The European Commission invited all Interreg Programmes to run a consultation with their stakeholders and citizens during 2024 to get input for future programme periods.
Interreg Auroras post-2027 consultation is now closed and a Harvesting report is handed in to the European Commission.
Methods used in the consultation was online surveys, interviews, and workshops. Around 300 stakeholders and citizens were consulted. The questions to stakeholders and citizens in the consultation were pre-defined by the European Commission.
The 2021-2027 Interreg Aurora programme, with its current priorities and specific objectives, is generally seen as wide and inclusive by stakeholders. It is recommended to keep and reinforce the unique values of the programme. There are strong wishes to keep and reinforce sub-area Sápmi and to keep the possibility to run projects with ‘soft values’ such as culture focus, language projects, arts, music, handicraft and similar. Climate change adaptation and nature conservation is seen as very important, and something highly needed also in the future programme periods. The possibility to work with safety and security in projects in various ways is central in the answers of the consultation.
In general, stakeholders seem satisfied with the current implementation of the programme.
Recommendations based on the answers in the consultation:
– Investigate whether it’s possible to further facilitate for small companies and small organisations with limited capacity to participate in Interreg projects.
– Investigate flexibility in funding percentage from the programme and harmonisation between participating countries (EU/IR funding).
– Investigate further simplifications for applicants and beneficiaries.
– Investigate possibilities to further tailor support to Indigenous needs.
– Investigate if it is possible to make room for more flexibility in the priorities and specific objectives.
– Investigate the structures of co-funding to the programme.
Other comments on implementation concerns wishes for increased youth focus in the programme, a possibility to run projects longer than three years, exchange programs for professionals, a joint reporting platform for Interreg projects and more possibilities for stakeholders to meet and network.
The Interreg Aurora programme would like to thank everyone who has engaged and given their input during the consultation process.
