CITIZENS
Creating a Europe closer to citizens means fostering the sustainable and integrated territorial development of urban, rural and coastal areas through local initiatives.
Our programme helps local, regional and national governments across Europe to develop and deliver better regional development policies in this field.
We create opportunities for sharing solutions to regional development issues, for exchanging good practices and for policy learning via our two pillars: our interregional cooperation projects and our Policy Learning Platform.
Scroll below to capitalise on the knowledge they've gained, take part in upcoming capacity building opportunities or apply for your own project proposal.
Discover the CITIZENS sub-topics we address and click on the link to find all related resources on our website.
Projects and project ideas
Get inspired by our approved projects or explore one of these CITIZENS project ideas. Then, discover how you can get involved in interregional cooperation by preparing your own project proposal.
Policy solutions
Explore all the policy solutions our projects and policy experts have identified on the topic of CITIZENS. Read through our policy briefs and good practices. Watch our webinar recordings. Download the conclusions for past workshops and peer reviews.
Good practices
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URBforDAN - Management and Utilization of Urban Forests
Fostering urban forest benefits through integrated and participatory management for improved quality of life in EU cities ā a tested and proven good practice.
De Nieuwe Mark
Rising awareness about the traditional irrigation system in the Vega Baja region
Provincial Water Board
Blue routes: Alicanteās Hydrogeological Heritage
THESEUS Project ā Innovative coastal technologies for safer European coasts in a changing climate
Reconnecting Aarhus to the Sea: Urban Mediaspace
Water Museum of Esztergom-a way of showing water-based heritages and the climate change
SACHERĀ (Smart Architecture for Cultural Heritage in Emilia-Romagna)
The Uncovering of The River Aarhus (1992-2015)
Bridge Guard Residential Art / Science Centre- a way of preserving cultural heritage
Development in dialogue
LIFE - PLETERA
EBRO - ADMICLIM
CITIZENS policy solutions
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Governance and digitalisation of fortress heritage in the City of Magdeburg
OnĀ 13 and 14 September 2023, the Policy Learning Platform hosted a peer review together with the City of Magdeburg on the topic of governance and digitalisation of fortress heritage. Discover the recommendations.Rethinking local policies: Bringing back nature to the city
Explore the key learnings of our workshop on Bringing back nature to the city that took place in Ghent.Rethinking local policies: Modern green districts
Explore the key learnings of our workshop on Modern green districts that took place in Ghent.Entrepreneurial opportunities in the Silver Economy in rural regions
In this article, learn about the challenges and opportunities that Europe's ageing population can bring to the economy and businesses!Replay available: Next generation policymakers
More than 150 participants, 10 talented speakers around an important subject: why continuous learning and cooperation helps policymakers to face today and tomorrow's challenges. Watch the recording.Key learnings of the webinar on Smart Villages
On 28 June 2022, the Policy Learning Platform organised a webinar on the topic of Smart Villages. Learn about the key insights and good practice to turn your village smart!Mobilising citizen financing for renewables
Watch the recording and access the key learnings of the webinar on mobilising citizen financing for renewables that took place on 5 May 2022.Cultural routes in Europe
Discover the transnational routes that help tourists discover how Europeans have lived since ancient times. This policy brief presents the Council of Europeās Cultural Routes Programme, the EUās policies on Cultural Routes, and good practices.Cultural heritage in mountain regions
Read this policy brief and get an overview of EU initiatives that local and regional authorities should refer to for boosting sustainable development in mountain areas through the valorisation of the cultural heritage.Webinar recording: The value of cooperation for EU outermost regions
Watch the recording and explore the key learnings from the online event dedicated to EU outermost regions.Off the beaten track: Regional strategies boosting tourism through heritage
Learn about Granada Geopark's success story which saw an increase of visitors by changing its Provincial Strategy with a focus on sustainable tourismBuilt cultural heritage
Explore successful approaches and solutions in protecting, conserving and valorising of heritage buildings of cultural and historical value.Adapting historic buildings for educational uses
Old heritage buildings can provide a space for education, skill development and learning while keeping the historic value.Digital technologies and museums: post-pandemic experiences
Digital technologies and museums: discover experiences and opportunities in the post-pandemic period.Rural tourism based on local heritage and gastronomy
Get inspired by the Interreg Europe OUR WAY project to develop sustainable tourism in rural areas.
Get policy advice
Are you looking for help on a regional policy-making challenge or simply have a question? Make use of our Platform services.Ā
News and events
Explore the latest news and upcoming events on CITIZENS topics.
IMPETUS First Interregional Thematic Seminar in Riga
The Riga City Council will host the First Interregional Thematic Seminar (ITS) of the IMPETUS project on November 14th and 15th . IMPETUS aims to transform the way cities and regions design policies to support a sustainable and just transition for European cities. Among the several availableEurope, let's cooperate! 2024
The 10th edition of Europe, let's cooperate interregional cooperation forum (#europecooperates) will take place on 20-21 March 2024 in Antwerp, Belgium. Get ready to join us in Antwerp to celebrate cooperation, launch a new call for project proposals and welcome new countries into the Interreg2nd stakeholders meeting in the City of Roeselare
On the 6th of November InterRevita stakeholders from the city of Roeselare gathered to participate in the second local stakeholder meeting.District approaches to sustainable energy
On 9 November 2023 from 14:00 to 15:30 CET, the Policy Learning Platform is organising a webinar on the topic of district approach to sustainable energy . Ambitious decarbonisation targets are looking for in the district renovation strategies. A variety of challenges will be explained, such asKaposvar Meeting: Joint Efforts to Empower Rural YouthĀ
Explore how CASPER's recent meeting in KaposvƔr united regions to creatively empower rural youth and rejuvenate Europe's countryside communities.Empowering people, talent, and activism in rural Europe
Explore key strategies for revitalizing EU rural areas and addressing demographic decline, talent retention, resource management, and strengthening rural activism.Snapshots from #EURegionsWeek 2023
The biggest European event on regions and cohesion policy was back in person for its 21st edition on 9-12 October in Brussels. What happened during the week? Let's re-cap!A panel on temporary uses at the MPC Festival
A moment of discussion on experiences of temporary uses at the Many Possible Citie Festival with Impetus among the panel curators.InterRevita partner meeting in Å ilutÄ
On 13-14 September, the second partner meeting of the InterRevita project took place in Å ilutÄ.Policy Learning Platform meet-up with projects
On 8 November (10:00-12:00 CET), we brought together the experts of our Policy Learning Platform team and our projects for an online meet-up . This online event was an opportunity to discover what the Policy Learning Platform is all about, how project partners can benefit from its services, and howIMPETUS kick-off meeting
On the 17th and 18th of May, all project partners gathered in Florence, Italy, for the first in-person project kick-off meeting.Q&A session about financial reporting
An online Question and Answer session about financial reporting for Interreg Europe project partners.Sharing experiences: stakeholder group meeting in Bulgaria
Gabrovo Municipality, conducted the first Regional stakeholder group meeting under URBANCOOP project.Save the date for Europe, let's cooperate! 2024
The 10th edition of #europecooperates takes place on 20-21 March 2024. Join us in Antwerp to celebrate cooperation, launch a new call for project proposals and welcome new countries into the Interreg Europe programme.Governance and digitalisation of fortress heritage in the City of Magdeburg
OnĀ 13 and 14 September 2023, the Policy Learning Platform hosted a peer review together with the City of Magdeburg on the topic of governance and digitalisation of fortress heritage. Discover the recommendations.
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