Month: October 2024

The main goal of the Interreg Atlantic Area programme is to support innovative projects that promote growth and address common issues faced by regions in France, Ireland, Portugal, and Spain. This mission includes tackling challenges related to economic development, environmental sustainability, and social cohesion. By fostering cooperation between regions distributed by several countries, the programme aims to enhance the overall quality of life for the citizens who live and work there. As an Interreg Volunteer Youth (IVY) participant, I contribute to this mission by assisting in communication and outreach activities. Currently, my tasks include supporting the Citizen Consultation of the Programme Post-2027, which involves creating surveys and assisting in the development and communication of events, such as the “Building Tomorrow: Interreg Atlantic Discussed by the Next Generation” event held in Santo Tirso, in collaboration with our partners. The Interreg Atlantic Area programme encompasses all regions of Portugal and Ireland, as well as the Atlantic-facing regions of France and Spain, including Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Pays-de-la-Loire, Bretagne, Normandie, Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria, País Vasco, La Rioja, Navarra, Andalucía, and the Islas Canarias. The beneficiaries of this programme are diverse, including public and private sector organizations, research institutions, municipalities, and local communities. Partnerships are based on a quadruple helix approach, by addressing common challenges such as marine pollution, renewable energy, and sustainable tourism, the programme provides tangible benefits to these regions. Cooperation is at the heart of the Interreg Atlantic Area. Project partners from different countries work closely to share knowledge, expertise, and resources, driving joint solutions. This collaboration is facilitated through regular meetings, workshops,  conferences, and joint actions, ensuring that each partner’s unique perspective and skills contribute to the success of the projects. I was particularly drawn to the Atlantic Area Programme because it includes my homeland, Normandy, and regions with languages, cultures, and histories I studied at the University. The thematic priorities of the programme resonate with my personal values and professional interests. Being part of this initiative allows me to engage with diverse cultures, contribute to meaningful projects, and develop my skills in a dynamic and supportive environment. What I enjoy most about my role is the opportunity to connect with people from different backgrounds and learn about the innovative solutions being implemented across the Atlantic region. The experience has been incredibly enriching, both professionally and personally. It has given me a greater appreciation for the importance of transnational cooperation and the positive impact it can have on regional development. By sharing my experience, I hope to inspire others to get involved and support initiatives that promote transnational cooperation and regional development. – Laurent, IVY Reporter at Comissão de Coordenação e Desenvolvimento Regional do Norte (CCDR-N), in the framework of Managing Authority and Joint Secretariat Interreg Atlantic Area  Discover more about the Interreg Programme Atlantic Area Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipiscing elit dolor Click Here

With an international background as a French-Ecuadorian young woman, I am interested in how regions, and more specifically, cities can cooperate to co-design a better urban future. I am participating as an INTERREG Youth Volunteer (IVY) reporter at URBACT supporting the INTERREG consultation on the European Future Cohesion Policy (post 2027), its regional policy which aims to reduce disparities between Europe’s regions through cooperation and provides support to each region to foster their development. As an Interreg programme, URBACT implements Cohesion Policy at the local level by enabling cooperation and knowledge exchange among European cities. Organised within thematic networks to foster sustainable; inclusive, smart, and green urban development, URBACT support local action combined with EU learning. URBACT enables this knowledge exchange through networks. These bring together EU cities willing to exchange ideas and produce integrated local policies and actions with the help of peers, local stakeholders, and URBACT experts. URBACT is contributing to the INTERREG consultation on the future of the Cohesion Policy and territorial cooperation from a local, urban perspective starting with an online survey, which is running from 26 March to 31 July 2024. The outcome of the consultation will not only evaluate the current programmes’ performance, but also shape the next URBACT programme and inform the future Cohesion Policy. As an IVY Reporter, I am supporting the URBACT consultation, through communication, and organisation of workshops and discussions to collect data. My responsibilities include writing articles for the URBACT and INTERREG websites, creating social media content, and organizing and moderating workshops and discussions to collect qualitative data. Notably, I moderated the consultation events at the URBACT Lead Partner Expert meeting in Paris (May 15-16), the National URBACT Point in Utrecht (June 12-13), and the URBACT Monitoring Committee meeting in Ghent (June 27-28). Besides, as an IVY I am particularly interested in involving the youth in the consultation, Therefore, I co-organized consultation events with Brežice, host of the European Youth Event (EYE 2024), and Ghent, European Youth Capital 2024. The URBACT programme has always strived to respond closely to cities needs, and its method allows cities to cooperate and learn from each other to find innovative solutions to common challenges. To make a good case for the future of the URBACT programme, it is important to have as many contributions as possible from the consultation. Cities and citizens know best what they need to improve in their cities, so it is important that URBACT shapes its future programme together through the survey and the overall consultation. – Ana Francisca, IVY Reporter at Urbact Discover more about URBACT​ Click Here

Hello everyone, I’m Meritxell! I’m more than halfway through my experience as an IVY volunteer for the StrategyMedFor Interreg EuroMED project, led by the the European Topic Center for Spatial Analysis and Synthesis (ETC-UMA), in Málaga, Andalucía’s sunniest and busiest city, at the heart of the Mediterranean. Allow me to share a bit about my IVY experience! The ETC-UMA is an international research center within the University of Málaga. Since 2011, ETC-UMA has been supporting the development of knowledge and tools to inform evidence-based policy. The team possesses wide expertise in ecosystem assessment and monitoring. It focuses on various environmental and socio-economic domains, including ecosystem management, environmental conservation, and territorial planning, all from a geographical perspective. StrategyMedFor is a cooperative initiative (2024-2026) aimed at developing a Strategy for the Sustainable Management of Mediterranean Forests (SSMMF). Mediterranean forests are renowned for their rich biodiversity and vital ecosystem services. However, these important natural resources face numerous direct and indirect pressures, increasing their vulnerability to disturbances and ecosystem degradation. Despite their increased coverage in recent decades, the condition of Mediterranean forests requires urgent action to enhance their resilience to global change through improved management. StrategyMedFor will contribute to the conservation and enhancement of these forests, addressing the needs and knowledge gaps in strategies and action plans for their sustainable management. The project’s outcomes will provide a common strategy and framework. Through collaborative efforts with partners, the project aims to establish a reliable database covering the entire Mediterranean basin, advancing collective knowledge and fostering better-informed decision-making. Where do I fit in this crucial mission? My tasks mainly alternate between communications work and support for project management. For example, I am currently transforming information about three project pilot sites, rich natural environments located in different parts of the Mediterranean, into an interactive StoryMap. By using the power of storytelling, we aim to create a communication product that turns a point on a map into a vivid real place in the minds of others, highlighting their beautiful landscapes, culture, specificities, and challenges. My routine at the ETC-UMA offices in Málaga is very enjoyable. Everyone is keen to help me when I’m lost, and they don’t hesitate to call me if they need my support. I really look forward to the coffee and lunch breaks, where I can always share a laugh with my colleagues. The team is very multicultural, and I relish finding cultural differences we can discuss. Cohesion policy is at the heart of the European Union’s strategy to reduce imbalances between countries and regions. It represents an important opportunity for young people. It is a pleasure to support European Territorial Cooperation and solidarity across the Mediterranean, helping to promote such an essential policy! – Meritxell, IVY Project Partner for Interreg Euro-MED project “StrategyMedFor” at the European Topic Centre – University of Malaga (ETC-UMA)