Our story
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1
2003-2006
In 2003, preparing for European Union (EU) membership, Poland, together with Ukraine and Belarus, began work on launching a joint cross-border programme. Its first edition was the Neighbourhood Programme Poland-Belarus-Ukraine INTERREG IIIA / TACIS CBC 2004-2006. With a total budget of 58.4 MEUR, 167 projects were implemented in many fields to improve the quality of life of the borderland’s inhabitants.
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2
2007-2013
The next edition was the Poland-Belarus-Ukraine ENPI Cross-border Cooperation Programme 2007-2013 with significantly more EU funding. For a total budget of 203.6 MEUR, 117 projects were implemented, including 9 strategic projects, 102 regular projects and 6 umbrella projects (with 56 micro-projects).
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3
2014-2020
In terms of budget, the Poland-Belarus-Ukraine Cross-Border Cooperation Programme 2014-2020 was the largest such programme of the European Neighbourhood Instrument on the EU land borders. Its total budget of 201.4 MEUR made it possible to finance 158 projects – 10 strategic, 65 regular, 76 micro-projects and 7 special non-competitive.
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4
2021-2027
The 2021-2027 programme was initially prepared in a tripartite format, as a continuation of the previous fruitful and successful cross-border cooperation. However, due to the use of migrants at the EU’s external borders by the Belarusian authorities and Belarus’ subsequent involvement in Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine in 2022, cross-border cooperation with Belarus was suspended. As a result, the 2021-2027 Programme is bilateral.
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20th anniversary of cooperation
In 2023, we celebrated the 20th anniversary of cross-border cooperation between Poland and Ukraine. 20 years of joint contacts, undertakings and actions carried out for the border regions and communities of both countries. A truly wide range of thematic activities were carried out in the various editions of the Programme – from security of various dimensions, through border crossing and road infrastructure, health and environmental protection, promotion of tourism, entrepreneurship and cultural heritage, to what is perhaps the most important, i.e. support for cooperation and people-to-people contacts.
Interreg NEXT Poland – Ukraine 2021-2027
The Interreg NEXT Programme Poland – Ukraine 2021-2027 was adopted by the European Commission on 30th November 2022. Its overall objective is to support cross-border development processes in the borderland between Poland and Ukraine. The programme is aimed at Polish and Ukrainian border regions and all non-profit institutions operating in the area. The European Union has allocated 235.9 MEUR for its implementation (of which a minimum of 214.4 MEUR for projects), with a total budget of more than 262 MEUR.
The objectives of the Programme are implemented in 6 main priorities: ENVIRONMENT, HEALTH, TOURISM, COOPERATION, BORDERS, ACCESSIBILITY using strategic large infrastructure projects, regular projects and small project funds.
As a result of the 1st call for regular projects (2023), the Programme Monitoring Committee selected for co-financing 20 projects from the HEALTH priority and 44 projects from the ENVIRONMENT priority.
Together Developing the Borderland
Who does the Programme support?
- Local communities from the border areas of Poland and Ukraine
- Non-profit institutions
- Local authorities
- Health and environmental protection services
- Entities operating in the tourism and cultural industry
- Enterprises, including SMEs
What does the Programme offer?
- grants for cross-border projects
- support for infrastructure development
- funds for environmental and health protection
- funds for cooperation, tourism and culture projects
Programme in numbers
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EUR 214.4 million
EUR 214.4 million Programme budget for projects’ implementation
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71
71 projects
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10
10 regions
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188
188 project partners
Programme priorities and specific objectives
Priority 1. ENVIRONMENT
1.1 Promoting climate change adaptation and disaster risk prevention and resilience, taking into account eco-system based approaches
1.2 Promoting access to water and sustainable water management
1.3 Enhancing protection and preservation of nature, biodiversity and green infrastructure, including in urban areas, and reducing all forms of pollution
1.4 Promoting the transition to a circular and resource efficient economy
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Number of projects
46The entire budget
99 517 864 €
Priority 2. HEALTH
2.1. Ensuring equal access to health care and fostering resilence of health systems, including primary care, and promoting the transition from institutional to family-based and community-based care
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Number of projects
24The entire budget
53 354 433 €
Priority 3, TOURISM
3.1 Enhancing the role of culture and sustainable tourism in economic development, social inclusion and social innovation
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Number of projects
1The entire budget
3 875 625 €
Priority 4. COOPERATION
4.1. Build up mutual trust, in particular by encouraging peopple-to-people actions
Priority 5. BORDERS
5.1. A safer and more secure Europe
Priority 6. ACCESSIBILITY
6.1. Developing and enhancing sustainable, climate resilient, intelligent and intermodal national, regional and local mobility, including improved access to TEN-T and cross-border mobility
Priority 1. ENVIRONMENT
1.1 Promoting climate change adaptation and disaster risk prevention and resilience, taking into account eco-system based approaches
1.2 Promoting access to water and sustainable water management
1.3 Enhancing protection and preservation of nature, biodiversity and green infrastructure, including in urban areas, and reducing all forms of pollution
1.4 Promoting the transition to a circular and resource efficient economy
Priority 2. HEALTH
2.1. Ensuring equal access to health care and fostering resilence of health systems, including primary care, and promoting the transition from institutional to family-based and community-based care
Priority 3, TOURISM
3.1 Enhancing the role of culture and sustainable tourism in economic development, social inclusion and social innovation
Priority 4. COOPERATION
4.1. Build up mutual trust, in particular by encouraging peopple-to-people actions
Priority 6. ACCESSIBILITY
6.1. Developing and enhancing sustainable, climate resilient, intelligent and intermodal national, regional and local mobility, including improved access to TEN-T and cross-border mobility
Programme area
