THE INTERACT PROGRAMME
The INTERACT II Programme 2007 - 2013 (INTERACT) is part of the Structural Funds Objective 3 ‘European Territorial Cooperation’, co-financed by the European regional Development Fund. INTERACT is about good governance of European Territorial Cooperation programmes.
INTERACT is designed to capitalise on the significant pools of expertise in the fields of regional development in particular under cross-border, transnational, and interregional cooperation and network programmes, accumulated in the framework of previous INTERREG and current cooperation periods in the EU Member States. The ultimate purpose of INTERACT is to provide support to the authorities and bodies in charge of the management of European Territorial Cooperation programmes. INTERACT also provides guidance to cooperation programmes with candidate and potential candidate countries (IPA) and along the EU external border (INTERACT ENPI).
A regionally focused approach allows INTERACT to work more closely with programmes, addressing them via the four INTERACT Points located in Turku, Valencia, Viborg, and Vienna. The INTERACT Programme Secretariat (IS) performs horizontal tasks by leading the efforts of the programme in communications, knowledge management and quality assurance. It is also responsible for managing the relationships with other Interregional and network programmes (ESPON, URBACT, INTERREG IVC), as well as undertaking Technical Assistance functions. The Managing Authority of the Programme (MA) is hosted by the Bratislava Self Governing Region (BSGR).