Interreg NEXT MED
Programme funded by the European Union (EU) that supports transnational cooperation through the financing of joint projects which aim at making the Mediterranean area more resilient to the shared challenges it faces.
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What is Interreg NEXT MED Programme?
Interreg NEXT ‘Mediterranean Sea Basin’ (‘NEXT MED’) programme is the third generation of one of the largest cooperation initiatives funded by the European Union to enhance transnational cooperation in the Mediterranean area.
NEXT MED is part of Interreg, a key instrument of the European Union which promotes European territorial cooperation across borders by means of joint programmes, projects and networks among national, regional and local actors from different EU Member States and among EU actors and adjacent non-EU countries, partner countries, overseas countries and territories (OCTs).
With a budget of €253 million, Interreg NEXT MED aims at contributing to smart, sustainable, fair development for all across the Mediterranean basin by supporting balanced, long- lasting, far-reaching cooperation and multilevel governance. The programme mission is to finance cooperation projects that address joint socio-economic, environmental and governance challenges at Mediterranean level such as the uptake of advanced technologies, competitiveness of SMEs and job creation, energy efficiency, water management, climate change adaptation, transition to a circular and resource efficient economy, education and training, health care.
The cooperation area, home to over 200 million people, covers over 100 eligible territories of 15 countries: 13 of them which already participated in the previous editions of the programme – Cyprus, Egypt, France, Greece, Israel, Italy, Lebanon, Jordan, Malta, Palestine, Portugal, Spain, Tunisia – and two new members, namely Algeria and Türkiye.
Region
MEDITERRANEAN
Number of countries
15 (over 100 eligible territories)
Budget
€253 million
Cooperation area
ALGERIA
Tlemcen, Ain-Temouchent, Oran, Mostaganem, Chlef, Tipaza, Boumerdes, Tizi Ouzou, Bejaia, Jijel, Skikda, Annaba, El-Tarf, Alger
CYPRUS
EGYPT
FRANCE
GREECE
ISRAEL
ITALY
JORDAN
LEBANON
MALTA
PALESTINE
PORTUGAL
Algarve
SPAIN
TUNISIA
TÜRKIYE
Interreg NEXT MED Priorities
Discover our vision for a revitalized Mediterranean region: smart, green, inclusive, and efficiently governed, where tradition meets innovation to forge a sustainable future.
Interreg NEXT MED thematic strategy is structured around 4 broad priorities and 9 specific objectives, selected by the representatives of the participating countries based on the set of policy objectives contained in the EU Common Provisions Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2021/1060 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 June 2021 laying down common provisions) and following a consultation process involving national authorities, key stakeholders and regional actors.
The below priorities and specific objectives identified for Interreg NEXT MED have the ambition to reflect the shared challenges of the cooperation area:
A smarter Mediterranean
– Developing and enhancing research and innovation capacities and the uptake of advanced technologies
– Enhancing sustainable growth and competitiveness of SMEs and job creation in SMEs, including by productive investments
€66.6 million
29% of the budget
A greener Mediterranean
– Promoting energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions
– Promoting climate change adaptation and disaster risk prevention, resilience taking into account eco-system based approaches
– Promoting access to water and sustainable water management
– Promoting the transition to a circular and resource efficient economy
€96.9 million
42% of the budget
A more social Mediterranean
– Improving equal access to inclusive and quality services in education, training and lifelong learning through developing accessible infrastructure, including by fostering resilience for distance and on-line education and training
– Ensuring equal access to health care and fostering resilience of health systems, including primary care, and promoting the transition from institutional to family – and community-based care
€48.8 million
21% of the budget
A better cooperation governance for the Mediterranean
– Fostering local governance models and processes through cross-sectoral, multilevel and cross-border partnerships, encouraging the cooperation and dialogue between citizens, civil society actors and institutions in view of addressing issues of joint interest at local level through transnational exchanges, bottom-up and participatory approaches
€17.7 million
8% of the budget
Conclusion
Interreg NEXT MED stands as a beacon for collaborative projects that unite national, regional, and local stakeholders from various EU Member States, alongside EU entities and neighboring non-EU countries, partner nations, overseas countries, and territories. Its core mission is to fortify the Mediterranean area’s resilience by backing projects that collectively address socio-economic, environmental, and governance challenges. Key focus areas include accelerating the adoption of advanced technologies, enhancing SME competitiveness and job creation, promoting energy efficiency, water resource management, climate change adaptation, moving towards a circular economy, and improving education, training, and healthcare services.
Latest news & calls related to this programme:
Interreg NEXT MED Programme Launches Its First Call for Proposals
The European Union is thrilled to announce the initiation of the first call for proposals under the esteemed Interreg NEXT MED Programme.
