This stand explores how Interreg supports the right to stay along the EU’s external borders, with Ukraine as a key example. It highlights how cross-border cooperation fosters resilience and socio-economic development, tackling the root causes of displacement and enabling people to build sustainable futures at home. From AI-driven rehabilitation, to support for smart growth, training and education, the stand showcases examples from the IPA, NEXT and OMR programmes to show how Interreg delivers locally rooted solutions to migration management and border governance, strengthening regional solidarity along external borders while aligning the regions more closely with EU values and standards.
- Education and culture | Health | International | INTERREG | Jobs and Employment | Local and regional | Neighbours (ENI + IPA + EFTA + UK) | Outermost | Research and Innovation | Social inclusion and Equality
- Code: 14Stand252299
- Square Brussels , Exhibition area, Grand Hall 2
Exhibitors
Practical information
- When
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Tue 14/10/2025 at 09:30 to Wed 15/10/2025 at 18:00 CET
- Where
- Square Brussels , Exhibition area, Grand Hall 2
- Type of partnership
- Partnership
- Format
- Stand
- Theme
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The Right to Stay: unlocking the potential of every territory
- Language
- English
Partners
Particip GmbH - TESIM
Interact Office Vienna
Reporting
Session summary
The TESIM/Interact stand, entitled “Interreg for the Right to Stay,” showcased the contribution of 27 Interreg programmes across the three strands - OMR, NEXT, and IPA - in supporting communities along the EU’s external borders. Through hundreds of ongoing projects, these programmes help local populations build sustainable livelihoods within their own regions. Ukraine was a key example: several projects were highlighted, fostering resilience against natural or manmade disasters, saving lives through health care support, powering a sustainable economic growth.
The joint stand generated significant interest, attracting around 200 visitors eager to learn more about the European Commission’s initiatives across the EU’s external borders, including current funding opportunities and perspectives for the post-2027 programming period. The display was also widely documented and shared across social media not only by the TESIM or Interact teams, but also by simple visitors, contributing to broader visibility.
The event’s logistics and technical arrangements ran smoothly, ensuring a professional and engaging presence throughout the week.
Quotes
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Interreg spans from the Atlantic and Caribbeans, to Latin American and the Indian Ocean: territorial cooperation takes place in the four corners of the globe, where 9 EU Outermost Regions join forces with neighbouring countries to face common challenges
Across the EU borders, there are right now seven Interreg NEXT programmes and over 360 projects running, about half of which are implemented in Ukraine. They support local communities to strengthen their presence and encourage people to stay or to return
And while Ukraine is seeking the candidate status, other countries in the Balkans are on the way to join the EU: this is where the Interreg pre-accession assistance comes in, with 15 programmes running to build trust & stronger links across the EU borders
