For 35 years, Interreg has represented a cornerstone of European integration, promoting cross-border, transnational, interregional and outermost region cooperation to drive growth, innovation, and inclusion in all regions of Europe. It is recognised as a key instrument building solidarity, trust and mutual understanding across the EU’s internal and external borders. The Interreg GO! event will be taking place on the 27 and 28 March 2025 in a highly symbolic location for cross-border cooperation — the twin cities of Gorizia and Nova Gorica, situated on the Italian-Slovenian border. These cities jointly hold the title of European Capital of Culture in 2025.

The conference will be a key milestone in the preparation of the future post-2027 Interreg programmes. It will present the results of public consultations for the EU’s next Multiannual Financial Framework. Those consultations involved all Interreg programmes, key stakeholders and, for the first time in history, almost 15 thousand citizens living on the territories covered by Interreg activities.

The Interreg NEXT MED Programme will participate in the panel session “Cooperation: shared spaces, shared goals” focused on the challenges, benefits and future perspectives for cooperation with candidate and neighbouring countries, including for outermost regions. Mr. Aldo Puleo, from the Managing Authority, will discuss the added value of a broad, regional, multi-country programme encompassing 15 countries and its importance in addressing collectively joint regional challenges in the Mediterranean, including climate change, social inclusion, SME competitiveness, skills development and health.