The Interreg Alpine Space programme is currently designing its successor programme for the 2028–2034 period. Task Force (TF) meetings take place at regular intervals. This series of posts reports on the outcomes of the most recent meeting.
On Thursday, 09 July the second meeting of the TF for the Interreg Alpine Space 2028+ programme design process took place in person in Vienna. The meeting focused on the definition of the mission and purpose of the programme.
Meeting: TF meeting 02
- Date: 09 July 2026
- Location: Vienna
- Participants: representatives from partner states of the programme, Permanent Secretariat of the Alpine Convention, Managing Authority, Joint Secretariat and programming support experts.
Programming Support Experts
To facilitate the programming process, the companies Rosinak & Partner and Climonomics, supported by a network of additional senior experts, have been selected in a tender procedure, to conduct a territorial analysis, help define a programme strategy, and ensure a well-structured stakeholder involvement process.
At the TF 02, the first draft of the Inception Report and the work plan were presented and discussed. The comments made by national delegations will be considered in an updated version of the Inception Report.
Strategic Positioning of the Alpine Space Programme
The TF reflected on the strategic positioning of the future programme and possible role options it could take or combine in the future. The debates went along the following questions: What role does the programme intend to play within the Alpine governance system? Where and how does the programme create distinct added value? Should it act as an operational instrument supporting the implementation of agreed European and Alpine policy objectives? Or should it (also) retain a more autonomous role as a strategic player helping to shape the future development of the Alpine region? Is its primary function to implement, innovate, coordinate or independently shape cooperation?
Pros and cons of the different options have been discussed among the delegations.
A description and outline of different role options across programme phases will be prepared and discussed within the TF in October and November.
Territorial Analysis
The ESPON TNCOOP fiche for Interreg Alpine Space brings a comprehensive overview on the cooperation needs and opportunities, supported by a robust territorial evidence and analyses.
This fiche will serve as one of the reference documents for the Territorial Analysis report and the European Commission Orientation paper. It will help to set the strategic objectives and priorities for transnational cooperation.
During the meeting, the experts provided first information on the methodological approach to be followed for the Territorial Analysis and an overview of the main sources. The different challenges outlined in the ESPON TNCOOP, and the State of Territory Report, of the Austrian-Liechtenstein EUSALP presidency 2025 will be further reflected and shared early September 2026 in the draft of the Territorial Analysis Report.
Next Steps
The TF 03 meeting is planned in Salzburg on 22-23 September 2026 and will focus on the setting of priorities and finding the strategic approach of the programme. The TF 03 will be preceded by a Stakeholder Workshop on 21 September, whose purpose is to exchange and reflect on the territorial analysis, the identified challenges and trends.
A limited number of places will be exclusively reserved at the Sakeholder Workshop for Alpine Region’s Stakeholders who are not part of the programme’s formal governance structures. If your work touches on topics relevant to the Alpine territory, we invite you to express your interest. The selection criteria will be based on the stakeholder type, thematic background, and geographic balance across the Alpine Space countries. Apply here by 10 August 2026.