The post September 2026: lets celebrate 15 years of Interreg Cooperation Day first appeared on POCTEP.

On 22 September, Galicia will become a meeting point for European territorial cooperation with the Interreg Cooperation Day 2026. The event, held in Santiago de Compostela, will bring together institutional representatives and projects from the main European territorial cooperation programmes — Interreg SUDOE, POCTEP, Atlantic Area and Interreg Europe — to share experiences and showcase how cooperation between territories can help address common challenges and create new opportunities.

Under the motto “Stronger Together: Projects Transforming Territories”, the event will take place at the FEUGA Auditorium and will bring together representatives from the Xunta de Galicia, the Directorate-General for European Funds of Spain’s Ministry of Finance, Portugal’s Agency for Development and Cohesion, and the European Commission, represented by DG REGIO.

The event will provide an opportunity to discover first-hand experiences from different cooperation areas and programmes, highlighting how collaboration between regions, public administrations, universities and other stakeholders can help address challenges that go beyond borders.

FOUR ROUNDTABLES TO ADDRESS SHARED CHALLENGES

The programme is structured around four roundtable discussions focusing on different dimensions of territorial cooperation.

The first, “Cooperation for Territorial Management”, will address challenges related to forest management, fire prevention and response, and territorial resilience. Projects including USE4FOREST, CILUMES INTEROPERA, RAT_EOS PC, ALERT-PFAS, FIREPOCTEP+, FIREPOCTEP AVANZA and ATEMPO will take part, together with representatives from the Xunta de Galicia, the University of Vigo and the Galician Emergency Agency.

The second roundtable, “Innovation and Technology for Cooperation”, will focus on the role of innovation and technology as tools for connecting territories, transferring knowledge and developing solutions to emerging regional challenges.

The marine environment will take centre stage in the third session, “A Shared Sea, Shared Challenges”, which will bring together initiatives focused on the protection and sustainability of marine ecosystems and resources. The MAREST, REVALGAE, DiadSea and MARINNONET projects will address the challenges facing a shared Atlantic space from different perspectives.

Finally, the fourth roundtable, “Tourism and Heritage: Cooperating to Grow”, will focus on tourism, culture and heritage as drivers of connection and territorial development. Ultreia SUDOE, POST, EnoGastroDEST and Visit Rio Minho will share their experiences and demonstrate how cooperation can contribute to more sustainable tourism models and enhance cultural and territorial resources.

AN EVENT TO SHARE EXPERIENCES AND BUILD NEW CONNECTIONS

Interreg Cooperation Day 2026 will feature a dynamic and participatory format, with dialogue sessions where participants will share experiences, results and lessons learned in response to questions from the moderators.

The aim is not only to highlight the added value of cooperation, but also to create a space where participating projects and organisations can build new connections and explore future opportunities for collaboration.

The event will conclude with a closing session and a networking reception, providing an opportunity to continue the exchange among participants and foster new relationships between stakeholders from different territories.

Through this event, Galicia further strengthens its role as a meeting point for European territorial cooperation, bringing together project experiences that demonstrate how many of today’s major challenges — from wildfires and territorial management to marine sustainability, innovation and tourism — require shared responses and collaboration across borders.

• Registration: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/qfDcpn3rnQ

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AECT Rio Minho is joining Interreg Cooperation Day 2026, an initiative that highlights European cooperation and the results it generates in border territories.

Under the slogan “Stronger Together”, this year’s edition also marks the 15th anniversary of Cooperation Day and provides an opportunity to showcase how cooperation transcends administrative borders and takes shape through the people, institutions and stakeholders working together.

• SEE THE 2026 EVENTS MAP

In the Rio Minho territory, this participation takes the form of three initiatives developed within the framework of the REDE_GOV MINHO and VISIT RIO MINHO_PLUS projects, co-funded by the European Union through the Interreg VI-A Spain–Portugal Programme (POCTEP) 2021–2027. Citizen participation, tourism development and knowledge exchange on cross-border tourism are the three areas chosen to showcase different ways of building a common territory.

