Month: March 2025

When I first started my volunteering, I already knew a little about the Interreg Programs, but it wasn’t until I started contributing to them through the Regional Council in Nouvelle Aquitaine that I understood their extent and impact. Something to highlight about my host organization is that they take part in four Interreg Programs, therefore I’m lucky enough to be discovering them as well as European cooperation through my IVY Reporter role. So far, I have been participating in two of them: Atlantic Area and SUDOE. The Atlantic Area (AA) 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. Due to the AA’s geographical and maritime characteristics, the challenges that it aims to tackle are balanced economic development and climate change. This characteristic, jointly with the coast-hinterland interrelationships, corresponds to the main approach to the Program’s conception. Interreg SUDOE is a European Union funding program to support regional development and cohesion in the regions of south-west Europe. To address the common challenges faced by the SUDOE regions, such as climate change, social cohesion and territorial balance, it supports cooperation projects between entities in the Member States that make up this area. The Programs support public and private entities that act together to build solutions that address the transnational challenges of these vast territories in order to improve the quality of life of citizens. What have I been up to? During this time, I began by getting to know about the Programs and the projects they fund, to understand their main objectives, the principles and the results expected from the cooperation so I can communicate about it. I also had the opportunity to assist in French and cross-border meetings where I could observe how the partners exchange and work together. This has been immensely interesting and helpful to deepen my insight on European cooperation. In addition, I’m currently elaborating summaries of projects for the Atlantic Area Program that will be useful to communicate about them. By participating in this task, I have had the opportunity to know more in detail about the different projects, their goals and discovered the broad themes the Program covers. One of my next missions will consist of creating catalogues with summaries of projects from these Programs to publish via different communication tools and share the results in Nouvelle-Aquitaine.   What do I enjoy the most? Getting to see how different cooperation Programs and projects develop is very enriching. This experience is helping me enhance my abilities in communication and knowledge about cooperation. I am also enjoying learning about different projects that I get to contribute to because it can be very inspiring, especially the cultural and climate change ones since those are the topics that I personally like the most. – Ana, IVY Reporter on Interreg Atlantic Area, SUDOE Discover more about Interreg Atlantic Area Click Here Discover more about Interreg SUDOE Click Here

Hi guys! I’m Stefanos, I come from Greece and I’m currently spending my 3rd month as an IVY volunteer in the Interreg Europe project «Shared Mobility Action Programmes Exchange – SMAPE». I’ve obtained an Integrated Master in Civil and Transport Engineering and now, with the help of the IVY Programme I can extend my academic experience by working alongside the University of West Attica in Athens, which is my Host Organization. It’s been almost three months since I started my IVY journey through the SMAPE project and, if I’m being honest, it has exceeded my expectations. Volunteering in the scope of organizing project events and material such as questionnaires, requires creative thinking which I am really excited to be doing. Recently, I participated in the organization of an online stakeholder meeting, where mayors from small islands of North Aegean Region were invited to exchange opinions regarding local policy developments of shared mobility. It was a great opportunity to meet and discuss with people from local authorities, aspects of shared mobility. As a whole, the IVY experience is really a chance to get in touch with a concept I’ve never touched on—Shared Mobility, and as you can see I’ve already put it into practice! Due to the transnational aspect of Interreg Europe, I have managed to come across people from various sectors and around different countries of Europe, and I’m really thankful to the UniWA and the IVY team. Both teams have really made my IVY journey remarkable, and I’m sure I’ll remember it for the rest of my life. I’m super excited for what’s to come!! – Stefanos, IVY Project Partner at SMAPE Project under Interreg Europe programme Discover more about Interreg Europe Click Here

Hello, I’m Eleni, an “IVY” reporter (volunteer) at the Managing Authority (M.A.) Interreg 2021-2027, based in Thessaloniki, Greece. In the programming period 2021-2027, the M.A. manages five Cross-border Cooperation Programmes, co-bunded by the EU, which are Interreg VI-A IPA Greece- Albania, Interreg VI-A Greece- Bulgaria, Interreg VI-A Greece- Cyprus, Interreg VI-A IPA Greece- North Macedonia and Interreg VI-A IPA Greece- Italy. As an IVY Reporter, I have the opportunity to delve deeper into the Cross-border Programmes, to promote cooperation between Greece and the Programmes’ participating  countries. In cooperation with the Μ.Α. Communication Manager, Ms. Symi Pasalidou, I help to communicate and promote the idea of Interreg, in the context of the Post 2027 Consultation, which focuses on the future cohesion policy (post 2027) and, in particular, on the future of Interreg Programmes. To achieve this, in cooperation with the M.A., we designed and implemented surveys for the Interreg Programmes; Greece- Bulgaria, Greece- Cyprus and Greece- North Macedonia, collecting data from stakeholders (organisations and citizens) living in the eligible areas of the Programmes’ participating countries. In an effort to engage youth in the EU cohesion policy, we also targeted young people, as it is essential that they have an effective voice about the future of Interreg in the next programming period 2028-2034, with their fresh and innovative ideas. Through the consultation, I realised how the different target audiences (communities) face common social and economic challenges in the context of cooperation, and what is the impact of such initiatives. In parallel, together with my fellow volunteer, Ms. Eleni Kokkini and the MA Communication manager, we contributed to outreach communication activities. More specifically, we participated in the 88th Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF), an international event, attracting more than 220.000 visitors, from September 7 to 15, which brings together businesses, organisations and government bodies as well as citizens. At the TIF, we engaged with a wide range of visitors in an effort to raise awareness about Interreg programmes and encourage their participation in the post-2027 consultation. The event was an excellent opportunity to discuss the challenges, barriers and needs of the community. Overall, my volunteer experience has been valuable and I am grateful that both the IVY organisation and the MA Interreg 2021-2027 gave me the opportunity to contribute to fostering cross-border cooperation. This experience has not only allowed me to develop my communication and data analysis skills but has also strengthened my commitment to building a more united and prosperous Europe. Eleni Patlaka, IVY Reporter for the M.A. of Interreg Greece- Bulgaria, Greece- Cyprus & Greece- North Macedonia. Discover more about Managing Authority Interreg 2021-2027 Click Here

