On September 19, 2024, the historic Mezaparks Grand Bandstand in Riga, Latvia, hosted the much-anticipated Interreg Cooperation Day event. This iconic venue, known for hosting large cultural events, holds significant historical value as a symbol of unity and cultural heritage in Latvia. It provided the perfect backdrop for nearly 140 participants from five Interreg programmes to come together for a day focused on strengthening cooperation, fostering new partnerships, and envisioning a bright future for cross-border collaboration in the Baltics.
With project partners from Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia, the Interreg Cooperation Day was packed with opportunities for learning, networking, and collaboration.
Telling the World the Story of Interreg Projects
Participants sharpened their communication skills in a dynamic session led by Dr. Olga Kazaka, a communication and PR expert and lecturer at the University of Latvia. She emphasized the importance of attention in today’s information-saturated world, describing it as a limited commodity. The session explored techniques for capturing audience attention by simplifying messages and utilizing storytelling principles. Participants learned how to craft project summaries that serve as powerful business cards and how to share results that resonate with the broader society. Key themes included leveraging emotional appeal and breaking patterns to make Interreg projects more memorable and impactful.
Exploring Accessible and Nature-Friendly Tourism
One of the day’s key highlights was a panel discussion on accessible and nature-friendly tourism, featuring esteemed project partners from all three Baltic countries. Speakers included Asnāte Ziemele, Chairwoman of the Board at NGO Latvian Country Tourism Association; Lina Jankauskienė, Project Manager at NGO Nature Heritage Fund; Alise Lūse, Project Manager at Kurzeme Planning Region; and Raili Mengel, Chairwoman of the Board at NGO Estonian Rural Tourism. Experts shared their perspectives on how to create and promote inclusive and sustainable tourism in the region. The discussion covered practical tools, success stories, and advice on areas where improvements can further enhance the region’s tourism offers.
Exchanging Ideas and Finding New Partners
The dynamic networking session was divided into four different groups named after the Latvian regions: Kurzeme, Zemgale, Latgale, and Vidzeme. The session deepened connections between participants, who exchanged insights and explored new project ideas, all while building new professional relationships across borders.
Looking Toward the Future of Interreg
The event also spotlighted the future of Interreg, with insights provided by Monika Balode, an expert from Interact, who guided participants through the evolving landscape of Interreg programmes. The heads of key Interreg programmes from the Baltic region: Zanda Mangule (Latvia-Lithuania), Ege Ello (Estonia-Latvia), and Merike Niitepõld (Central Baltic), shared updates on the status of their programmes and post-2027 consultations with stakeholders and residents about future directions.
Moreover, participants had the opportunity to share their vision of the future by filling in a survey and investing “Interreg Euros” into the areas they felt were most important for cross-border collaboration during the “Shape the Future of Interreg” game. The results revealed a clear prioritization of cultural heritage and tourism growth, followed by economic growth and innovation, people-to-people cooperation, green and resilient development, safety and security, and social services and welfare.
Building a Stronger Community
The event helped build a sense of community and mutual support among those working across borders, bringing together Interreg project implementers and programme experts to create a better future for the region. As participants came together to learn from each other, exchange ideas, and envision the future, they continued a legacy of collaboration that will leave a lasting impact on the Baltic region.
This event was organized in collaboration with multiple Interreg programmes, including Interreg Latvia-Lithuania, Estonia-Latvia, Central Baltic, Latvian External Border Cooperation Programme, Estonian EU External Border Programme 2014-2020, and Interreg Latvija.