The future we choose together: citizens and municipalities shaping Urban Agendas

As part of REDE_GOV_MINHO, the Urban Agendas Citizen Participation Days in the Rio Minho area will open a new stage of participation in the process of developing the Cross-Border Urban Agendas of Eurocidade do Minho and Eurocidade da Foz do Minho.

The initiative involves two Eurocities, eight municipalities and two countries: Arbo, A Cañiza, Crecente, As Neves and Melgaço, in Eurocidade do Minho; and Caminha, A Guarda and O Rosal, in Eurocidade da Foz do Minho. Citizens, associations, economic and social stakeholders, the education community, local authorities and institutional representatives will take part in the discussion of the proposals identified and help define the priorities of the two Urban Agendas.

Following the diagnostic phase, the process is now entering a stage in which learning, discussing, proposing and prioritising will make it possible to turn community participation into contributions to the future Action Plans. Here, the Stronger Together motto translates into a very concrete idea: institutions, local stakeholders and citizens on both sides of the border jointly shaping the future of territories that share challenges and opportunities.

Experience the Rio Minho to the fullest: 14 operators and one shared river

The second initiative is being developed through VISIT_RIO_MINHO_PLUS and its programme of water-based experiences, which, between June and September, offers the opportunity to discover the Rio Minho from the river itself.

The programme brings together 14 Portuguese and Galician water-sports operators, with a total of 26 outings and 300 places — 100 reserved for tourism professionals and 200 for the general public. The experiences cover different areas of the Rio Minho, from its estuary to inland sections, and include activities in both Portuguese and Galician territory, as well as routes that directly connect the two banks.

Boat trips, rafting, kayaking experiences and activities adapted for people with reduced mobility are part of a programme aimed at consolidating the “Rio Minho navegável” tourism product and strengthening the Rio Minho as a cross-border destination.

Cooperation takes shape through local operators, tourism professionals and participants, but also through a natural resource that does not end at the border.

ITC’26: knowledge and cross-border tourism in dialogue

The third initiative will be the 18th International Tourism Congress – ITC’26, which will take place on 1 and 2 October at the Faculty of Economics and Business Studies of the University of Vigo and which, this year, will focus on cross-border tourism. AECT Rio Minho is participating in the co-organisation of the congress.

As the annual scientific meeting of the Centro de Investigação, Desenvolvimento e Inovação em Turismo (CiTUR), ITC’26 brings together researchers, students, public administration representatives, companies and professionals connected to the tourism sector. The Rio Minho will be one of the reference territories for reflecting on the role of tourism in the sustainable development and cooperation of border territories.

The integration of the congress into Cooperation Day thus adds a third dimension to AECT Rio Minho’s participation: cooperation through knowledge. Universities, public institutions, companies and professionals will have the opportunity to share research, experiences and different perspectives on the challenges and opportunities of cross-border tourism.

Different protagonists, one common territory

The three initiatives start from different areas, but share one common element: cooperation becomes a reality through the people who take part in it.

Municipalities and citizens jointly defining priorities; Portuguese and Galician operators developing a tourism offer around the same river; universities, institutions, companies, researchers and professionals sharing knowledge about border territories.

It is this diversity of stakeholders that AECT Rio Minho wants to highlight through its participation in Interreg Cooperation Day 2026. The “Stronger Together” motto finds a concrete expression in the Rio Minho: two countries, two banks and different stakeholders brought together by shared projects, resources and objectives.

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Fonte: Fundación 3 Culturas

The European project INTREPIDA PRO is organising three activities in Seville and Cádiz during September and October, combining literature, well-being and entrepreneurship while promoting encounters and exchange between Spain and Portugal.

The project, approved under the Interreg Spain-Portugal (POCTEP) programme and funded by European funds, is celebrating Interreg Cooperation Day with a programme featuring three activities aimed at citizens, professionals and businesswomen from Spain and Portugal.

