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How Interact and Interreg responded to COVID-19
When COVID-19 struck Europe, Interact’s working methodologies had to change dramatically. Thankfully our agile team is well used to connecting from all over Europe.
With complex tools for the post 2020 period in vital stages of development, Interact had to quickly adjust to the new reality. Both HIT and the future monitoring system (successor to the eMS) are working to tight deadlines to be ready for the start of the next period – and both are still on schedule despite the challenges posed by lockdowns.
Interact acted quickly to survey a number of programmes in order to understand how their needs have changed. Programmes reported similar challenges throughout Europe. Immediate financial questions have arisen, and of course, post 2020 planning must continue, even if decision makers cannot be brought together in person.
Planned activities have been adjusted to meet the changing needs – including Q&As with the Commission on key COVID-19 issues, exchanges of operational best practice during lockdown, as well as facilitating more solution finding exchanges between programmes.
Meanwhile regular services continue through online events as well as tools for Interreg programmes, and we have just confirmed the shortlisted projects for the Interreg Project Slam, part of the 30 years together anniversary of Interreg.
Despite the challenges, Interact continues to work with Interreg to find answers, and to spread best practice and solutions throughout Europe. And of course, if you want to programme post 2020, we have the online event for you!
More details of our response to COVID-19, including examples of how Interreg programmes and projects support first responders as well as online resources for programming post 2020 are all available at Interact-eu.net