Interreg

Interreg and the other instruments of European Territorial Cooperation (ETC) constitute the cross-border component of EU regional policy. Its goal is to promote the economic, social, and environmental development of the EU and its neighboring countries, also across borders. Switzerland has participated in ETC since 1990; since 2008, the federal government and the cantons have supported Switzerland’s participation within the framework of the NRP.

Border crossing near Weil am Rhein — © regiosuisse

What is Interreg?

The objective of Interreg is to strengthen economic, social, and territorial cohesion in the EU and its neighboring countries through cross-border projects. At the same time, it aims to facilitate balanced territorial development. To this end, Interreg supports projects that promote cross-border, transnational, and interregional cooperation.

The EU, neighboring countries, the cantons, the federal government, and private entities fund cooperation in numerous areas. Swiss funding is part of the New Regional Policy. For this reason, Interreg in Switzerland focuses on regional economic development.

Over the course of five funding periods to date, Interreg has strengthened cross-border cooperation across Europe through thousands of projects. The sixth program period (Interreg VI) runs from 2021 to 2027.

Interreg A: cross-border programmes

Through Interreg A, the EU – and, under the NRP, the federal government and the cantons – supports cross-border cooperation between regions that belong to different countries but share a common border.

The objective of Interreg A is to harness cross-border potential and remove border-related barriers that hinder the integrated development of cross-border regions into economically strong and socially and environmentally sustainable areas. In the current programming period (2021–2027), Switzerland is participating in four Interreg A programs: Alpine Rhine–Lake Constance–High Rhine, France–Switzerland, Italy–Switzerland, and Upper Rhine.

• Alpine Rhine–Lake Constance–High Rhine

  The Interreg A programme Alpine Rhine–Lake Constance–High Rhine (ABH) aims to make better use of the existing potential of the border region. In addition to boosting competitiveness and innovation, the programme focuses on environmental protection and improving cross-border problem-solving. On the Swiss side, the cantons of Aargau, Appenzell Innerrhoden, Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Glarus, Graubünden, St Gallen, Schaffhausen, Thurgau and Zurich are participating in the programme.

  • Website Interreg programme ABH (available in German only)

• France-Switzerland

  The Interreg A programme France–Switzerland reflects the long tradition of cross-border cooperation in the border regions of the two countries. The programme area extends across the Lake Geneva basin – characterised by several large agglomerations and a dominant tertiary sector – and the more sparsely populated Jura Arc, with its industrial expertise in microtechnology, plastics processing and mechanical engineering. On the Swiss side, the cantons of Bern, Fribourg, Geneva, Jura, Neuchâtel, Vaud and Valais are participating in the programme.

  • Website Interreg programme France-Switzerland (available in French only)

• Italy-Switzerland

  The Interreg A programme Italy–Switzerland is designed to help strengthen cross-border cooperation between Switzerland and Italy. The programme area is situated in the heart of Europe and comprises the cantons of Ticino, Graubünden and Valais, as well as the Italian regions of Lombardy, Piedmont and Aosta, and the province of Bolzano. Under Interreg A Italy–Switzerland, funding is available for cross-border projects that enhance the competitiveness of businesses or contribute to strengthening the areas of ‘enhancing natural and cultural heritage’ and ‘integrated and sustainable mobility’. Support is also to be provided for projects in the field of ‘social integration’ and for projects aimed at strengthening ‘cross-border administrative cooperation’.

  • Website Interreg programme Italy-Switzerland (avaliable in Italian only)

• Upper Rhine

  The border regions along the Upper Rhine are already highly integrated. To further strengthen their potential, cooperation in education and research is being deepened, knowledge transfer and labour mobility are being promoted, and the tri-national living and economic area is being developed in a socially and environmentally sustainable manner. The Upper Rhine region spans the regions of the Southern Palatinate, Alsace, Baden and north-western Switzerland, as well as three national borders and two language regions. On the Swiss side, the cantons of Aargau, Basel-Stadt, Basel-Landschaft, Jura and Solothurn are participating in the programme.

  • Website Interreg programme Upper Rhine (available in German and French only)

Interreg B: transnational programmes

Through Interreg B, the EU and, under the National Programme for Regional Development (NRP), the Swiss Confederation support transnational cooperation between regions in contiguous, larger areas. These areas span several countries and regions which, due to their geographical and economic circumstances, face similar challenges. Switzerland participates in the transnational programmes ‘Alpine Space’ and ‘North-West Europe’.

Cooperation between national, regional and local authorities aims to strengthen the spatial integration of large-scale European regions. In order to receive financial support, projects must be relevant to the priorities of the respective programme.