Book Club

The first activity will take place on 22 September in Seville and will focus on literature and translation. The meeting with translator Rosa Martínez Alfaro will bring together book clubs at the headquarters of the Tres Culturas del Mediterráneo Foundation, at 2 Max Planck Street, at 6:30 p.m.

Following the previous meeting with Portuguese writer Luísa Sobral, three book clubs and other participants have taken part in reading her first novel, Nem todas as árvores morrem em pé (Dom Quixote – LeYa), published in Spanish as No todos los árboles mueren de pie (Lunwerg – Planeta).

The session will provide an opportunity to share impressions about the book and learn about the process of translating it from Portuguese into Spanish with Rosa Martínez Alfaro. The activity is part of the INTREPIDA pro project, which forms part of the Interreg Spain-Portugal (POCTEP) programme and receives European funding.

Yoga by the Sea

The second activity will take place on 26 September in El Puerto de Santa María (Cádiz). It will be a Vinyasa Yoga session with Macarena García-Conde, organised in a setting by the sea at Puerto Sherry.

The activity will offer an outdoor Vinyasa Yoga practice and a space to explore the symptoms of burnout and how to protect against them, with the aim of promoting a healthier and more balanced lifestyle. After the session, participants will be able to enjoy a brunch together.

The activity is organised as part of the INTREPIDA pro project, led by the Tres Culturas Foundation, with the CEEI Bahía de Cádiz Foundation participating as an official partner. The Tres Culturas Foundation’s agenda places the activity on 26 September and presents it as an initiative focused on healthy living.

Businesswomen’s Forum

The programme will continue on 27 and 28 October 2026 in Seville with the International Businesswomen Forum INTREPIDA. Spain-Portugal.

The professional meeting is aimed at businesswomen from Andalusia, the Algarve and Alentejo and is designed as a space for sharing experiences, establishing professional connections and exploring topics related to communication, trade and artificial intelligence.

The forum will take place over two days, with morning and afternoon sessions, at the headquarters of the Tres Culturas del Mediterráneo Foundation in Seville. The Tres Culturas Foundation, coordinator of the INTREPIDA pro project, confirms that this meeting is one of the four professional forums planned as part of this European initiative.

Through these three activities, INTREPIDA pro brings together different areas of cooperation between Spain and Portugal, from culture and literary exchange to well-being and entrepreneurship.

Through these three initiatives, INTREPIDA pro continues to develop activities focused on encounters, exchange and cooperation between Spain and Portugal, within the framework of the Interreg Spain-Portugal (POCTEP) 2021-2027 programme, co-funded by the European Union.

The post Literature, Yoga by the Sea and Entrepreneurship: INTREPIDA PRO Celebrates Interreg Cooperation Day with Three Activities first appeared on POCTEP.

• With the participation of the Agency for Development and Cohesion (AD&C), as well as the Directorate-General for European Funds of Spain.

• Project co-funded by the European Union through the Interreg Spain–Portugal (POCTEP) 2021–2027 Programme.

• More news about FIREPOCTEP AVANZA and previous initiatives.

On 15 July 2026, the 1st FIREPOCTEP AVANZA Seminar was held at the Autonomous University of Madrid. The project is co-funded by the European Union through the Interreg Spain–Portugal (POCTEP) 2021–2027 Programme. The event marked the official launch of the youth volunteer programme and brought together institutional representatives, universities and wildfire prevention experts.

Under the motto bringing knowledge from the classroom to the field, the seminar showcased how the FIREPOCTEP AVANZA training programme is translated into practical wildfire prevention actions. In this context, the young participants of the “Vuelta al Mundo” initiative played a leading role, actively taking part in the discussions and raising numerous questions on wildfire prevention, environmental education and climate change adaptation.

Following this first session, the expedition continued its journey through the province of Ourense. In San Xoán de Río, participants took part in a Nendo Dango workshop, learning a technique for producing clay seed balls for environmental reforestation. They also visited an Aerial Firefighting Base, where they gained first-hand insight into aerial firefighting resources and the work carried out by wildfire suppression crews.

