My Experience as IVY at the Interreg Italy-Switzerland Programme
Hello everyone! My name is Chiara, and I’m a proud IVY Volunteer for the Interreg Italy-Switzerland Programme, currently based in Milan. As an IVY reporter, my role is to lead a public consultation aimed at Citizens and Stakeholders, with the goal of shaping the future of cross-border and transnational cooperation in the upcoming programming period, post-2027. This task is not just about gathering opinions—it’s about ensuring that the voices of local communities are heard, helping to guide the direction of these crucial initiatives. This experience has opened doors to a world that was previously unfamiliar to me. It has given me the opportunity to witness firsthand the vital role that cooperation plays in cross-border regions. Despite the linguistic, economic, and cultural differences that exist, it’s remarkable to see how people can unite to create meaningful projects that benefit entire populations across various sectors, whether in economic development, environmental sustainability, or social inclusion. For example, the ITA-CH Programme spans a vast area of 38,000 km², connecting regions on both sides of the Italian-Swiss border. In Italy, it involves Lombardy, Piedmont, the Province of Bolzano, and Valle d’Aosta, while on the Swiss side, the Cantons of Ticino, Graubünden, and Valais. The programme allocates significant resources to support sustainable, inclusive growth and to strengthen economic, social, and territorial cohesion in these border areas. Through these initiatives, Swiss and Italian organizations, institutions, and associations are able to collaborate on projects that benefit both sides. One of the most enriching aspects of this experience has been the chance to connect with people from different backgrounds and ages. I’ve met individuals, who are new to this field, as well as seasoned professionals who have dedicated years to upholding these values of cross-border cooperation. For example, I had the pleasure of working alongside Olga, a fellow IVY Volunteer from the Interreg Italy-Austria Programme. We met in Bolzano to conduct interviews together, exchanging experiences and learning from each other. It was a perfect example of how these programmes build bridges, not just between regions but also between people. These encounters have greatly enriched my personal and cultural knowledge, and for this reason, I hope to serve as an example for others who may wish to embark on this journey and engage with the world of cross-border cooperation. – Chiara, IVY Reporter at Interreg Italy – Switzerland Discover more about Interreg Italy-Switzerland Click Here
Building the Future: my journey as an IVY Reporter in France-Italy ALCOTRA cross-border cooperation
As an Italian who had lived for seven months in Nice, a vibrant and charming city on the French Riviera only 30 km away from the Italian border, I have gained a deep understanding of the opportunities and challenges involved in cross-border cooperation between France and Italy. Living and working there made me realise the importance of enhancing every day’s people life and overcoming obstacles by joining forces together. That is why I decided to become an IVY Reporter at the Managing Authority for the Interreg France-Italy ALCOTRA Programme, at the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region in Lyon. First things first, let me introduce myself. I am Giorgia, and one of my main tasks as an IVY volunteer is to support the post-2027 consultation process for the future of Cohesion Policies within the ALCOTRA programme. This year, the European Commission’s DG Regio has called upon all Interreg programmes to engage citizens and stakeholders in discussions about the future of Interreg. ALCOTRA as well launched two online surveys, which will be available online until the 1st of October. Among my tasks, I have supported the drafting of the two online surveys, and I am organising events and in-person meetings involving young people to further discuss about the future of the programme and collect valuable data to enrich our consultations. Finally, I will contribute to outlining the report on the consultation results to be submitted to the European Commission by the end of the year. These consultations are vital for the next programme regulation, which will be implemented at the end of the current programme phase in 2027. Without consulting and understanding the needs of citizens and stakeholders, Interreg programmes would not be able to allocate funds to projects. Therefore, they would not be able to improve the daily lives of European citizens. Moreover, being an IVY volunteer for the past two months, I could deepen my understanding of European territorial cooperation and Cohesion policies within the ALCOTRA territory. Not only have I gained knowledge in the cooperation field, but I also have developed new skills which will be helpful in my professional career. Since I had the opportunity to develop new skills, both professional and personal, I am looking forward to the rest of my journey as an IVY Reporter. If you are interested as well in boosting your knowledge and raising awareness on what the EU does locally to improve our every day’s life, join the IVY squad and I am sure you will live an unforgettable experience! – Giorgia M. , IVY Reporter at Managing Authority of France – Italy ALCOTRA Discover more about Interreg France-Italy ALCOTRA Click Here
My IVY Experience at Interreg Italy – Austria Programme
