NEXT Programmes

Map of cooperation programmes

  • Over 30 EU member states and neighbouring countries
  •  Thousands of km of land and sea borders
  •  €1 billion

European Neighbourhood Instrument Cross-Border Cooperation (ENI CBC) is building on the achievements of its predecessor, ENPI CBC,  which has generated 7.000 applications, involving over 37.000 organisations and leading to the approval of nearly 1.000 projects.

WHAT ARE THE ENI CBC PROGRAMMES?

A total of 15 programmes will be implemented under ENI CBC. They cover 12 land borders, one sea crossing and three sea basins, stretching from Finland and Russia in the north, to countries like Hungary and the Ukraine in the east, and Italy, Northern Africa and the Middle East in the south.

OBJECTIVES OF THE ENI CBC PROGRAMMES

Building on these achievements, ENI CBC promotes cooperation under the following objectives:

  • To promote economic and social development in regions on both sides of common borders
  • To address common challenges in environment, public health, safety and security
  • For promotion of better conditions and modalities for ensuring the mobility of persons, goods and capital.

“The most interesting thing is to work with so many different countries and to see how, despite all difficulties and obstacles, you manage to find a solution and to take a step forward.
It is very rewarding to observe all the goodwill the participating countries invest into these programmes, and you really get a feeling that you contribute to something that will be useful in the regions where the projects will be carried out. We believe that this will indeed lead to some positive results for people in the border regions which are often very poor, and that is a big accomplishment in itself.”

Ms Bodil Persson, DG NEAR, European Commission

PROGRAMME STRATEGIES

Building on the main ENI CBC objectives, the strategy for each of the 15 programmes is built around up to 4 of the following themes:

  1. BUSINESS AND SME DEVELOPMENT
  2. SUPPORT TO EDUCATION, RESEARCH, TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATION
  3. PROMOTION OF LOCAL CULTURE AND PRESERVATION OF HISTORICAL HERITAGE
  4. PROMOTION OF SOCIAL INCLUSION AND FIGHT AGAINST POVERTY
  5. SUPPORT TO LOCAL AND REGIONAL GOOD GOVERNANCE
  6. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, AND CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION AND ADAPTATION
  1. IMPROVEMENT OF ACCESSIBILITY TO THE REGIONS, DEVELOPMENT OF SUSTAINABLE AND CLIMATE-PROOF TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATION NETWORKS AND SYSTEMS
  2. COMMON CHALLENGES IN THE FIELD OF SAFETY AND SECURITY
  3. PROMOTION OF AND COOPERATION ON SUSTAINABLE ENERGY AND ENERGY SECURITY
  4. PROMOTION OF BORDER MANAGEMENT, BORDER SECURITY AND MOBILITY
  5. OTHER AREAS LIKELY TO HAVE A SUBSTANTIAL CROSS-BORDER IMPACT
📄 ENI CBC Programming document

OTHER PROGRAMMES AND PARTNERSHIPS

In this section, you will find information and links to other programmes and structures relevant to ENI CBC.

EU POLICIES AND INSTITUTIONS:

The European Neighbourhood Policy

The European Commission, Directorate General for Neighbourhood and Enlargment Negociations (DG NEAR)

The European Commission, Directorate General for Regional and Urban Policy (DG REGIO)

The European External Action Service

The Committee of the Regions: Committee of Regions

European parliamentary committee for Foreign Affairs

European parliamentary committee for Development

European parliamentary committee for Regional Development

EU Funds Anti-Fraud Knowledge & Resource Centre

OTHER EU PROGRAMMES, STRATEGIES OF CROSS-BORDER, REGIONAL COOPERATION:

Interreg programmes (CBC between EU countries)

Interact III Programme

Instrument for Pre-Accession CBC (IPA CBC)

Eastern partnership territorial cooperation (CBC between Partner countries)

OPEN East project

OPEN South project

MEDIA Hub project

Euromed

Black Sea Synergy

EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region

EU Strategy for the Danube

The Eastern Partnership

The Union for the Mediterranean

The EU Arctic Policy

The Northern Dimension

ENI CBC

STORIES

Inside laboratories, turning crab shells into food additives


ENICBC projects

When research and innovation transform sources of pollution into sustainable opportunities! ARIBiotech, funded by the ENI CBC Italy-Tunisia programme, is converting seafood waste and dredging sediments into organic packaging and dietary supplements. But where does this begin? Fish processing industries generate significant waste — heads, tails, fins, scales, bones, etc. — making up to 60% of the fish’s weight. This waste is often discarded at sea, harming ecosystems and harbours. Research shows we can reduce these negative impacts by choosing better dumping sites, finding alternative disposal methods, or turning waste into useful products. ARIBiotech chose the latter by asking themselves: How can we turn marine waste into usable products and how can entrepreneurs benefit from such scientific findings to boost the region’s economy?

Latvia: transforming handicrafts from hobby to source of income


Latvia-Lithuania-Belarus Latvia-Russia

LATVIA – Latgale, the easternmost region of Latvia, is known for its rich cultural heritage and the vibrancy of crafts tradition. Trades such as pottery, woodworking, stone-cutting, knitting, and weaving continue to flourish here alongside the new forms of craftsmanship, like glass decor, porcelain, production of cosmetic products, demonstrating the evolution of traditions in response to contemporary influences and market demands. The region, sharing borders with Russia and Belarus, has developed these trades through generations, making it an integral part of its cultural identity. Crafts in Latgale are not only a way of preserving traditional customs but also a means of fostering community engagement and socio-economic activity, contributing significantly to local development.

What to do with all that waste? From grapes to beauty products


Mediterranean Sea Basin

TUNISIA – Grapes, the jewels of the vineyards, yield at global level approximately 74 million tons of wine each year. Yet, alongside the production of wine comes a significant by-product: pomace — a mix of peels, seeds, and stems. Typically, this pomace meets one of two fates: animal feed or open-air fertilizer at best. However, recent research reveals a hidden treasure trove within this waste. Bursting with bioactive substances like antioxidants, pomace possesses benefits ranging from anti-aging to anti-cancer properties. The ENI CBC BESTMEDGRAPE project, spanning the Mediterranean from north to south, capitalizes on this untapped resource, blending knowledge, tradition, and innovation to empower both the grape sector and creative entrepreneurs.

Towards a circular economy in the South


Mediterranean Sea Basin Italy-Tunisia

How can waste reprocessing favour a circular economy and a sustainable future? Environmental considerations are at the forefront of Interreg NEXT priorities: regulations ask all programmes to devote 30% of the budget to contribute to climate targets. But making use of waste to promote a green, circular economy was also high on the agenda of ENI CBC: at the end of the programming cycle, it turns out that research was key to waste reconditioning, and it has favoured innovative solutions which are now opening market opportunities and boosting employment. The idea of a system where materials never become waste, is gaining space.

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