The seminar featured the participation of leading institutional and academic representatives. Among the keynote speakers were Miguel Manso Silvan, Vice-Rector for Campus and Sustainability at the Autonomous University of Madrid; M.ª del Carmen Hernández Martín, Deputy Director-General for European Territorial Cooperation at the Spanish Ministry of Finance; Isabel Gonçalves, from the Agency for Development and Cohesion (AD&C); Fernando Pulido Díaz, from the University of Extremadura; Juan Ramón Molina, from the University of Córdoba, who addressed different aspects of forest management; and José Miguel Pérez Blecua, Mayor of San Xoán de Río.

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Youth volunteering for wildfire prevention

The event marked the starting point of an initiative combining training, youth participation and field-based learning to strengthen wildfire prevention and promote greater environmental awareness in response to the challenges of climate change.

FIREPOCTEP AVANZA is a cross-border cooperation project co-funded by the Interreg VI-A Spain–Portugal (POCTEP) 2021–2027 Programme and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The initiative builds on the work carried out through projects such as FIREPOCTEP and FIREPOCTEP+, while also drawing on the experience gained through CILIFO, with the aim of strengthening wildfire prevention, risk management, training, public awareness and emergency response across the Spain–Portugal border region.

Its main areas of action include the development of Strategic Management Zones (ZEG), the creation and consolidation of productive firebreaks, improved preventive land management, the training of professionals and volunteers, and enhanced cooperation between public authorities and emergency services on both sides of the border. Through these actions, FIREPOCTEP AVANZA seeks to increase territorial resilience and improve coordination and response capacity in the face of increasingly complex and severe wildfires.

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ATEMPO is a cross-border cooperation project with a total investment of €4.8 million, 75% co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund under the Interreg VI-A Spain–Portugal (POCTEP) 2021–2027 Territorial Cooperation Programme, Policy Objective 1, Priority 1, Specific Objective 1.1.

PRESS RELEASE

Porto, 8 July 2026. – The European project ATEMPO (Cross-Border Emergency Assistance under POCTEP 2021–2027) has concluded three years of cross-border cooperation, delivering tangible results, including reduced emergency response times, improved interoperability of civil protection systems, new joint operational protocols and the integration of technological tools, including Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), to support operational coordination between Galicia, Castile and León, and Northern Portugal. Active across 21 NUTS III regions in Spain and Portugal, ATEMPO has been recognised as an Operation of Strategic Importance under the POCTEP 2021–2027 Programme. The initiative has a direct impact on more than 570,000 people within the cooperation area and extends its potential benefits to over 9 million people.

ATEMPO held its Final Conference today at the Alfândega do Porto Congress Centre, bringing together the project’s seven partners, more than 100 participants, and representatives of the European Commission and the Managing Authority of the Interreg VI-A Spain–Portugal (POCTEP) 2021–2027 Cross-Border Cooperation Programme. Jointly organised by the Axencia Galega de Emerxencias (AXEGA) and the Northern Regional Coordination and Development Commission (CCDR-N), the event marked the conclusion of three years of collaborative work in the field of civil protection and emergency management across the Spanish-Portuguese border region.

The conference provided an opportunity to present the project’s main achievements and milestones, including the equipment acquired, the coordination protocols developed, the training activities carried out, and the materials and resources produced throughout the project. The event also marked the launch of the project’s new official website.

The opening institutional addresses were delivered by Pedro Machado, Vice-President of CCDR Norte; Santiago Villanueva Álvarez, Director-General for Emergencies and Interior of the Xunta de Galicia; Ángel Manuel Sánchez, Director-General for Fire Prevention and Extinction of the Regional Government of Castile and León; António Barbosa, President of CIM Alto Minho; and Commander Paulo Jorge Macedo Gonçalves. This was followed by a round table on cross-border emergency assistance, bringing together representatives from CITIC at the University of A Coruña, CIM Alto Minho, the Viana do Castelo District Command, and the Regional Government of Castile and León. The discussion was moderated by Joaquim Mamede Alonso, from the Polytechnic Institute of Viana do Castelo.

