On 28 January 2026 in Tunis, the Interreg NEXT MED and the Interreg NEXT Italy–Tunisia Programmes celebrated 20 years of cross-border cooperation between Tunisia and the European Union.
The high-level event, organized in partnership with the Tunisian Ministry of Economy and Planning (National Authority of the Interreg NEXT Programmes for Tunisia), the Delegation of the European Union to Tunisia, the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy, Interreg TESIM NEXT and by, brought together over 350 participants, including representatives from Tunisian and European institutions, ambassadors, project partners and stakeholders from public institutions, the private sector and civil society.
For two decades, Interreg programmes have played a key role in strengthening cooperation across the Mediterranean, transforming shared challenges into joint solutions and supporting sustainable development in the region.
The event provided an opportunity to reflect on the impact of territorial cooperation on Tunisia’s regions and communities, highlighting how projects have contributed to addressing common Mediterranean priorities such as the green and digital transitions, innovation, energy efficiency and social inclusion, while fostering a smarter, greener and more inclusive Mediterranean.
The event also marked the official launch of the new generation of projects involving Tunisia under the 2021–2027 programmes. In total, 44 partners are participating in 38 Interreg NEXT MED projects, while 72 partners are engaged in 30 Interreg NEXT Italy–Tunisia projects, further strengthening cooperation across the Mediterranean basin.
With around €300 million in EU funding, both programmes continue to support partnerships that deliver concrete results and promote innovation, sustainability and inclusive growth across participating countries.
The opening of the event featured an online address by Mr. Raffaele Fitto, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Cohesion Policy and Reforms, who highlighted the strategic importance of territorial cooperation in strengthening EU partnerships and delivering tangible benefits to citizens across the Mediterranean.
By delivering tangible results and building lasting partnerships, Interreg continues to shape a smarter, greener and more inclusive Mediterranean, while laying strong foundations for ambitious cooperation in the 2028–2034 programming period.
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