From 23 to 27 June 2025, the European Parliament is hosting an exhibition entitled “Through the youth lens: stories of transnational cooperation“. This initiative, led by young professionals from the IVY (Interreg Volunteer Youth) programme, highlights the concrete impact of transnational cooperation projects that transform Europe on a daily basis.
This exhibition stems from the survey conducted by 13 transnational cooperation programmes in 2024, with the support of Interact, to gather European citizens’ perspectives on the future of Interreg. The results of this consultation have led to the creation of an informative brochure illustrating the strategic importance of transnational cooperation in strengthening European territorial cohesion (for more information, click here). The projects presented in the exhibition concretely illustrate this brochure by demonstrating the real impact of this cooperation on the ground.
The official inauguration will take place on Tuesday, 24 June, from 13:00 to 14:30 in the Altiero Spinelli building of the European Parliament in Brussels (Belgium). The presentation will be given by the real protagonists of transnational cooperation: those who have benefited from Interreg support and whose projects concretely demonstrate the three essential pillars of cohesion policy:
- Building solidarity across borders
- Achieving synergies for all territories
- Driving change through the green and digital transitions
These project leaders will share their experiences during an interactive guided tour.
MOAI LABS: when innovation fights loneliness among the elderly
Among the flagship projects presented by all the transnational cooperation programmes, MOAI LABS illustrates the Interreg Sudoe programme. This project, co-financed in the 2014-2020 programming period with €1.1 million from the ERDF, has created the first transnational laboratory to combat the isolation of the elderly between Spain, France and Portugal.
The project transforms the elderly into “experts by experience” thanks to the Living Labs, collaborative spaces where older people directly share their needs with professionals, companies and public administrations. This participatory approach has earned MOAI LABS a finalist in the European REGIOSTARS Awards 2024 in the category “A Social and Inclusive Europe”.
This exhibition thus reveals the importance of transnational Interreg programmes in building a more integrated and united Europe, where borders become bridges to social innovation.
