On 28 January 2026, Tunis hosted a high-level event celebrating this 20-year milestone and marking the launch of new Interreg projects. The gathering brought together more than 350 participants, including officials from Tunisian and EU institutions, ambassadors and project leaders, underlining the importance of the cooperation for both sides

A Longstanding Mediterranean Alliance
For twenty years, the Interreg programme has stood as a cornerstone of cooperation between the European Union and Tunisia, turning shared challenges in the Mediterranean into opportunities for joint action and sustainable development.

Interreg, part of the EU’s broader cohesion policy that promotes cross-border and transnational collaboration, has connected public authorities, universities, civil society and private partners across the Mediterranean since Tunisia first joined EU-funded programmes in 2007.

€300 Million for Shared Priorities
Under the current 2021–2027 Italy–Tunisia and Mediterranean Sea Basin programmes, around €300 million in EU funding has been mobilised to support bilateral and multilateral initiatives involving Tunisia and neighbouring partners.

Delivering Results on the Ground
Tunisia has become one of the most active countries in the Interreg framework, participating in 68 projects with over 75 Tunisian partners. These initiatives address key regional priorities such as the green and digital transitions, energy efficiency, social inclusion, health, innovation and local economic development.

Organised jointly by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy, Tunisian authorities and supporting EU bodies, the event highlighted how the Interreg journey has strengthened institutional dialogue, fostered territorial development and delivered tangible results “on the ground.”

Looking Ahead: 2028–2034
Officials emphasised that the achievements over the past two decades lay solid foundations for a continuation and expansion of cooperation in the next programming period (2028–2034), with Interreg expected to remain a vital instrument for building a smarter, greener and more inclusive Mediterranean region.

WestMED’s intervention
Imed zammit, (WestMED Tunisia) stressed that Tunisia’s blue economy is now a strategic priority, and impact matters more than the number of projects. Alignment with national needs, job creation and solid financing are key.

Check the programme here, and learn more here.