The CEI BOOST Interreg Europe project focuses on advancing digital innovations to support the circular economy by fostering collaboration among partners from nine countries. By improving the circular economy and encouraging dynamic cooperation, the initiative seeks to enhance policies for the local, regional, and national implementation of digital tools and processes. By employing innovative digital approaches, the project seeks to bring together diverse stakeholders, including regional government authorities, research institutions, universities, business support organizations, innovation agencies, and technology hubs, to promote sustainable development. Especially, Sweden, Finland, Lithuania, Bulgaria, Romania, Greece, Spain, Portugal, and France are among the project partners. Small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) gain from the project’s emphasis on resource efficiency, waste reduction, and continuous business models, which helps create a more sustainable and cooperative future. The solutions implemented in this framework will contribute to waste reduction, improved resource efficiency, and the promotion of sustainable business models. Participating in the IVY Program as part of this project has been an immensely boosting experience that offered numerous opportunities to actively contribute to its objectives. This volunteering role allowed me to engage in meaningful discussions and contribute to significant tasks. I volunteered closely with stakeholders from the Region of Western Greece and project partners, building connections and raising awareness about the project’s mission and objectives. Through my involvement, I helped generate interest in the project’s efforts to advance digital innovations for the circular economy. It is important to refer my contribution to the meeting that took place among the project’s partners. Particularly, I attended the 9th online PC meeting on November 07, 2024. Moreover, I was involved in preparing the upcoming stakeholder meeting of the project, which will likely take place in January, where good practices from the Region of Western Greece will be presented and discussed with stakeholders. Also, I attended the Webinar on Citizen Science for Policy, on December 10, organized by the Policy Learning Platform. Overall, I was excitedly working with relevant stakeholders to offer perspectives impacting the project’s advancement. In this position, I was able to raise awareness, make connections, and learn more about the project’s goals. – Anastasia, IVY Project Partner at CEI Boost project under the Interreg Europe programme Discover more about the Interreg project CEI Boost Click Here

Hello everyone! My name is Chiara, and I’m a proud IVY Volunteer for the Interreg Italy-Switzerland Programme, currently based in Milan. As an IVY reporter, my role is to lead a public consultation aimed at Citizens and Stakeholders, with the goal of shaping the future of cross-border and transnational cooperation in the upcoming programming period, post-2027. This task is not just about gathering opinions—it’s about ensuring that the voices of local communities are heard, helping to guide the direction of these crucial initiatives. This experience has opened doors to a world that was previously unfamiliar to me. It has given me the opportunity to witness firsthand the vital role that cooperation plays in cross-border regions. Despite the linguistic, economic, and cultural differences that exist, it’s remarkable to see how people can unite to create meaningful projects that benefit entire populations across various sectors, whether in economic development, environmental sustainability, or social inclusion. For example, the ITA-CH Programme spans a vast area of 38,000 km², connecting regions on both sides of the Italian-Swiss border. In Italy, it involves Lombardy, Piedmont, the Province of Bolzano, and Valle d’Aosta, while on the Swiss side, the Cantons of Ticino, Graubünden, and Valais. The programme allocates significant resources to support sustainable, inclusive growth and to strengthen economic, social, and territorial cohesion in these border areas. Through these initiatives, Swiss and Italian organizations, institutions, and associations are able to collaborate on projects that benefit both sides. One of the most enriching aspects of this experience has been the chance to connect with people from different backgrounds and ages. I’ve met individuals, who are new to this field, as well as seasoned professionals who have dedicated years to upholding these values of cross-border cooperation. For example, I had the pleasure of working alongside Olga, a fellow IVY Volunteer from the Interreg Italy-Austria Programme. We met in Bolzano to conduct interviews together, exchanging experiences and learning from each other. It was a perfect example of how these programmes build bridges, not just between regions but also between people. These encounters have greatly enriched my personal and cultural knowledge, and for this reason, I hope to serve as an example for others who may wish to embark on this journey and engage with the world of cross-border cooperation. – Chiara, IVY Reporter at Interreg Italy – Switzerland  Discover more about Interreg Italy-Switzerland Click Here