The European Commission has approved an impulse of about 200 million euros to stimulate Flemish-Dutch cooperation between companies, knowledge institutions, NGOs and governments, in the period until 2027. This support is part of the Interreg program. With it, Europe is intensifying its efforts to eliminate internal borders within the union, including in the Flemish-Dutch border region.

The approval of the sixth Interreg Flanders-Netherlands program was announced at 'Verleg de grens', the 'Go live' event of Interreg Flanders-Netherlands that attracted more than 500 visitors on Tuesday, September 27. At this event in Genk, entrepreneurs and researchers as well as Flemish and Dutch schoolchildren were introduced to the achievements from previous Interreg programs, and the goals for the new program period.

Compared to the previous periods, there are more ambitions in the field of sustainable energy, the fight against climate change, tackling border obstacles and inclusive projects that generate an impact for the inhabitants of the border region. The program sums up its ambitions with 'cross-border cooperation for a smarter, greener and more social Europe, without borders'.

Successful results

Over the past seven years, the program could already count on many successful results. Almost 100 cross-border projects received a grant, accounting for some 150 million euros in European funds