European Territorial Cooperation (ETC) - also known as INTERREG- is part of the European cohesion and structural policy. The ETC’s goal is to contribute to a harmonic, well balanced, and sustainable development of the community and is financed with means from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The focus is clearly aligned with the goals of the EUROPE 2020 Strategy: Growth and employment in the EU. During 2014 – 2020 around 8.9 billion Euros are available for funding.

ETC can be translated as Cooperation of European regions. The following orientations are funded:

• Cross-border cooperation (by a minimum of two membership states in the border area)
• Transnational cooperation (by membership states in greater areas, e.g. Baltic Region States, Central Europe, Alpine countries, etc.)
• Interregional cooperation (throughout the EU)

The Free State of Saxony participates within these orientations in the following programmes:

Cross-border Cooperation

Cooperation programme INTERREG Poland – Saxony 2014-2020: Improvement of people’s life quality in the programme area as well as contribution to the economic and social development plus preservation of the border region’s natural and cultural heritage

Cooperation programme Free State of Saxony – Czech Republic 2014-2020: Sustainable territorial development through joint implementation of ecological, economic and social activities

Transnational Cooperation

Interreg CENTRAL EUROPE 2020: Funding of transnational economic, ecological, and social development in Central Europe.

Interregional Cooperation

INTERREG EUROPE: Funding for interregional cooperation between regional and local governments across Europe to develop and deliver better policy.