
Making life simpler for fourth call projects
Approved projects from the fourth call will benefit from a new simplification measure: the costs of phase two will be paid in a lump sum.Greening your events
These days, we’re all trying to make our meetings and events more sustainable. We’ve put together some basic guiding principles to help you get going.![](https://www.interregeurope.eu/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_height_180/public/news/School-chance_Pilotsactions.jpg?itok=me9IWsDr)
Testing new approaches with pilot actions
Discover how our projects test new approaches in their regions through diverse pilot actions.![](https://www.interregeurope.eu/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_height_180/public/news/online_study_visit_pic.jpg?itok=y3TInWjb)
How our projects moved their activities online
How have Interreg Europe projects managed to adapt and move their activities online during the COVID-19 crisis? Here are some examples.Our story: a journey with Interreg
It’s been 30 years since the European Commission launched the Interreg community initiative. See how far we’ve come with them!Green communication in Interreg programmes
Read the latest issue of Panorama and see how we’re inspiring others to have more online events.![](https://www.interregeurope.eu/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_height_180/public/news/2019_JS_team.jpg?itok=VMulUy7v)
30 historic pictures of cooperation
Interreg celebrates 30 years of cooperation this year. Take a trip through the years with us, captured in 30 photographs.![](https://www.interregeurope.eu/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_height_180/public/news/Carousel_1768_X_604.jpg?itok=PM5W0P6x)
One billion euros mobilised by our projects
Our projects' action plans and policy improvements have already mobilised over 1 billion euros for their implementation. What a leverage effect of cooperation!![](https://www.interregeurope.eu/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_height_180/public/news/2021-racetrack-pixabay.jpg?itok=Q1qQkj5U)
Five highlights of 2021
As the end of the year approaches, we take you through five of our favourite 2021 moments.![](https://www.interregeurope.eu/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_height_180/public/news/golden-sparkle-2021-12-07-02-58-35-utc.jpg?itok=SEn6q5YU)