The Interreg North-West Europe Programme 2021-2027 is now formally approved by the European Commission and the North-West Europe Task Force (NTF). The document was drafted in compliance with Article 17 of the Interreg Regulation for the 2021-2027 period, according to the template annexed to the aforementioned regulation.

The NTF task force was set up to design the 2021-2027 Programme and gathers representatives of six Members States as well as, in advisory capacity, the Joint Secretariat, the Managing Authority (Région Hauts-de-France), Contact Points and an external facilitator. It was set up in November 2020.

The final Interreg Programme (version 24 Aug 2022) is the outcome of discussions among Member States within the North West Europe Task Force on the Future (NTF) and its dedicated working groups, which have based themselves on the Interreg Regulation for the 2021-2027 period and the SWOT analysis for the future programme. It also includes input from the NWE Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and the feedback submitted to the NWE Programme via its stakeholder consultation.

Thematic orientation

The NWE Programme 2021-2027 focuses on five priorities and nine specific ebjectives.

Priority 1: Climate and environment

• Promoting climate change adaptation and disaster risk prevention, resilience taking into account ecosystem-based approaches (SO 2.4).
• Enhancing nature protection, biodiversity and reducing all forms of pollution (SO 2.7).

Priority 2: Energy transition

• Promoting energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions (SO 2.1).
• Promoting renewable energy in accordance with Directive (EU) 2018/2001, including the sustainability criteria set out therein (SO 2.2).

Priority 3: Circular economy

• Promoting the transition to a circular and resource efficient economy (SO 2.6).

Priority 4: Innovation and resilience

• Developing and enhancing research and innovation capacities and the uptake of advanced technologies (SO 1.1).

Priority 5: Inclusive society

• Enhancing the effectiveness and inclusiveness of labour markets and access to quality employment through developing social infrastructure and promoting social economy (SO 4.1).
• Ensuring equal access to health care and fostering resilience of health systems, including primary care, and promoting the transition from institutional to family-and-community-based care (SO 4.5).
• Enhancing the role of culture and sustainable tourism in economic development, social inclusion and social innovation (SO 4.6).

The Specific Objectives numbering refers to the one that appears in the NWE IP document. It follows the numbering of Specific Objectives as defined by the European Commission.

Territorial analysis

A territorial analysis (full report – summary version), identifying the NWE Programme’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats – comparatively to other (Interreg) Programmes was conducted. Drawing lessons from the 2014-2020 period, it seeks to answer the following question: What type of territorial projects would deliver added value to European Territorial Cohesion through transnational cooperation? The document defines Interreg NWE's needs regarding its territorial span and includes recommendations for a geographical area to be covered by the next programme. It also addresses target groups to engage with and topics to tackle in 2021-2027. This is a background document which will support the working groups and NTF discussions and help in drafting the new Cooperation Programme.