During the upcoming programming period, we will continue to support interregional cooperation in the Euregio Meuse-Rhine. The next programme period of Interreg Euregio Meuse-Rhine will run from 2021 until 2027.

To guide the overall process, take formal decisions on the content of the future programme and select our thematic priorities, we have set up a working group. The working group is made of delegates from the partner regions who take the decisions. An observer from the European Commission as well as the programme's managing authority take part, but without any decision-making powers. We have also hired external experts to help us draft the new programme.

Furthermore, we have organised two separate consultations asking the stakeholders as well as the general public for their opinion on the programme. Additionally, any interested party was invited to write in with their feedback. You can find out more about the events below, or in our news section. The summary of our draft programme can also be found below, or in the download section.

Currently, we are analysing the feedback we have gathered. The comments from the public consultation also informed the expert groups we are organising on the different topics since November 2020. All of the feedback will be discussed with the working group post-2020 and will therefore help us to fine-tune our draft programme. After we have adjusted the draft programme, it will be sent to the European Commission for review. 

On November 30 2020, we had the pleasure to welcome more than 175 participants from the Euregio Meuse-Rhine to our second public consultation. The consultation was organised as a discussion between the speakers from Interreg Euregio Meuse-Rhine with several opportunities for the audience to interact and voice their opinions.

The audience came from across the Euregio, with a majority coming from Belgium (46%), and a quarter each from Germany (27%) and the Netherlands (26%). Almost 35% of the participants were completely new to Interreg Euregio Meuse-Rhine, nearly half of the stakeholder has been involved in several Interreg Euregio Meuse-Rhine projects.

After opening words from Theo Bovens, the Governor of the Province of Limburg, and a short conversation about the state of play between the moderator, Simone van Trier, and Mark Vos, the Coordinator of the programme, we turned our attention to the five themes of the preliminary draft programme:

1.  Industrial transition
2. Greener society
3. Healthier citizens
4. Tourism
5. Living and working across borders

Our speakers kindly introduced each topic via video:

Nicole Bollen (Regioambassadeur Zuid of the Ministerie van Economische Zaken en Klimaat and Ministerie van Landbouw, Natuur en Voedselkwaliteit) insights into the current programme period, introduced several Interreg Euregio Meuse-Rhine projects and offered insights into future perspectives. Andreas Machwirth (Gruppenleiter Außenwirtschaft at the Ministerium für Wirtschaft, Innovation, Digitalisierung und Energie des Landes Nordrhein-Westfalen) highlighted the challenges and possibilities for the industrial transition. David Grzegorzewski (Director and Connector EU programme management & funding at Agentschap Innoveren & Ondernemen VLAIO) introduced the topics greener society as well as opportunities to improve citizen health; and Pascal Arimont (Member of the European Parliament from the German-speaking community in Belgium and vice-coordinator regional development of the European Parliament) emphasised the importance of transnational, cross-border cooperation.

In the following table-talk, moderator Simone van Trier and Senior Programme Manager Jean-Philippe Odeurs discussed where Interreg Euregio Meuse-Rhine is heading and reacted to the questions and comments of the audience.

We would like to take a moment to thank everyone who contributed. All comments have been saved and will be discussed with our partners to finalise the draft. As stated above, if you would like to comment on the draft programme, please send an email to until December 11, 2020.

 

Our first public consultation on 24 October 2019 at MECC Maastricht, gave us an opportunity to look ahead to the upcoming programme and gather ideas and insights from different stakeholders in our region.

In our first event, organisations from across the Euregio shared their future ambitions and challenges. Attendees had the chance to meet their counterparts from the other side of the border.

190 participants attended the event, representing local and regional authorities, universities, knowledge institutes, sectoral organisations, media, and NGOs. They came from across the Euregio, including Belgium (46,4%), Germany (14,3%) and The Netherlands (39,3%). Over 25% indicated that they were new to Interreg.