
“The beauty of Interreg lies in its ability to bring European integration to life—it is the most tangible exercise of cooperation, uniting public and private entities, academic institutions, and NGOs across regions to deliver real, impactful results.”
There are no better words to describe my experience as an Interreg Volunteer Youth at the Interreg CENTRAL EUROPE Programme, than the one shared by one of the stakeholders who benefited from the programme during a focus group I had the pleasure to organise for the Consultations on the Future of Cohesion Policy Post-2027.
My name is Gregorio Vichi and in these past five months I have been directly involved in supporting the programme’s efforts to strengthen and improve transnational cooperation. Interreg CENTRAL EUROPE is all about connecting regions and organisations across borders to tackle shared challenges, from climate change to innovation, fostering regional development. Through EU-funded projects, it brings together partners from nine countries—Austria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia—to find common solutions that benefit citizens, businesses, and local governments alike.
As an IVY Volunteer, I have had the opportunity to delve into the policy debate on the future of Cohesion Policy by contributing to the stakeholder consultation process. Analysing feedback from programme beneficiaries spread across Europe has allowed me to understand the priorities and challenges that must be addressed in the coming years.
Beyond this consultative process, I have also been involved in communicating the value of transnational cooperation, transforming policy discussions and project results into engaging content that highlights the tangible impact of EU-funded initiatives.
At the same time, I have contributed to the organisation’s strategic activities, fostering dialogue and engagement among key actors in European cooperation. This has led me to take an active role in supporting and organising workshops, events, and the launch of new calls for applications.
In conclusion, my time as an IVY Volunteer at Interreg CENTRAL EUROPE has been an enriching experience. It has allowed me to witness first-hand how different actors from different European regions and sectors work together to overcome shared challenges, turning cooperation from an abstract concept into a concrete tool for change.
I would highly recommend this experience to anyone passionate about European affairs eager to make a change into society. But especially to the sceptics—those who often perceive the EU as merely a legislative and regulatory body, detached from reality. From helping farmers developing practices that can store carbon dioxide, to creating more competitive rural villages, you will witness how Interreg shape a stronger, more connected Europe—one project at a time.
– Gregorio Vichi, Interreg Reporter at Joint Secretariat of Interreg Central Europe