Month: January 2025

Hello everyone! I am Hanife, an architect from Turkey. I arrived in Narvik the last of August to volunteer at UiT The Arctic University of Norway, motivated by a passion for sustainable construction and the opportunity to contribute to an innovative project tackling the unique challenges of the Arctic climate. Ar2CorD project, supported by Interreg and involving expert partners from Norway, Sweden, Iceland, Finland, and Greenland, aims to develop sustainable construction practices tailored to the region’s harsh conditions, specifically focusing on improving the frost resistance of concrete and reducing its carbon footprint. In my role, I started to design a long-term concrete test facility, drawing inspiration from a range of innovative designs. My first step was analyzing water levels to determine the ideal height for concrete sample structures, which allows for a stable and effective layout. I’m also exploring sustainable energy solutions, like implementing solar panels, which could provide green energy even in the challenging Arctic environment—an exciting possibility! Additionally, I hope to increase the visibility and public engagement around our monitoring station. By enhancing the site’s aesthetic and accessibility, I aim to make it a more appealing destination for tourists, all while showcasing our commitment to sustainability. Volunteering here is a unique and rewarding experience. Narvik has a peaceful, close-knit community that warmly welcomes newcomers, and the city’s commitment to sustainability is truly inspiring. UiT’s Narvik campus is a beautiful place to work, with wide-open windows offering breathtaking views of Ofotfjorden and Narvik Harbour. This project provides a valuable opportunity to support Arctic communities by advancing durable, eco-friendly construction practices, and it’s exciting to be part of this meaningful work.  I look forward to the coming months as we make strides in developing solutions that can benefit the entire region. – Hanife Ekinci, Interreg Project Partner at UiT The Arctic University of Norway for the Interreg Project “Ar2CorD”, under the programme Interreg Northern Periphery and Arctic Discover more about the AR2CorD project Click Here

Coucou! I am Martina, a Project Partner for the MARITTIM’TRAITE project. I began this journey in October 2024, and it has already been an incredibly rewarding experience. From the start, I’ve had the opportunity to immerse myself in the dynamics of EU Cohesion Policy, particularly cross-border cooperation and the unique challenges faced by maritime and insular regions of France and Italy. The MARITTIM’TRAITE Project The MARITTIM’TRAITE project – launched in March 2024 and funded by the Interreg MARITTIMO programme, with deep roots in the Quirinal Treaty – aims to promote transnational cooperation between several maritime and insular regions of France and Italy. Specifically, it brings together Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, Liguria, Tuscany, Sardinia, and Corsica to focus on Priority 5 of the Interreg MARITTIMO programme: “Better cross-border governance.” To achieve this, project partners cooperate by sharing knowledge, resources, and best practices, with mutual understanding serving as the first step toward long-lasting collaboration. Moreover, the project seeks to bridge the gap between populations by empowering young people – and not only them – through mobility opportunities. This ensures that future generations play an active role in fostering collaboration, breaking down barriers, and building lasting connections across Mediterranean regions. Last but not least, the project aims to amplify the voices of island communities in policy discussions, advocating for their specific needs at regional, national, and European levels. What I Appreciate the Most As part of the MARITTIM’TRAITE project, I’ve been involved in various activities that allow me to directly contribute to the project’s goals. I have attended several important meetings and events, which are essential for gathering data and supporting the development of key documents. One of the most impactful tasks I have worked on is the mobility landscape report, which compares mobility systems in Italy and France, helping to identify the most effective ways to improve cross-border connections. What I value most about this project is the opportunity to propose ideas. It’s inspiring to see young people come together, collaborate on topics I’ve proposed, and gain valuable experience in cross-border cooperation. The project’s emphasis on empowerment and collaboration has given me a broader understanding of how cooperation can be cultivated and sustained between regions with shared challenges. Looking Ahead MARITTIM’TRAITE is not just about addressing immediate challenges; it’s about laying a solid foundation for future