All kinds of organisations can take part in Interreg B programmes: local authorities, cantonal or federal offices, research institutes (including universities and universities of applied sciences), associations, etc. In Switzerland, co-financing is provided from a dedicated national budget under the NRP. This is administered by the Federal Office for Spatial Development (ARE).

• Programme Alpine Space

  The aim of this programme is to strengthen the Alpine region through transnational cooperation. Project partners can benefit from exchanging experiences within a broad network, forge professional partnerships and, at the same time, develop their own solutions for their region and sector. In addition to Switzerland, the programme includes Austria, Liechtenstein, Slovenia and parts of Germany, France and Italy.

  • Website Alpine Space programme

• Programme North-West Europe

  The aim of this programme is to strengthen the North-West Europe region through transnational cooperation. As well as Switzerland, the region includes Belgium, Ireland, Luxembourg and parts of Germany, France and the Netherlands.

  • Website North-West Europe programme

Interreg C: interregional programmes

Interreg C promotes cooperation between non-neighbouring regions across Europe. The programmes are designed to pool knowledge across a range of subject areas. Switzerland takes part in all four programmes.

• Interreg Europe

  Interreg Europe promotes the exchange of experience and knowledge between regional policy stakeholders across Europe: it aims to strengthen national and regional cohesion and regional policy programmes and make them more efficient. Even regions across Europe that are completely different often face very similar challenges when it comes to strengthening their regional economies. Looking beyond national borders can be helpful in the search for solutions. The Interreg Europe programme funds two types of complementary measures:
  
  - Interregional cooperation projects: These are partnerships comprising policy-makers from various European countries. They work together for four years to exchange experiences on a specific topic relating to regional development. In the fourth and final year of the project’s implementation, the partner regions focus primarily on evaluating the results and assessing the impact of their project. Calls for project proposals are published throughout the programme period.
  
  - Policy Learning Platform – PLP: It provides a space for ongoing or ad hoc learning, where any organisation involved in regional development in Europe can find solutions and seek expert support to improve its policies.

  • Website Interreg Europe

• URBACT

  URBACT is a city network programme under the European Territorial Cooperation (ETC) framework. Its aim is to facilitate the exchange of experience between European cities and to stimulate and expand knowledge on sustainable urban development. Over the course of three rounds, the programme has successfully brought together over 700 cities from across Europe to collaborate on 44 different projects. In Switzerland, Zurich, Basel and Lugano have already taken part in projects.

  • Website URBACT

• ESPON

  ESPON (European Territorial Observatory Network) is the network for monitoring European spatial development. ESPON was launched in 2002 and continues to be part of the interregional focus of Interreg VI and the NRP. The programme is supported by all EU Member States and the partner countries Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. The programme commissions case studies and thematic publications and generates data that can be compared across Europe. This highlights the challenges and potential of various European regions and types of territory. Thanks to this knowledge base, effective policy recommendations on territorial issues can be made.

  • Website ESPON

• Interact

  INTERACT is the framework programme for the European Territorial Cooperation (ETC) programmes. Since 2003, it has been supporting existing ETC programmes through workshops, seminars, studies, consultancy services and networking opportunities. In the third programming period, too, INTERACT aims to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the implementation of the European Territorial Cooperation (ETC) programmes. In this regard, INTERACT serves as a platform for ETC programmes to exchange knowledge and experience, improve processes and tools, and identify and disseminate best practices.

  • Website Interact

EUSALP – Macro-regional Strategy for the Alpine Region

Macro-regional strategies represent a significant innovation in the field of European territorial cooperation and territorial cohesion. Switzerland has been involved in the work of the Macro-regional Strategy for the Alpine Region from the outset, both at cantonal level (led by the Conference of Cantonal Governments, KdK) and at federal level (led by the ARE). Further information on EUSALP can be found on the regiosuisse website and on the official EUSALP website.

Swiss participation in Interreg

Since 2008, the Confederation and the cantons have been promoting Swiss participation in Interreg as part of the New Regional Policy (NRP). The cantons, which take the lead here, are given a degree of autonomy in the implementation of Interreg A projects. However, federal funds must be used for projects that are consistent with the regional policy objectives of the NRP. The cantons are free to participate in Interreg both within and outside the NRP. Consequently, they may also use their own funds to participate in projects that do not receive federal support. Finally, interested Swiss parties may, on their own initiative, become involved in projects that receive only cantonal funding or no public funding at all. For participation in the current Interreg VI programme period (2021–2027), the federal government is making a total of around 56 million Swiss francs available under the NRP. The cantons contribute at least an equivalent amount.

Further information

Further information and contact details can be found on the regiosuisse website:

• Cross-border cooperation in Europe | Regional development | regiosuisse (available in German, French and Italian)

Publications