For more than 25 years, Interreg transnational programmes have supported cooperation across EU Member States, engaging neighbouring, enlargement, and non-EU countries. These initiatives unite national, regional, and local actors to advance key European priorities, from climate action and sustainable transport to digital connectivity and social inclusion.

As the European Union designs the Cohesion Policy for post-2027, the role of transnational cooperation is under review. Policymakers need concrete evidence to determine where these programmes offer the most added value and how they can adapt to emerging territorial challenges.

A data-driven baseline for future programming

To ground this policy debate in hard evidence, the ESPON TNCOOP project has mapped territorial development trends, regional disparities, and cooperation patterns across Europe. The project equips programme authorities with the robust data required to make strategic, long-term choices.

The central achievement of this research is the delivery of 13 indivisualised profiles one for each of the Interreg transnational programmes for the 2021–2027 period, which are all following the same structure, allowing for a comparison across programmes. 

The project has also published one overarching strand fiche that examines the distinct structural role and overall added value of transnational cooperation.

Measuring territorial realities

Applying a unified analytical framework, the profiles deliver insights into the socio-economic and governance realities of each territory. The research team processed a vast array of territorial indicators to construct these profiles, covering:

• Demographic shifts and housing dynamics
• Regional development and innovation capacity
• Environmental sustainability and transport connectivity
• Citizen engagement and institutional cooperation

The methodology integrates quantitative datasets with qualitative stakeholder feedback. This dual approach guarantees that the findings are strictly comparable across different European regions while accurately reflecting local specificities.

The TNCOOP output is the result of extensive research and direct consultation with programme authorities, DG REGIO, ESPON Monitoring Committee members, and Interreg experts. It stands as one of the most exhaustive assessments of transnational cooperation currently available, offering the exact evidence needed to ensure Interreg programmes maximise their territorial impact in the years after 2027. The project has published:

• 13 specific programme fiches: Covering all Interreg transnational programmes for the 2021–2027 period.
• One overarching strand fiche: Examining the distinct structural role and overall added value of transnational cooperation.

Measuring territorial realities

Applying a unified analytical framework, the profiles deliver precise insights into the socio-economic and governance realities of each territory. The research team processed a vast array of territorial indicators to construct these profiles, covering:

• Demographic shifts and housing dynamics
• Regional development and innovation capacity
• Environmental sustainability and transport connectivity
• Citizen engagement and institutional cooperation

The methodology integrates quantitative datasets with qualitative stakeholder feedback. This dual approach guarantees that the findings are strictly comparable across different European regions while accurately reflecting local specificities.

The TNCOOP output is the result of extensive research and direct consultation with programme authorities, DG REGIO, ESPON Monitoring Committee members, and Interreg experts. It stands as one of the most exhaustive assessments of transnational cooperation currently available, offering the exact evidence needed to ensure Interreg programmes maximise their territorial impact in the years after 2027.