collaborations between these Mediterranean regions. By fostering lasting partnerships through a deeper understanding of one another and promoting cross-border mobility, the project is shaping a future where youth, local stakeholders and island communities continue to collaborate and work toward common goals. This will ensure the resilience and sustainable growth of these territories, which face shared challenges. I am truly grateful for the opportunity to contribute to such an impactful project. The work I’m doing is broadening my perspective on regional cooperation, and I look forward to continuing my journey with MARITTIM’TRAITE and contributing to its long-term success. – Martina Maddaluno, IVY Project Partner for MARITTIM’TRAITE Project under the Interreg Maritimo Programme Discover more about Interreg Marittimo Italy-France Click Here

Hello Interreg Fam!I’m Riyanka, a graduate in ‘Urban Planning and Policy Design’ from Politecnico Di Milano, and I’m currently an IVY Project Partner at Regione Marche, which happens to be the National Contact Point (NCP) for Italy within the Interreg IPA ADRION Programme. National Contact Points serve as pivotal liaisons between the programme’s Managing Authority and stakeholders at the national level. They provide essential support in assisting applicants and beneficiaries with information related to national implementation matters. In Italy, the NCP is represented by Mr. Natalino Barbizzi from the Marche Region’s Department of Economic Development, specifically within the Area of European Territorial Cooperation and International Cooperation. I am eternally grateful to have him as my mentor. In fact, I wouldn’t be an IVY if it wasn’t for him having faith in me. He has never failed to support me in everything I’ve wanted to do so far and has always given me the space to shape my own understanding while constantly guiding me through my tasks. My colleagues at the office have also been the nicest people to be around, and it’s always been a joy to sit in my office chair. 🌼 My education and previous work experience have given me a solid theoretical understanding of the EU’s Economic, Social, and Territorial Cohesion Policy. I think that one of the aspects that makes my IVY journey different from most other IVY experiences (other than the fact that I’m Non-European and hail all the way from India ahaha 😊) is that I didn’t have to relocate to another city for my IVY experience. Instead, I got to do it in the city I had already been living in for the past year! Now, this might sound a bit sad considering that I didn’t get to fly to a completely new city, but honestly, it was my biggest motivation. I had already started feeling at home in the charming little city of Ancona, perched on the Adriatic coast of Italy, when I stumbled upon the ‘IPA- ADRION’- IVY opportunity. The region had already won me over, and I was so impressed by it that it had become part of my drive to contribute to its development, and what better way to do it, than working on a project like IPA ADRION heh? Also—zero packing stress, maximum familiarity! So here I am, living my best IVY life, soaking up the Adriatic vibes, and giving back to a place that has given me so much! 🌊✨ About the Programme…The Interreg IPA ADRION Programme is a European transnational cooperation initiative that connects regions across the Adriatic-Ionian area to promote economic, social, and territorial cohesion. The IPA ADRION Programme spans a dynamic cooperation area comprising 10 countries: 4 EU Member States—Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, and Greece—and 6 non-EU partners—Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and the third country, San Marino. These countries work together to address shared challenges and foster economic, social, and territorial cohesion in the Adriatic-Ionian region. A collaboration that is very essential for realizing our vision of a stronger, more unified Europe.  By fostering collaboration among EU and non-EU countries through collaborative projects, the programme promotes innovation, sustainability, connectivity, and good governance, enhancing regional integration and driving positive change across borders. Programme Priorities..The IPA ADRION Programme focuses on four thematic priorities to drive sustainable development and regional cooperation in the Adriatic-Ionian area: Supporting a smarter Adriatic and Ionian region. Supporting a greener and climate-resilient Adriatic-Ionian region. Supporting a carbon neutral and better connected Adriatic and Ionian region. Supporting the Governance of the Adriatic-Ionian region. My activities…In my past two months as an IVY Project Partner, my role mainly revolved around enhancing the communication efforts and visibility of the IPA ADRION Programme. This involves not only supporting outreach activities but also