During the afternoon, following a visit to the exhibition and a brief demonstration exercise carried out as part of the project, each of the ATEMPO partners presented their conclusions and an overview of the results achieved. The session concluded with remarks by Marcos Araújo, Manager of the Axencia Galega de Emerxencias (AXEGA) and lead partner of the project, who highlighted the progress made over the past three years, during which ATEMPO significantly strengthened cross-border emergency response between Galicia, Castile and León, and Northern Portugal.

The institutional closing session featured the participation of João Manuel Esteves, Portugal’s Secretary of State for the Environment; Diego Calvo Pouso, Regional Minister for the Presidency, Justice and Sports of the Xunta de Galicia; Álvaro Santos, President of CCDR Norte; and, via videoconference, Simona Pohlova, Deputy Head of Unit for the Interreg Programme, who presented the future outlook for cross-border territorial cooperation.

A strategic project benefiting more than 570,000 people

Recognised as an Operation of Strategic Importance by the Monitoring Committee of the Interreg VI-A Spain–Portugal (POCTEP) 2021–2027 Cross-Border Cooperation Programme, ATEMPO developed, throughout its implementation, a cross-border emergency response model with a direct impact on 570,000 residents in the cross-border area. Several of its actions also have the potential to benefit a population of more than 9 million people.

The project brings together seven organisations from three territories: the Axencia Galega de Emerxencias (AXEGA) as lead partner; the Directorate-General for Natural Heritage and Forest Policy of Castile and León; the University of A Coruña (CITIC and CITENI Research Centres); the Alto Minho Intermunicipal Community (CIM Alto Minho); the Northern Regional Coordination and Development Commission (CCDR-N); the Portuguese National Republican Guard (GNR); and the Portuguese National Institute of Medical Emergency (INEM). Over the course of three years, this partnership established a common operational framework that reduced response times in border areas, improved the interoperability of emergency systems, and developed technological tools, including Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), to support operational coordination.

The end of one cycle and the consolidation of a model

ATEMPO builds on a long-standing process of cross-border cooperation in the field of emergency management, following previous projects such as ARIEM and PROTEMPO, which mobilised more than €3 million. The Final Conference formally marked the end of this cycle while also confirming that the model developed—based on the principle that emergencies do not recognise administrative borders—has proven effective and can be replicated in other territories across the Euroregion.

The clearest demonstration of this progress took place last December, when the ATEMPO 2025 Multi-Hazard Exercise brought together around 200 emergency personnel from Portugal, Galicia and Castile and León in a LIVEX cross-border simulation exercise held in A Guarda. The exercise tested, in real time, the protocols and capabilities developed throughout the project through five simultaneous scenarios, including road traffic accidents, wildfires, high-angle rescues and missing-person search operations.

ATEMPO COMMUNICATION

Isabel Blanco

644 679 679

Isabel.blanco@cecubogroup.com

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The first day began with a visit to the FORTOURS III project, which focuses on enhancing the value of border fortifications as a resource for tourism and heritage development. The visit included a tour of Niebla Castle, where restoration works are being carried out as part of the project. Participants then visited La Rábida Monastery and took part in a working session devoted to monitoring the implementation of the Interreg POCTEP 2021–2027 Programme and discussing the forthcoming calls for proposals.

The second day focused on projects related to innovation and the energy transition. At the University of Huelva, participants were introduced to the OLIVAR_IA project, an initiative applying intelligent cooperative robotics to precision olive farming. The group then visited the El Arenosillo Experimental Centre (Mazagón), where they learned about the AGERAR_PLUS project, dedicated to renewable energy storage and management; AIHRE, which promotes renewable hydrogen; and COMPITE, which aims to strengthen regional capacities to advance the energy transition across the Euroregion.

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These visits provided participants with first-hand insight into the progress and results of initiatives promoting cross-border cooperation between Spain and Portugal in areas such as heritage conservation, technological innovation and the energy transition. They also encouraged the exchange of experience among Programme managers, participating authorities and project teams.

