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The planning for the new programming period of the Interreg program 2028 – 2034 has begun, and the European Commission proposes the allocation of resources amounting to 10 billion euros for Interreg programs, as emphasized this evening by the Deputy Minister of National Economy and Finance, Nikos Papathanasis, greeting an event for the 35 years of the Interreg program and its 20 years in Thessaloniki, focusing on the power of cooperation for European and Regional Cohesion. He highlighted that “Greece can and must take an even more leading role and act as a gateway for cooperation between the EU, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean.”
“Europe has stood with great solidarity in all the major problems that have arisen for all member states and for the countries of the region, and the Europe of peoples continues this path,” he said, adding: “A stable pillar is the European perspective of peace and solidarity among peoples.”
In more detail, the Deputy Minister of National Economy and Finance characterized Interreg as a very important program for our region and a mechanism for building trust and stability, adding that Greece is at the forefront of this European territorial cooperation by participating in all Interreg programs concerning Southeast Europe, the Mediterranean, and the Adriatic and Ionian region. “Greece manages five Interreg programs with Bulgaria, Italy, North Macedonia, Cyprus, and Albania and participates in eight interregional cooperation programs. We have over 2,500 actions that have been implemented in Greece with common benefits for neighboring countries and significant contributions to local communities and economies. Today, within the framework of the 5 programs, over 70% of the resources have been activated with 105 projects budgeted at 240 million euros,” he emphasized. A characteristic example, as he said, is the cross-border crossing of Prespa, Laimos, Markova Noga of the Greece – North Macedonia program.
Interreg won three out of the six regional awards
On her part, European Commission official Maria Galefska stated that the European Commission has collaborated with national, regional, and local authorities in Greece, characterized Greece as a leader in the European strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian region, and stated that she is present at today’s event to confirm the cooperation of Greek entities.
Additionally, she mentioned that the European Commission awards the RegioStars Awards every year, which are also called the Oscars for this specific sector, the final for 2025 took place last week in Brussels, and there were 25 finalists selected by an independent committee. Ten projects came from Interreg, and in the end, out of the 6 awards that were given, Interreg won 3. “In Interreg, we had only 3% of the total cohesion policy budget, and we managed to win 50% of the awards,” she noted.
She also spoke about two Greek Interreg programs: one was a finalist in the 2025 awards and was the rewater project, which came from Interreg Greece – Italy for the protection of natural resources, and the other was the BalkanRoad from the Interreg Balkan Med program, and projects from it were finalists in the awards. “The Greek projects add value to excellence as they promote the European values they focus on: democracy, cooperation, and equality, which are fundamental characteristics of Interreg,” added Ms. Galefska.
On her part, the General Secretary of the Regional Development Partnership Agreement (ESPA), Vasiliki Pantelopoulou emphasized that Greece is currently participating in 13 Interreg programs, of which 5 are under Greek management. Hundreds of projects have been implemented through these. Only during the period 2014 – 2020, more than 3,000 institutions, municipalities, entities, and businesses collaborated, investing over 600 million euros in joint actions. In the current period 2021-2027, the budget for the programs is over 300 million euros, while 80% of the available resources have been activated for projects that serve the major European priorities, which are the green and digital transition, resilience to crises, and strengthening social cohesion.
Greeting the event, the Deputy Minister of Interior (Macedonia – Thrace sector) Kostas Gioulekas emphasized that what separated us in the past is an opportunity to become the bridge that will unite us in the future, and Interreg, because Greece is one of its oldest members, gives us the financial capability to build bridges between states. He also assured that the Greek government, under the mandate of the Prime Minister himself, will continue to support these programs of European convergence and cohesion that have been successfully implemented for 35 years.
The Mayor of Thessaloniki, Stelios Angeloudis, during his greeting at the event, said that Thessaloniki, due to its position and activities, rightfully hosts the headquarters of the program management service, referring to a highly productive, fast, and particularly effective service, while commenting that the Municipality of Thessaloniki is now opening European funding tools with particular speed, while two European territorial cooperation groups are underway that allow issues to progress more quickly.
Discussion on the impact of Interreg programs on Regional Development
During the discussion on the impact of Interreg programs on Regional Development and Cohesion Policy, the Regional Governor of Western Macedonia, Giorgos Amanatidis, emphasized that the Region is in a phase of economic and social transition and characterized Interreg as an important tool for extroversion in areas such as tourism, entrepreneurship, and social exchanges. “What started with Interreg can find use in the post-lignite period,” he said, while also referring to the border station at Laimos of Prespa, saying: “We already have a contractor, and work will begin, approximately 6.5 million euros. At the same time, the Ministry of Interior is coming with another 6.5 million euros and is funding the road connection, and we are gradually creating, with the Prespa Protection Company and environmental organizations, a unified space in the Prespa area where those coming to Ohrid will have significant reasons to come to the Prespa area and vice versa.”
Furthermore, the Regional Governor of Crete, Stavros Arnaoutakis, referred to his experience 35 years ago and the cooperation that needed to start among local communities, while the Regional Governor of Epirus, Alexandros Kahrimanis, spoke about projects such as the thermal baths in the Konitsa area, the restoration of frescoes, the Mastorochoria, composting in Arta, fish farming in Igoumenitsa, etc. The Regional Governor of North Aegean, Kostas Moutzouris, emphasized the need to realign the programs, and the Regional Governor of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, Christodoulos Topshidis, pointed out that the region is the border of Greece and Europe, which is why cross-border cooperation plays a very significant role, and Interreg acts as a lever for development. (20/10/25)
*photo: APE-MPE/APAE-MPE/Nikos Arvanitidis