delving into the details of each project within the programme. Through analysing and understanding the various projects funded under IPA ADRION, I’ve gained valuable insights into their objectives, achievements, and the challenges they address. Having the opportunity to understand projects that have already successfully completed the first call, while supporting the ongoing efforts of the second call, has given me a comprehensive perspective on the programme’s impact and progression. Moreover, I have also been given the opportunity to attend many meetings and events both as part of the IPA ADRION programme and the overall EUSAIR Strategies. In fact, my last trip was to Trieste, where at the Palace of the Presidency of the Friuli Venezia Giulia Autonomous Region, I attended the EUSAIR Thematic Steering Group, a two-day meeting on Pillar 2 “Connecting the Region.” While I could go on about all the other events I attended, I think what’s important is to highlight to you that I got to make very valuable connections through all these events, and have started to realise how important it is. I’ve finally started to experience what it’s like to be involved in a community that shares similar values, all working towards the same goal regardless of the diversity of the projects. Even though I play a tiny role in this big bubble of EU-Cohesion Policy, just by being involved, it has left me more motivated and inspired than ever.😊 Looking Ahead..As I continue my journey with the NCP and the Interreg IPA ADRION Programme, we have a lot in store for the next few months. Lastly the biggest Kudos and thank you, to my INTERREG family, for all your efforts. 🌼🤝I can’t wait to share the next updates with you all soon!  #InterregIVY #IPAADRION  For more information about the Interreg IPA ADRION Programme and the role of National Contact Points, please visit the official website. – Anna Riyanka George, Interreg Project Partner at Marche region – National Contact Point for Italy within the Interreg IPA ADRION programme  Discover more about Interreg IPA ADRION and NCPs Click Here

Having adapted to the organisation and the new working environment, I am now in a position to explain what an IVY volunteer does, how much he/she gets involved in his/her project and how formative it can be. In my case, I am part of the INCUBTRANS project, although thanks to the Galicia Europa Foundation I have been able to learn about other POCTEP projects, and my knowledge about funding opportunities and European events is now much greater than before. INCUBTRANS aims to create a cross-border incubator in the Galicia-North Portugal Euroregion to promote sustainable business creation, skilled employment and value creation in this border area. In other words, it seeks to facilitate entrepreneurship and digitalisation, to make the area more attractive and to tackle both depopulation and population ageing. It focuses on issues such as the agro-industrial sector, digitalisation and the search for young talent. In line with this, for example, I have participated in an event organised by the Galicia Europa Foundation, called: “New opportunities in the agro-industrial sector”, which precisely brought together and trained entrepreneurs from the wine and almond sector, both Spanish and Portuguese, to face the internationalisation of their SMEs and make them more competitive at a global level. On the other hand, apart from the presence and participation in events, we also must take into account the day-to-day work in the office. Writing press releases, following up on communication with partners and maintaining regular correspondence to ensure coordination is part of the experience. In addition, you have the opportunity to meet many of your project partners, people who possess the skills to teach you numerous things, and you get to explore the organisational models and ways of working of a wide variety of entities. All this, plus the training part of approaching such large and new projects in a theoretical way, generates a lot of knowledge, and takes you out of your comfort zone, so it’s a great experience, whether you have a special interest in how Europe works, or are looking to improve your knowledge. – Hernán Rodríguez Iglesias, Interreg Project Partner at Galicia Europa Foundation in the framework of INCUBTRANS project Discover more about INCUBTRANS Click Here

