Interregional cooperation helps public authorities make better policy

A paper by four interregional programmes – ESPON, Interact,Interreg Europe and URBACT

Policy-makers all across Europe – in local governments, cities, regions and national ministries – face a variety of political and societal challenges: reducing unemployment; adapting to migration effects; promoting social inclusion; boosting green economy; improving transport links.

What unites them is the challenge of designing and implementing policy in an increasingly complex and interdependent environment. With a competition for resources, tight in many contexts, where budgets are being squeezed, the need for policy that brings results and meets public expectations for quality of life is high. This is where these Europe-wide cooperation programmes can help.