Regional Coordination Units Meeting

Coinciding with the event, the meeting of the Regional Coordination Units (RCUs) of the Interreg POCTEP 2021–2027 Programme was held in Huelva on 17 June. During the meeting, participants reviewed the Programme’s implementation progress and the status of the first to fifth calls for proposals. They also examined preparations for the sixth, seventh and eighth calls and discussed the framework and timetable for the forthcoming ninth and tenth calls.

The meeting also provided an opportunity to review the 2026 events calendar, discuss preparations for the post-2027 programming period, and address a range of management issues, including the Programme’s mid-term evaluation and technical assistance.

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04/06/2026, published on the EUROACE website

The Cross-Border Cooperation Observatory of the EUROACE Euroregion (Alentejo–Central Portugal–Extremadura) held its first meeting. The event took place in Badajoz, at the Faculty of Documentation and Communication Sciences, and brought together representatives of all the institutions that make up the Observatory, namely the Regional Government of Extremadura – which leads the project – and the Universities of Extremadura, Évora and Beira Interior.

Among the initiatives of the EUROACE Observatory project is the creation of cross-border research teams, which will produce studies, forecasts and other research aimed at helping identify solutions to the challenges facing the EUROACE Euroregion.

The aim is to develop territorial analyses, foresight studies, maps and other materials that will help the authorities of the three regions assess the impact of their actions, identify new challenges and potential opportunities, and design effective development policies for the future. In addition, Euroace Analytics will be created, a platform that will provide access to all the scientific content generated.

The Observatory’s activities will initially focus on three areas: Entrepreneurship and Innovation; Economy and Energy; and Competitiveness, although additional fields of study may be incorporated over time.

Participation of the European Commission and POCTEP

The meeting was attended by Ricardo Ferreira, representative of the European Commission, who stressed the importance of having interoperable cross-border data to improve knowledge of border areas and contribute to their territorial development. Also attending were Pablo Hurtado, Director-General for European Affairs and External Action, who thanked the university teams from the three regions for their commitment and highlighted the need to transfer this knowledge to public administrations and the business community in order to support strategic decision-making, as well as representatives of the three participating universities.

Also present at the meeting were Rosa Ramos, Director-General for Regional Financing and European Funds of the Regional Government of Extremadura; Elena de Miguel, Director of the POCTEP Joint Secretariat; representatives of the Regional Coordination and Development Commissions (CCDR) of Alentejo and Central Portugal; and representatives of the Statistical Institutes of Extremadura and Portugal.

The EUROACE Cross-Border Cooperation Observatory project is co-funded by the European Union through the Interreg Spain–Portugal (POCTEP) 2021–2027 Programme and will run until 2028.

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The new edition of the #EuropaSeSiente Project Competition is now underway. This competition, organised by the Directorate-General for European Funds (Ministry of Finance of Spain), once again aims to raise awareness and increase public understanding of the results and added value of European funds in Spain.

These awards are the best opportunity to highlight projects that transform neighbourhoods, change lives and demonstrate that Europe can be felt in every corner of the country.

For this reason, POCTEP encourages project beneficiaries to share their success stories so that the 2026 edition becomes the largest and most exciting one yet.

• More about previous editions of the competition and the participation of POCTEP projects

What’s new in 2026

The 2026 edition introduces several new features to make the competition more participatory, dynamic and aligned with current strategic challenges:

• New Category #EuropaMovesYou: Strategic Autonomy: This year, the special category focuses on the Union’s sovereignty and resilience, rewarding large-scale projects in digital technologies, biotechnology, clean energy and critical infrastructure.
• Popular Vote Semi-finals: The 48 pre-selected projects will be subject to public voting. The EuropaSeSiente 2026 website will host the vote, where citizens will choose the 3 finalists in each category.
• A “Eurovision”-style Final: The final stage at the Annual Event will combine the assessment of a technical jury (60%) with a live public vote (40%) to select the winners in each category.
• Double Golden Star: For the first time, two top awards will be presented: the Jury Golden Star and the Public Golden Star, further increasing recognition and visibility for the best projects.

