The moderator, Martin GUILLERMO-RAMÍREZ, Secretary General of the Association of European Border Regions (AEBR), presented this roundtable and introduced an impressive group of experienced professionals active in the field for several decades. They were asked to travel from their memories into their expert appraisal of Interreg, but also their wishes, with this idea in mind, launched by one of the co-organisers: if this EU initiative did not exist, it would be necessary to invent it if the European project wanted to have a solid basis.

In the first round, participants were invited to look at the more or less realistic expectations of a growing number of Interreg beneficiaries and stakeholders, including many local and regional authorities, to get support to overcome the barrier effect of national boundaries and, thus, developing their territories in a coordinated/harmonised way with their neighbours, facilitating the freedom of movement across EU borders. Which of their genuine expectations has been accomplished (and which have not)?

Sławomir TOKARSKI, Director for European Territorial Cooperation, Macro-regions, Interreg and Programme Implementation at the European Commission’s DG REGIO, highlighted Interreg’s main achievements while being aware of its limitations in responding to a growing number of initiatives. He particularly pointed out subsidiarity, trust-building across national boundaries and feeling part of a common project as the main and long-lasting effects of Interreg and mentioned a few achievements which have become brands of ETC increased the prestige of Interreg, such as the Cerdanya Cross-Border Hospital in the Pyrenees which has celebrated its 10^th anniversary or the PEACE Programme in Ireland which celebrates 25 years in 2024.

Then, Nikoletta HORVÁTH, Deputy Head of MA, Interreg Hungary-Slovakia, Interreg IPA Hungary-Serbia and Interreg NEXT Hungary-Slovakia-Romania-Ukraine Programmes at the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, asked for more efficiency, being realistic about the actual possibilities of Interreg, stressing the number of obstacles yet to overcome and a growing number of serious challenges to face.

Imre CSALAGOVITS, Head of MA at the Interreg Danube Region, focused on the opportunities that Interreg opens for territorial innovation in complex fields such as spatial planning, particularly across national boundaries and involving a significant number of countries, as it happens in transnational programmes.

Sanda ŠIMIĆ STAMBOLIĆ, Assistant Minister of European Integration at the Ministry of European Integration of the Republic of Serbia, shared her perspective about the meaning of these programmes nowadays for Western Balkan countries, in particular for Pre-accession ones and highlighted the legacy of previous programmes addressing Balkan, Adriatic, or Danube cooperation, at the external EU borders, to promote peace and understanding, connecting people in very complex territories and circumstances.

Iulia HERTZOG, Head of MA for Interreg Black Sea, Interreg Romania-Bulgaria, and Interreg NEXT Romania-Ukraine Programmes, emphasised the overall value of institutional trust-building but also mentioned various technical aspects regarding cost management and other rules which are sometimes too complicated for small communities. She asked to keep the already initiated path of simplification, as well as Susanne SCHERRER, former Head of MA/JS at the Interreg Baltic Sea Programme, also addressed decision-makers to work out trust more strongly and pay attention to all these reports, asking for more cohesion. She appealed to extend the “Interreg mindset” in other fields and not underestimate the value of subsidiarity.

Bernadett PETRI, Ministerial Commissioner and Managing Director of the Hungarian Development Promotion Office, requested a more effective involvement of local stakeholders in shaping Interreg objectives, and the main challenges they face when trying to access funding. The keywords were, again, simplification and trust-building, and the importance of considering their diversity of capacities and circumstances.

During the second round, the panellists were invited to look at the future, building upon the experience so far and the current, changing and somehow uncertain situation: What would be desirable, and what would look realistic about future European territorial cooperation? Quo vadis Interreg? Imre CSALAGOVITS started the round, followed by Susanne SCHERRER, Iulia HERTZOG and Sanda ŠIMIĆ STAMBOLIĆ. They agreed that keeping a similar Interreg to the current one for the next programming period, integrating all territorial cooperation efforts under a single brand, is feasible and desirable. It might be better organised due to the advances in communication and other technical improvements, offering the image of a perfectly tuned and synchronised philharmonic orchestra and polyphonic choir, as described by Bernadett PETRI, who recommended the European Commission enhance coherence between direct programs and Interreg, and asked all to demand more interconnection between programmes and policies. She strongly advocated for more coordination, harmonisation and simplification.

In her last considerations, Nikoletta HORVÁTH reminded the importance of keeping cohesion policy as a strong pillar of the EU, drawing attention to recent and relevant reports which have increased awareness about the impact of territorial interventions. The Hungarian Presidency works to progress and will undoubtedly request the following presidencies to continue boosting the territorial aspects of EU integration.

To conclude, Sławomir TOKARSKI agreed with most analyses and recommendations, highlighting current challenges and discussions at the EU institutions which may have an impact on territorial cooperation, stressing the importance of gatherings like the Art of Cooperation Conference, with hundreds of members of the “Interreg Family” analysing and exploring future paths for this important EU initiative, integrating cohesion, competitiveness and innovation. He also stressed the efforts the Commission is making to consult politicians, experts, scholars and practitioners, and a broader society sample, about the future Interreg. Current changes, like the present renovation of the College of Commissioners and further debates on major EU policies and their share of the next financial framework, may open opportunities for communication about the impact of Interreg on citizens’ daily lives.

The moderator closed the round table by pointing at the resilience shown by regions and municipalities to overcome various crises, thanks to the experience gained through networking and cooperation, but also the need to strengthen coordination to face crises more efficiently, and not underestimate the strength of climate phenomena, as the recent floods in Valencia had shown. Initiatives like Interreg show excellent value for money in an efficient exercise of territorial cohesion and asked for increased investment in this robust pillar of European integration.