The Interreg Euro-MED 2021-2027 approach to governance has been labelled by the 42 Member States of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) in December 2021, in Barcelona.
The approach is based on a new typology of governance projects, namely Thematic Community Projects and Institutional Dialogue Projects, and capitalises from the 2014-2020 experience of implementing PANORAMED, horizontal and strategic projects.
The UfM label recognises the dialogue-based governance approach of the Interreg Euro-MED as a relevant provision to support a better governance of the Mediterranean and contribute to a climate neutral and resilient society. It represents incredible opportunities of collaboration and expansion of the Interreg Euro-MED current scope of action to other countries outside its area through UfM support.
The main benefit coming from this label is to facilitate the institutional dialogue among all actors while deepening and expanding the effective exchange and transfer of mutual relevant results to support a better coordination and harmonisation of practices and policies among Mediterranean territories and governance levels.
Allowing matchmaking between projects to capitalise on knowledge, tools and methodology transfer, the UfM label will also support the collaboration at ground level through the communities of thematic projects. It will favour the Interreg Euro-MED Programme to contribute to the Mediterranean agenda by responding to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the Ufm strategic objectives for the Human and sustainable development.
Thanks to the label, the institutional dialogue sought by the Interreg Euro-MED Programme will reach both shores of the Sea. Indeed, it fosters a closer collaboration between the Euro-MED regions and the existing regional initiatives involving non-EU UfM countries.
