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INTERREG 2021-2027

Programm · 8 minutes

INTERREG 2021-2027 funds cross-border projects with EU grants of up to 80%. Consortia from at least two countries, a total budget of around €10bn. All the details.

Working across borders: the EU finances up to 80% of eligible costs.

INTERREG is the EU's programme for European territorial cooperation (ETC) under the ERDF. It finances cooperation projects between partners from at least 2 different countries. The 2021–2027 total budget is around €10bn of ERDF money spread across around 100 programmes in four strands: strand A (cross-border, around 80% of the budget), strand B (transnational, around 15%), strand C (interregional, around 5%) and strand D (outermost regions). You apply not centrally to the European Commission but to the managing authority of the relevant INTERREG programme.

Eligibility

  • A consortium of at least 2 independent legal persons from at least 2 different countries within the relevant cooperation area (Art. 23 Regulation (EU) 2021/1059).
  • At least 1 partner is based in an EU member state (Art. 23 Regulation (EU) 2021/1059).
  • All partners are based within the programme area (NUTS regions) of the relevant INTERREG programme. Partners outside it may typically account for no more than 10–20% of the ERDF money, depending on the programme (Art. 22 Regulation (EU) 2021/1059).
  • One consortium partner takes overall responsibility towards the managing authority as lead partner (contract, passing on funds, reporting); the lead partner has to be based in the programme area (Art. 26 Regulation (EU) 2021/1059).
  • The project contributes to one of the programme priorities derived from policy objectives PO 1–5 or the INTERREG-specific objectives ISO 1 (better governance) / ISO 2 (a safer Europe) (Art. 14 Regulation (EU) 2021/1059).
  • National co-financing (typically 20–35% of eligible costs) has to be firmly secured at the time of application, through own funds or commitments from state, federal or third-party sources (Art. 63 Regulation (EU) 2021/1060 CPR).
  • No double financing: identical cost items may not be financed in parallel from other EU or national programmes (national ERDF, Horizon Europe, LIFE, ESF+) (Art. 63(9) Regulation (EU) 2021/1060 CPR).
  • A partnership agreement between the lead partner and all project partners has to be concluded before the first payment (Art. 26(2) Regulation (EU) 2021/1059).
  • For partners carrying out economic activity: document the state aid classification (Art. 20 GBER, de minimis or other GBER articles) per partner and activity in the application.

Eligible costs

  • Staff costs: as actual costs (an hourly rate × project hours with time records) or as a flat rate (20% of direct costs excluding staff under CPR Art. 55), depending on the programme (Art. 39–40 Regulation (EU) 2021/1059, Art. 55 CPR).
  • Office and administration costs: an INTERREG-specific flat rate of 15% on eligible staff costs, with no itemised evidence required (Art. 40 Regulation (EU) 2021/1059).
  • Travel and accommodation: as actual costs (with receipts) or as a flat rate depending on the programme (Art. 41 Regulation (EU) 2021/1059).
  • External expertise and services: external experts, consultants, studies, translations, event organisation, IT services, as actual costs with evidence of procurement (Art. 42 Regulation (EU) 2021/1059).
  • Equipment costs: purchase, rental, leasing or depreciation of equipment and software during the project term (Art. 43 Regulation (EU) 2021/1059).
  • Infrastructure and works: investment costs in cross-border programmes (strand A); rarely provided for in strands B and C (Art. 44 Regulation (EU) 2021/1059).
  • Indirect costs as an alternative: a 7% flat rate on eligible direct costs under CPR Art. 54(1)(a), instead of the 15% staff cost flat rate, depending on what the programme specifies.

Common pitfalls

Applying through the wrong portal

INTERREG doesn't run through the central EU Funding & Tenders Portal. You submit the application exclusively through the relevant INTERREG programme's application portal, usually Jems (the joint electronic monitoring system) or eMS. An application to the wrong portal counts as not submitted.

A consortium without an EU member state or with too few countries

At least 2 partners from 2 different countries are mandatory. If a partner from an EU member state is missing, or the consortium has only national partners, the application is rejected as inadmissible with no substantive assessment.

Partners outside the programme area

All partners have to be based in the NUTS regions of the relevant programme. Partners outside the programme area are not eligible, except under the programme-specific 10% rule. Clarify the location within the programme area before applying.

National co-financing not secured

The remaining share (typically 20%) has to be firmly committed at the time of application. Without written co-financing confirmations per partner, the application is incomplete. Secure own funds or state and federal money early and attach them as letters of commitment.

Parallel activities instead of genuine cooperation

INTERREG funds genuinely joint results, not parallel national activities under a shared logo. Reviewers and the joint secretariat assess the transnational added value. Projects with no recognisable EU added value score low on 'strategic relevance' and 'partnership quality'.

Double financing with other EU programmes

Identical cost items may not be financed simultaneously from INTERREG and, say, national ERDF, Horizon Europe or LIFE. A breach risks clawback. Delimit the costs clearly and document the boundary with other funding in the application.

Ignoring the publicity obligations

The EU emblem, the programme logo and the wording 'Co-funded by the European Union' have to appear on all materials, the project website and at events. For projects above €100,000 in ERDF money, a poster (at least A3) at the project site is mandatory. Breaches can cost up to 3% of the ERDF money.

