Every September, Interreg programmes and projects across Europe celebrate Interreg Cooperation Day showing communities the actual, everyday results of neighboring countries working together. This year’s celebration is particularly meaningful, as Interreg Cooperation Day marks its 15th anniversary. Since the campaign was launched in 2012, its events have brought together hundreds of thousands of people, helping people across Europe discover how cooperation across borders improves everyday life.
To celebrate, the Interreg VI-A Latvia–Lithuania Programme warmly invites project partners, stakeholders, residents, and everyone interested to join us in Naujoji Akmenė, Lithuania on 26 September, for a vibrant cross-border event.
Akmenė District Municipality is an excellent example of a border municipality that has actively used Interreg support to create tangible benefits for local people. It has been a long-standing participant in the Latvia-Lithuania Programme since the 2007-2013 period in fields such as culture, education, tourism and community cooperation, and continues to be active projects implementer.
Celebrating the ties that unite Latvia and Lithuania
Our activities will merge with the Balts Unity Day celebrations bringing the two initiatives together dedicated to cooperation and the close relationship between Latvia and Lithuania. Both initiatives seek to strengthen relations between people in Latvia and Lithuania, promote mutual understanding and highlight the shared values, traditions and opportunities that connect the neighbouring countries.
Balts Unity Day 2026 programme – here.
The Programme’s participation in Balts Unity Day will therefore be about much more than raising awareness of Interreg. Above all, it will offer visitors an opportunity to experience the results of cross-border cooperation in practice by participation of two Programme’s projects.
Discover the shared culinary heritage of Latvia and Lithuania
The “Taste the History” project partner, Šiauliai Technology Training Centre, will invite visitors to discover the culinary heritage of Latvia and Lithuania through presentations and tastings of traditional dishes based in historical recipes and material by the Lithuanian digital heritage research and communication professor Rimvydas Laužikas (Phd).
Visitors will be able to learn more about the historical origins of the dishes and their place in the cultural heritage of both countries. An educational cookie-decorating activity will also invite participants to create designs inspired by the colours and symbols of Balts Unity Day and Interreg Cooperation Day.
Project “Taste the history” brings together four organisations from the Šiauliai and Latgale regions. Its objective is to preserve, promote and revitalise the culinary traditions of Latvia and Lithuania, transforming them into attractive and accessible tourism experiences. Among the project’s planned results are establishment of two culinary experience centres, a historical culinary menu, an e-book on Latvian and Lithuanian culinary heritage, and a joint gastronomy map.
Young musicians demonstrate the power of cooperation
Music will provide another inspiring example of cooperation across the Latvian-Lithuanian border. Partners of the “SmART Orchestra” project, Dobele Music and Art School and Auce Music and Art School in Latvia, together with Akmenė District Art School in Lithuania, will present the joint concert programme “Skambantis tiltas – Skaņu tilts”, created through the project.
The concert will bring together young musicians from three shcools to perform a diverse programme of 16 compositions, ranging from Latvian and Lithuanian folk-inspired music to polkas, tango, classical and popular music arrangements. The audience will hear both traditional and contemporary sounds performed on kokles and kanklės, birbynės and accordions, complemented by bass guitar and percussion. The performance will demonstrate how Interreg support helps educational institutions develop lasting partnerships and provides young people and teachers with opportunities for joint music-making, exchange of experience and cross-border cooperation.
The “SmART Orchestra” project responds to challenges faced by rural music and art schools, including geographical isolation, limited cooperation opportunities and insufficient access to modern learning resources. Through joint rehearsals, concerts, festivals, digital learning tools, masterclasses and professional development activities for teachers, the project is establishing a joint cross-border orchestra and strengthening the quality of music education in both countries.
Cooperation can be seen, heard and tasted
By bringing together shared culinary traditions, music and educational activities, the Interreg Cooperation Day celebration in Naujoji Akmenė will demonstrate that cross-border cooperation is not an abstract concept. It can be seen in partnerships, heard in music created together and tasted through the culinary traditions shared by neighbouring regions.
Come and discover cooperation in action, and celebrate 15 years of Interreg Cooperation Day with us!
