How cooperation makes central Europe a better place
Insights from the Interreg CENTRAL EUROPE 2014-2020 impact evaluation
External experts have looked at long-term effects of our cooperation funding and found concrete evidence of positive impacts.
They concluded that our programme plays an important role in helping to bridge socio-economic gaps and reduce differences in the competitiveness of more and less developed cities and regions. Our transnational cooperation projects help to enhance stakeholder capacity, build trust, and deliver innovative and high-quality products and services across central Europe.
The independent impact evaluation of our funding programme Interreg CENTRAL EUROPE 2014-2020 was conducted over three years and concluded in 2023. The expert finding built on a wide range of qualitative and quantitative research methods.
KEY FINDINGS
Positive developments were observed across all thematic priorities.
The programme significantly enhanced stakeholder capacity and delivered innovative solutions.
Transnational cooperation effectively addressed regional challenges.
Most output and result indicators exceeded initial expectations.
Projects fostered cooperation and trust among stakeholders, with successful transfer of outputs.
Outputs and results demonstrated sustainability, benefiting diverse groups.
Success factors included bottom-up approaches, diverse partnerships, and adaptation to external factors.
KEY FIGURES
1022
Pilots implemented by our projects in the period 2014-2020
689
Tools & services developed by our projects in 2014-2020
1006
Training measures provided by our projects in 2014-2020
945
Strategies & action plans developed in 2014-2020
Evidence suggests four main distinctive features of the Interreg CENTRAL EUROPE Programme:
→ Its unique territorial and thematic coverage,
→ Its accessibility for smaller organizations compared to other EU-level programmes,
→ The design of its projects’ partnerships, which encourages the involvement of many different partners,
→ Innovative character and design of its interventions, which encourages projects to test innovative solutions through pilot actions, which manifested best in the novel approach used for call 4.
Impact of our cooperation on specific topics
,
Our funding helped to develop, test and implement new solutions for shared challenges in four thematic priority areas.
The 138 funded projects improved regional innovation, reduced carbon dioxide emissions, protected natural and cultural resources, and made transport and mobility greener and smoother across central Europe. They effectively initiated innovative approaches and inspired long-term positive changes for a better quality of life in all regions and cities of central Europe.
Innovation
Find out how we help central European regions and cities to bridge the innovation divide in 2014-20
Energy
Learn how we help central European regions and cities with the energy transition in 2014-20
Environment
Find out how we help central Europe to become greener and more resilient to climate change in 2014-20
Culture
Learn how we help central Europe to preserve and make better use of its cultural diversity in 2014-20
Transport
Find out how we to better move goods and people across central Europe in 2014-20