The application process

  • 1. Identify the INTERREG programme. Choose the strand and programme that fit the partners' locations and the topic. Relevant for Germany: strand A (DE-NL, DE-PL, DE-CZ, Upper Rhine and others), strand B (Baltic Sea, North Sea, Central Europe, Danube Region and others), strand C (Interreg Europe, URBACT). Check the programme text and the programme area (NUTS regions).
  • 2. Contact the joint secretariat early. The programme's joint secretariat (JS) advises free of charge on the topic fit. Contact is recommended 6–9 months before the call deadline. For strands B and C there is free initial advice from the national contact point BBSR at interreg.de.
  • 3. Build the consortium. At least 2 partners from 2 countries based in the programme area. Determine the lead partner, ideally one with INTERREG experience. Obtain co-financing statements or letters of commitment from all partners.
  • 4. Submit a concept note (for two-stage programmes). Some programmes (Interreg North-West Europe, the Danube Region) require a short application (5–15 pages) before the full application. Content: the project idea, consortium, expected outputs and an indicative budget. The full application only follows on invitation.
  • 5. Prepare the full application in the programme portal. Submit through the programme-specific online tool (typically Jems or eMS). The lead partner submits on behalf of the whole consortium. The language is usually English. Content: the project description (sections A–D), a work plan with work packages, and a budget per partner and cost category (section E).
  • 6. Document the state aid classification. For every partner carrying out economic activity, set out the state aid classification in the budget section: Art. 20 GBER (ETC-specific aid), other GBER articles, de minimis (Regulation (EU) 2023/2831) or non-economic activity.
  • 7. Assessment by the joint secretariat and monitoring committee. A two-stage assessment: (1) a formal check (admissibility) by the JS, (2) a substantive assessment by the JS and, where relevant, external reviewers, with the decision taken in the monitoring committee. It typically takes 4–9 months.
  • 8. Conclude the subsidy contract and partnership agreement. On approval: a subsidy contract between the managing authority and the lead partner. A partnership agreement between the lead partner and all project partners is mandatory before the first payment, covering roles, passing on funds, IP and liability.
  • 9. Deliver the project and report. Reimbursement of expenditure works on a reimbursement principle: each partner submits proof of expenditure to its national first-level control (FLC) body. The FLC confirms the eligible costs. The lead partner consolidates the progress reports (typically every 6 months) and submits them to the JS. All materials carry the EU emblem, the programme logo and the funding reference.

How upsmart helps

We match your project against all around 100 INTERREG programmes and show you which strand (A, B or C) and which programme area fits. We check whether de minimis headroom (Regulation (EU) 2023/2831) or Art. 20 GBER applies, and whether parallel EU money (Horizon, LIFE, national ERDF) would trigger double financing. We keep an eye on the open call deadlines per programme; we work out the draft application together with your team. Fixed terms, independent of the grant amount.

Combining it with other programmes

INTERREG money can in principle be combined with other funding sources as long as there is no double financing of identical cost items. The national co-financing can come from own funds, state money or federal programmes. Combination with Horizon Europe, LIFE or national ERDF programmes for different cost items is possible but has to be clearly delimited in the application (Art. 63(9) Regulation (EU) 2021/1060 CPR).

Frequently asked questions

Consortia of at least 2 partners from at least 2 different countries within the relevant cooperation area. At least 1 partner has to come from an EU member state. All partners need a base in the programme area. Single applicants aren't eligible. Typical partner types are public bodies, universities, research institutions, economic development agencies and, depending on the programme, SMEs and NGOs.

The EU typically covers up to 80% of total eligible costs as a grant (ERDF money). The exact range is 65–80% depending on the programme and beneficiary. You have to secure the remaining 20–35% as national co-financing, from own funds or state or federal money. The total budget of all INTERREG programmes 2021–2027 is around €10bn in ERDF money.

You don't submit your application centrally to the European Commission but to the relevant INTERREG programme. First choose the right programme (strand A, B or C) from interreg.eu. Contact the joint secretariat for advice. For strands B and C, the BBSR offers free initial advice at interreg.de. You prepare the full application in the programme-specific online tool (usually Jems or eMS) and submit it as lead partner.

Eligible are staff costs (actual costs or a 20% flat rate), office and administration costs (a 15% flat rate on staff costs), travel and accommodation, external expertise and services, and equipment costs. In cross-border programmes (strand A), infrastructure and works too. Indirect costs can alternatively be claimed as a 7% flat rate on direct costs.

One consortium partner takes overall responsibility towards the managing authority as lead partner. It concludes the subsidy contract, passes ERDF money on to the project partners and submits consolidated progress reports. The lead partner has to be based in the programme area. All project partners conclude a partnership agreement with the lead partner, mandatory before the first payment.

Read on in the blog

Horizon Europe for the Mittelstand

Primary sources

  • INTERREG overview portal (interreg.eu)— European Commission / managing authorities
  • DG REGIO: European territorial cooperation— European Commission, Directorate-General for Regional Policy (DG REGIO)
  • National contact point for strands B and C (BBSR)— Federal Institute for Research on Building, Urban Affairs and Spatial Development (BBSR)
  • Regulation (EU) 2021/1059 — the INTERREG Regulation— EUR-Lex / European Parliament and Council
  • Regulation (EU) 2021/1060 — the Common Provisions Regulation (CPR)— EUR-Lex / European Parliament and Council
  • Regulation (EU) 2021/1058 — the ERDF Regulation— EUR-Lex / European Parliament and Council

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