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INTERACT's Profile
This page aims to introduce you to what INTERACT is and what it does.
What is INTERACT?
INTERACT is one of the three network programmes operating within DG Regional Policy's Objective 3, European Territorial Cooperation. INTERACT’s budget for the 2007-2013 programming period is EUR 34 million.
What does INTERACT do?
INTERACT II believes in the need for accountability, clarity, transparency, coherence, efficiency and effectiveness within the ETC.
It targets the institutions and bodies responsible for the management and delivery of European Territorial Cooperation programmes. It provides reliable and practical guidance to those programmes on issues related to management techniques, strategic orientation, and institutional and thematic networks. Its core aim is to identify, describe and spread good governance approaches and practices for the benefit of Territorial Cooperation stakeholders.
INTERACT services are demand-driven and target-orientated, providing participants with informed information tailored to their specific needs. Events are organised throughout Europe, taking information to Territorial Cooperation stakeholders in a proactive way, and reaching the largest and most diverse number of people possible.
All INTERACT’s objectives reflect the new strategic orientation of the European Union focusing on growth, jobs, competitiveness and sustainability as indicated in the Gothenburg Agenda.
How is INTERACT's regional focus ensured?
INTERACT has five offices around Europe in the following locations:
- INTERACT Secretariat Bratislava, Slovakia;
- INTERACT Point Turku, Finland;
- INTERACT Point Valencia, Spain;
- INTERACT Point Viborg, Denmark;
- INTERACT Point Vienna, Austria.
A regionally focused approach allows INTERACT to work more closely with programmes, addressing them via the four INTERACT Points. This means that INTERACT services are delivered in a number of languages and are often based around key questions and problems raised by stakeholders. Each INTERACT Point serves regional groups of cross-border and transnational programmes.
How is INTERACT funded?
INTERACT is funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). ERDF helps reduce the gap between development levels and living standards among the regions and the extent to which least-favoured regions are lagging behind.
What is the added value of INTERACT?
INTERACT facilitates a greater and improved role for regional, local and non-governmental actors in the policy-making process. It helps to improve European modes of governance to develop and strengthen democracy in Europe.
Which bodies does INTERACT support?
INTERACT II supports Managing Authorities, Joint Technical Secretariats, Monitoring Committees, National Contact Persons, Certifying Authorities and Audit Authorities across Europe.
What is INTERACT's experience?
Using the significant knowledge and expertise built up during the previous programming period, INTERACT has a large amount of information at its disposal, and is in close contact with the European Commission to constantly improve the quality of procedures and tools that it offers.
INTERACT seminars and workshops are held by people working on the actual issues being addressed, and are built around case studies and real life examples, in order to make them as relevant and useful as possible to individual stakeholders.
What is the role of Member States in INTERACT?
Each European Union Member State plus Norway and Switzerland is invited to nominate a National Contact Person (NCP), to facilitate the relationships between INTERACT bodies and stakeholders at a national level. Meetings with all of the INTERACT NCPs and the Monitoring Committee take place twice per year.
