On 15 December, the Commission amended eight Interreg programmes with Ukraine and Moldova following the transfer of EUR 135 million. These programme amendments not only distribute the extra funding amongst the eight programmes, but also add new priorities to better target cooperation activities with Member States in support of Ukraine and Moldova.
Most of the changes in cross-border cooperation programmes reinforce the EU-Ukraine Solidarity lanes initiative:
- The Romania-Moldova programme increases the total allocation for better border mobility to EUR 11 million. Priorities for Green and Social developments also see their budget increased.
- The Romania- Ukraine programme finances additional activities for border management up to EUR 8 million.
- The Hungary-Slovakia-Romania-Ukraine programme adds a new priority to create a safer and more secure Europe and allocates more resources to the improvement of health cooperation in the border region.
- The Poland-Ukraine programme adds a new priority on accessibility of infrastructure and border management. Formal adoption of the change will take place in early 2024.
At transnational level:
- The Black Sea Basin programme newly focuses on the reinforcement of the institutional capacity of public authorities and civil society, with an additional EUR 11 million. The allocation for a green and clean region also increases by EUR 10 million.
- the Danube Region programme benefits from an increase of EUR 10 million equally split between three existing priorities: A smarter Danube Region, A greener, low carbon Danube Region and A more social Danube Region.
In addition, Ukraine and Moldova join two other Interreg interregional programmes for the first time:
- Interreg Europe Programme : the programme expands to Ukraine and to Moldova, with an additional allocation of EUR 5 million. This expansion allows regions and municipalities in these countries to build partnerships in the field of innovation, climate resilience, mobility, social issues and local development, not only with their counterparts across the EU but also with the five other new members: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia.
- Urbact programme, which builds the skills of local stakeholders in the design and implementation of integrated and participatory policies. It promotes cooperation between cities of all sizes and the sharing of solutions through the creation of networks dedicated to specific urban topics.
For all programmes concerned, the adoption of the changes will allow Ukraine and Moldova to take part in calls for proposals from the start of 2024.
These changes create stronger ties and partnerships with EU Member States, and foster experience with Cohesion Policy, thus serving as a catalyst for the further integration of Ukraine and Moldova into the European Union.