Hi everyone! I’m Myrto Constantoulaki and I’m so excited to be a volunteer for the CO2 PACMAN Project through the Interreg Volunteer Youth (IVY) program. I’m based in Athens, Greece, and volunteering with the European Public Law Organization (EPLO). This experience has been an incredible opportunity to contribute to an innovative project tackling one of the biggest challenges of our time: climate change. The CO2 PACMAN (COoperation and CO-designing PArtnership for CliMAte Neutrality) project is part of the Interreg Euro-MED program, which focuses on greener living and helping Mediterranean islands transition to climate neutrality. The project brings together people and organizations from different sectors to create strategies for cutting carbon emissions and adapting to climate challenges. It’s currently making a big impact on the islands of Brac (Croatia), Crete (Greece), and Elba (Italy), where it’s introducing fresh ideas and tools to tackle emissions in areas like energy, transport, water, and tourism. What’s even cooler is that it combines technical solutions with community input, making it a model that other regions can replicate. As a volunteer, I’ve been lucky enough to dive into the project’s communication and engagement activities with EPLO. I help create materials to spread the word about the project’s goals and successes and support efforts to engage citizens and stakeholders. It’s been amazing to see how collaboration—between citizens, businesses, and public authorities—can spark real change. Along the way, I’ve learned so much about the importance of teamwork and participation in tackling global challenges like climate change. Mediterranean islands have unique struggles, like limited resources and increased vulnerability to climate change. The CO2 PACMAN project is empowering these islands with the tools and strategies they need to reach carbon neutrality Volunteering for this project has been a great experience so far. Not only do I get to contribute to something meaningful, but I’m also gaining valuable skills in communication and project management. Being part of a team working toward a greener future is truly inspiring. Thanks for taking the time to read about my experience! I can’t wait to share more updates as the project moves forward. Myrto ConstantoulakiIVY Volunteer for CO2 PACMAN Project at European Public Law Organization (EPLO) Discover more about CO2 Pacman Click Here

My name is Karolína, and I am currently volunteering with the Interreg Volunteer Youth (IVY) initiative at the Joint Secretariat of the Interreg NEXT Hungary-Slovakia-Romania-Ukraine Programme, based in Budapest, the capital of Hungary. This Programme’s main goal is to promote cross-border cooperation for a Resilient and Green Border Region, a Healthy and Attractive Border Region, and a Cooperating Border Region. The regions involved include parts of Hungary, Slovakia, Romania, and Ukraine, all of which benefit from improved environmental conditions, economic development, and strengthened partnerships. The total cooperation area covers 83,057 km², which is comparable to the size of Austria. Our Programme operates within a unique and challenging area, especially given the current war in Ukraine. This situation complicates many aspects, including organising in-person events or inviting representatives from all participating countries. Despite these challenges, we remain committed to our mission of fostering collaboration and development. As part of the consultation process for the Post-2027 Interreg programmes, one of our key responsibilities is to host information sessions and workshops at universities within the HUSKROUA programme area. These events allowed students to not only receive updates on cross-border cooperation but also voice their opinions on the future of such collaborations, which are highly relevant to their generation. Our goal was to visit universities (and also one high school) in every participating country, we visited Centrul Universitar Nord din Baia Mare in Romania, Gymnázium Poštová 9 and Katedra politológie FF Univerzita Pavla Jozefa Šafárika in Slovakia, Miskolci Egyetem and Nyíregyházi Egyetem in Hungary and Uzhhorod National University in Ukraine, introducing the Programme’s work, encouraging participation in surveys, and raising awareness of the IVY initiative, which offered valuable opportunities for young people to gain insights into the workings of Interreg and cross-border cooperation addressed by their own age group. With these events I was able to connect with diverse communities and hear the opinions of youth across the borders. Raising awareness of Interreg’s work and the opportunities it offers will remain one of my main goals as an IVY volunteer. What I enjoy most is the opportunity to see how cooperation across borders can drive positive change, even in challenging circumstances. It’s inspiring to witness how communities come together to overcome shared obstacles and work towards a brighter, more sustainable future. Being part of this process not only broadens my perspective but also reinforces the power of collective action in addressing global challenges. – Karolína, IVY Reporter at Joint Secretariat of the Interreg NEXT Hungary-Slovakia-Romania-Ukraine Programme Discover more about Interreg Next Hungary-Slovakia-Romania-Ukraine Click Here