Hello all! I’m Olga and I’m currently deployed as an IVY Reporter for the Interreg Italy-Austria Programme. But what is IVY? What is Interreg? Not a lot of people know of these programs, and even I was not aware of their existence until recently, when I was looking for possible volunteering experiences in a European country. And it is certainly a pity, considering the opportunities that the European Union makes available through these programs and initiatives. With this little post I hope to bring some clarity and knowledge about the opportunities and the concrete work that are facilitated by Interreg, and more generally by the EU. Interreg is a key financial tool that contributes to the implementation of the so-called “Cohesion Policy” and its priorities. Established by the end of the 80’s, the Cohesion Policy is, first and foremost, the concrete manifestation of the EU’s interest and effort to promote a harmonized and balanced, hence fruitful, development of the different regions and territories included in its political area. The Cohesion Policy is a key component of the EU strategy to reduce economic and social disparities between its member states and to achieve this goal, this policy allocates significant funding to support hundreds of programs and projects. Between the programs funded by the Cohesion Policy, we can find Interreg. Interreg, put simply, is a financial tool that supports cooperation across borders through project funding. Interreg was started in 1990 and focused only on cross-border cooperation (Interreg A); over time it expanded and today there are other so-called “Strands of Cooperation” that go beyond the local borders, supporting larger scale initiatives (Interreg B: transnational cooperation) and network-building to facilitate exchange of best practices at a pan-European level (Interreg C: interregional cooperation). I am specifically an IVY: an Interreg Volunteer Youth. If you’re a young citizen from 18 to 30 years old, you can apply for this initiative. If chosen you will be able to volunteer in one of the various Interreg programs, and so to live in the European Country where Interreg activities are coordinated, supported by a financial compensation. This is a great opportunity to learn how the cooperation is reinforced with the aim to tackle common challenges identified jointly by the border regions. The idea of Interreg in the Strand of cross-border cooperation is to enhance a sustainable and inclusive growth and promote the well-being of people living in regions lying directly on the borders. To this end, local problems are jointly addressed by cross-border actors, such as firms, research centers, public institutions, schools, local action groups, to find together solutions, products or procedures that can tackle challenges related to transport, health, environment, and sustainable energy, among others. These joint solutions also need to address global challenges, such as climate change, green transition, and social inclusion. As an IVY, it is my task to promote and share the results of the projects funded by Interreg Italy-Austria, but I have a more specific task related to the consultations post-2027, needed by the European Commission to collect information on how to deliberate for the future of Interreg. Thanks to this specific job, I have interviewed over 30 partners that live and work in Austria and in Italy. They have offered me a valuable insight on their cross-border experience so far. Interreg has made possible for them to travel, meet, exchange opinions and practices and learn from different perspectives. Every partner has highlighted how borders facilitate, rather than diminish, the will and the opportunity to work together to build something good for their territory: to “give something back” is always at the center of every project funded by Interreg IT-At. Against the gloom of a “nationalistic” ghost over the European Union that is leading to raising walls and closing doors, Interreg shows that cooperation across borders is very well-received and it’s blossoming: from developing workshops with a participatory approach for school students to motivate and inform them on sustainable mobility and climate change (Project Mobility for Future | Interreg Italy Austria), to develop a common cross-border ecosystem that aims to capacitate the introduction of circular processes in the food production chain (Project FOODIS | Interreg Italy Austria). In addition, thanks to IVY I’m also meeting new people, making friends, learning about a different place and culture (every Italian region has a different culture) and this is also a personal and professional enrichment. I can only recommend this experience, especially if you feel like a small fish in an immense and indifferent ocean: Interreg showed me that it is by starting small that you get to be big. – Olga Abbiani, IVY Reporter at JS Interreg Italy – Austria Discover more about Interreg Italy-Austria Click Here
Strengthening cross-border cooperation and governance across the French-Italian border : my IVY experience at the Mission Opérationnelle Transfrontalière