Which projects can apply

Only completed projects will be considered, meaning that all planned activities must have been carried out and the operation certified or declared closed by the beneficiary or the Managing Authority, regardless of whether the final balance payment is still pending accounting execution.

POCTEP projects interested in applying are kindly requested to inform the Joint Secretariat of their intention to participate and/or submit an application.

Categories

Projects submitted to the competition must apply under one of the following six categories:

1. #EuropaSeSiente Competitive Category
2. #EuropaSeSiente Green Category
3. #EuropaSeSiente Connected Category
4. #EuropaSeSiente Social Category
5. #EuropaSeSiente Close-to-You Category
6. #EuropaMovesYou: Strategic Autonomy Category

Calendar and key dates

• Until 12 June: Deadline for submitting applications through the official form.
• 29 June: Official announcement of the semi-finalist projects.
• Until 31 July: Deadline for semi-finalists to submit their 3-minute short videos.
• Second half of September: Online semi-finals and public voting.
• November: Grand final during the 2026 Annual Event (venue to be confirmed).

Information and rules

All information and the competition rules are available on the European funds portal:

• Competition rules
• Access the application form

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Why is Europe important for citizens living in border regions? What role has the European Union played in the development of Spain and Portugal over the last 40 years? These were some of the questions addressed during a new edition of “Europe Squares”, organised by the European Commission.

The initiative, held on 19 May 2026 in Villanueva del Fresno (Badajoz), aimed to bring European institutions closer to citizens and highlight the impact of cooperation between the two countries, particularly through the Interreg Spain–Portugal Programme (POCTEP). In this context, five approved projects were presented as examples of the benefits of cross-border collaboration.

Under the slogan “40 Years Improving Life in La Raya”, the event brought together institutional representatives and experts to discuss the role of Europe in border territories.

Participants included the Mayor of Villanueva del Fresno, Ramón Díaz Farías; the spokesperson for the European Commission Representation in Spain, María Canal Fontcuberta; the Director-General for Regional Financing and European Funds of the Regional Government of Extremadura, Rosa María Ramos Cotrina; and the Director of the POCTEP Joint Secretariat, Elena de Miguel Gago.

VIDEOS: Discover Europe Squares

POCTEP Projects

The central theme of the event was cross-border cooperation and its impact on citizens’ daily lives. In this context, initiatives focusing on forest fire prevention, climate change risk management, sustainable tourism promotion, and social entrepreneurship development in the region were presented.

The following POCTEP projects were showcased:

• • 0185_EFES_IMPACT_4_E – Ecosystem for supporting innovative and inclusive social entrepreneurship in the cross-border region. Presented by the General Secretariat for Economy, Business and Trade of the Regional Government of Extremadura.
  • 0018_GITEUROACE_CON_VIDA_4_E – Cross-Border Initiatives Office of the EUROACE Euroregion. Presented by the Directorate-General for European Affairs and External Action of the Regional Government of Extremadura.

• • 0206_RAT_EOS_PC_6_E – Early warning networks for the remote detection of climate change-related risks through Earth observation satellites to support civil protection response. Presented by the Directorate-General for Civil Protection and Emergency Response of the Regional Government of Extremadura.
  • 0139_FIREPOCTEP_MAS_6_E – Resilient landscapes against large forest fires, presented by the University of Extremadura.
  • 0311_CAMINO_VERTICAL_6_E – Protection, development and promotion of tourism resources and cultural heritage linked to the St. James routes of Western Iberia, presented by the Technology and Digitalisation Department of the Provincial Council of Badajoz.

The event concluded with a social gathering featuring local products, combining institutional outreach with the promotion of the territory.

With this edition, “Europe Squares” highlights four decades of European integration and the tangible benefits that cooperation between Spain and Portugal has brought to border regions such as La Raya.

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