A European Framework
for Atlantic Cooperation
ATLANTIC BRIDGES is part of the Interreg Atlantic Area Programme and was selected under the third call for proposals to strengthen transnational cooperation and address shared environmental, economic and social challenges across Atlantic coastal territories
The Interreg Programme
Interreg is the European Union’s main instrument for strengthening territorial cooperation across borders. Funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), it supports transnational, cross-border and interregional projects that address shared challenges and reduce regional disparities.
For the 2021–2027 programming period, Interreg places strong emphasis on the green transition, innovation, climate resilience, social inclusion and improved governance. Through structured partnerships between public authorities, research institutions and socio-economic actors, the programme promotes joint solutions, policy learning and the development of transferable models that contribute to European cohesion and sustainable development.
The Atlantic Area
The Interreg Atlantic Area covers regions of Spain, France, Ireland and Portugal located along the Atlantic coastline. This cooperation space is characterised by its strong maritime identity, coastal ecosystems, port cities and blue economy activities. The Programme prioritises themes such as environmental protection and biodiversity, climate change adaptation, sustainable urban development, innovation in the blue economy, social inclusion and improved governance.
The Atlantic Area faces common challenges, including coastal erosion, rising sea levels, pollution, biodiversity loss, economic restructuring of maritime activities and social pressures linked to tourism and demographic change. Transnational cooperation is therefore essential to strengthen land–sea integration, enhance urban resilience and ensure balanced and sustainable development across Atlantic territories.
All Interreg zones : https://interreg.eu/programmes/
The Third Call for Proposals
ATLANTIC BRIDGES was submitted under the third call for proposals of the Atlantic Area Programme, which was open from November 2024 to March 2025. This call focused on projects contributing to the Programme’s thematic priorities, particularly those addressing the green transition, biodiversity protection, urban resilience and sustainable development.
1.
Opening
November 2024
Opening of the 3rd call for proposals.
2.
Submissions
February 2025
Submission of the ATLANTIC BRIDGES application by the consortium.
3.
Closure
March 2025
Official closure of the 3rd call for proposals.
4.
Notifications
July 2025
Announcement of the approved projects (ATLANTIC BRIDGES selected)
5.
Launch
October 2025
Meeting of partners and launch of the project
The Atlantic Bridges Project
In July 2025, ATLANTIC BRIDGES was officially selected as one of the approved projects under the Atlantic Area Programme !
The project stood out for its systemic approach to land–sea integration, its strong transnational partnership and its ambition to deliver a strategic framework for sustainable urban development in Atlantic coastal territories.
The project is implemented under “Priority 2 : Blue/Green Environment”, and more specifically under Specific Objective 2.7: “Enhancing protection and preservation of nature, biodiversity and green infrastructure, including in urban areas, and reducing all forms of pollution” .
Its selection confirms both the relevance of the proposed methodology and the capacity of the partnership to contribute meaningfully to the Programme’s objectives over the 2025–2028 implementation period.