Hello everyone ! My name is Sara Smaniotto and I am an IVY at the Mission Opérationnelle Transfrontalière (MOT) in Paris, France. I joined the MOT nearly three months ago, and my experience has been very positive and enriching since the very beginning. Working on the Alcotraité project has given me the great opportunity to dive deeper into cross-border governance and cooperation, and to see bilateral obstacles and barriers becoming corner-stone opportunities for a brighter common future. The Alcotraité project is funded by the Interreg France-Italy ALCOTRA programme and aims at strengthening cross-border cooperation and governance between Italian and French bordering regions and local communities. Focusing on specific objectives included in the bilateral Quirinal Treaty signed by Italy and France in 2021, Alcotraité addresses and aims at finding concrete solutions to overcome existing cross-border barriers in the fields of healthcare, biodiversity and public transport. Thanks to the active participation of all five regions at the terrestrial border (Regione Liguria, Regione Piemonte, Regione Autonoma Valle d’Aosta, Région Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur and Région Auvergne Rhône-Alpes) and of the Mission Opérationnelle Transfrontalière (MOT) acting as a facilitator, Alcotraité favours multi-level bilateral cooperation and enables partners and stakeholders to be actively engaged in jointly identifying cross-border barriers, and in developing common solutions. The project, moreover, pays close attention to citizens’ needs and it allows stakeholders’ expression of ideas through a bottom-up approach. During my experience as an IVY at the MOT I’ve been involved in various stimulating activities, that enabled me to grow personally and professionally and allowed me to make valuable contributions to the project. More precisely, I’ve been actively engaged in the analysis of the outcomes to a survey on cross-border obstacles launched in the summer and open to the public and to local actors living and operating in areas along the Italian-French border. The feedbacks received, and the conducted analysis, have been crucially important for us and for the project partners, as they have enabled us to better comprehend the practical cross-border barriers that local stakeholders face in their daily lives, and they have allowed us to support meaningful advancements in the project partners’ cross-border governance and cooperation – notably in the field of public transport and infrastructure. I’ve also been taking part in project-related meetings and working sessions, and I had the opportunity to attend the annual ad-hoc event organized in the framework of Alcotraité to celebrate the signing of the Quirinal Treaty – this year, the conference was hosted by Regione Piemonte in Turin. Finally, I am now involved in the organization of three territorial workshops, which will encourage discussions and exchanges to identify concrete solutions to the still-existing cross-border obstacles and to further proceed in joint cross-border cooperation. I am really happy about my IVY experience, and I am very grateful for this opportunity! – Sara, IVY Project Partner at MOT for Alcotraité Interreg project Discover more about ALCOTRAITÉ Click Here
Keeping Cooperation Central: My IVY Journey at Interreg Central Europe
“The beauty of Interreg lies in its ability to bring European integration to life—it is the most tangible exercise of cooperation, uniting public and private entities, academic institutions, and NGOs across regions to deliver real, impactful results.” There are no better words to describe my experience as an Interreg Volunteer Youth at the Interreg CENTRAL EUROPE Programme, than the one shared by one of the stakeholders who benefited from the programme during a focus group I had the pleasure to organise for the Consultations on the Future of Cohesion Policy Post-2027. My name is Gregorio Vichi and in these past five months I have been directly involved in supporting the programme’s efforts to strengthen and improve transnational cooperation. Interreg CENTRAL EUROPE is all about connecting regions and organisations across borders to tackle shared challenges, from climate change to innovation, fostering regional development. Through EU-funded projects, it brings together partners from nine countries—Austria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia—to find common solutions that benefit citizens, businesses, and local governments alike. As an IVY Volunteer, I have had the opportunity to delve into the policy debate on the future of Cohesion Policy by contributing to the stakeholder consultation process. Analysing feedback from programme beneficiaries spread across Europe has allowed me to understand the priorities and challenges that must be addressed in the coming years. Beyond this consultative process, I have also been involved in communicating the value of transnational cooperation, transforming policy discussions and project results into engaging content that highlights the tangible impact of EU-funded initiatives. At the same time, I have contributed to the organisation’s strategic activities, fostering dialogue and engagement among key actors in European cooperation. This has led me to take an active role in supporting and organising workshops, events, and the launch of new calls for applications. In conclusion, my time as an IVY Volunteer at Interreg CENTRAL EUROPE has been an enriching experience. It has allowed me to witness first-hand how different actors from different European regions and sectors work together to overcome shared challenges, turning cooperation from an abstract concept into a concrete tool for change. I would highly recommend this experience to anyone passionate about European affairs eager to make a change into society. But especially to the sceptics—those who often perceive the EU as merely a legislative and regulatory body, detached from reality. From helping farmers developing practices that can store carbon dioxide, to creating more competitive rural villages, you will witness how Interreg shape a stronger, more connected Europe—one project at a time. – Gregorio Vichi, Interreg Reporter at Joint Secretariat of Interreg Central Europe Discover more about Interreg Central Europe Click Here
Advancing Arctic Sustainability and Resilience: My Volunteer Journey at UiT in Narvik
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
