Objective:
Address the negative impacts of internal EU borders on regional development, focusing on cross-border cooperation to enhance growth, employment, and territorial development in border regions.

Eligible applicants:
Consortia must include partners from at least:

• Two Interreg Central Europe projects (2021-2027 period)

• Two Interreg Cross-Border Cooperation (CBC) projects (2014-2020 or 2021-2027 periods)

Geographical scope:
Involves multiple CBC programmes across Central Europe, including border regions between Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Slovakia, Poland, Slovenia, Croatia, Italy, and others.

Project duration and funding:

• Project length: 18 to 24 months

• Maximum ERDF funding per project: 1 million euros

• Total call budget: 23 million euros

Programme priorities and thematic focuses:
Projects must align with one or more of the programme’s specific objectives, such as:

• Strengthening innovation capacities (e.g., SME innovation management, healthcare innovation)

• Skills development for smart specialization and industrial transformation

• Supporting energy transition and climate neutrality

• Increasing climate resilience and disaster risk management

• Promoting circular economy and environmental protection (biodiversity, ecosystems)

• Enhancing sustainable urban mobility

• Improving accessibility of rural and peripheral areas

• Reinforcing integrated territorial development and cooperation frameworks

Support and consultation:

• Thematic webinars and Q&A sessions in September and October 2025

• Individual consultations with programme officers

• National Contact Points provide country-specific support

• Online information session scheduled for October 17, 2025 (local time)

Application process:

• Applications must be submitted via the Joint Electronic Monitoring System (JEMS)

• Projects to be evaluated by the Monitoring Committee in summer 2026