This paper examines the current state of Interreg and proposes financial, procedural and product innovations to enhance its future functioning. The analysis is based on a content review of relevant primary and secondary documents, as well as qualitative research conducted among stakeholders within the framework of multi-level governance in the Czech Republic and Germany. The perspectives of policymakers, managers and representatives of institutions and the non-profit sector are particularly significant in light of the ongoing planning process for Interreg in the 2028–2034 budgetary period. The findings indicate that respondents advocate for maintaining or increasing the current financial allocation for Interreg, optimizing the project selection process, preserving the system of shared management between participating countries, and expanding the existing thematic priorities of cooperation. A particularly noteworthy conclusion in the realm of product innovation is the respondents’ willingness to experiment with cross-border cooperation, particularly regarding new legal forms (e.g. the establishment of cross-border Integrated Territorial Investments – ITIs) and cross-border start-ups or spin-offs.
Lukáš Novotný (Wed,) studied this question.