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The Interreg Northern Periphery and Arctic Programme is more than a funding tool, it’s a platform for building stronger, more resilient communities in Europe’s northern and remote regions. These areas face challenges such as population decline, isolation, and climate change, but they also hold great potential, especially among young people.
Youth involvement brings new ideas around sustainability, entrepreneurship, and social inclusion. It also fosters stronger intergenerational dialogue and more inclusive communities.
Whether through digital innovation, cultural heritage, or local development, young people bring fresh perspectives and energy. Recognising this, the Interreg Northern Periphery and Arctic Programme is taking active steps to involve youth in shaping the future of their communities.
Youth engagement has long been part of the Interreg Northern Periphery and Arctic Programme. For over 20 years, projects have supported youth in entrepreneurship, creativity, and digital inclusion. Recent efforts like the Interreg Youth Manifesto and InterregGo! Youth have added visibility and structure to this work.
The 2022 Youth in the Interreg Northern Periphery and Arctic Programme conference marked a turning point. Youth participants called for greater inclusion—and were heard. Organisations like the Arctic Youth Network and the Nordic Youth Council now sit on the programme Monitoring Committee, influencing decisions directly.
Projects are increasingly involving youth as co-creators. Young people from Ireland, Sweden and Norway involved in DACCHE drafted a Youth manifesto for what is needed to protect their heritage and future. Another group is working on developing creative concepts for Literary Tourism within the N-LITE project from Finland to Ireland. And other projects welcomed Interreg Volunteer Youth, testing their competences in real transnational cooperation settings.
Youth voice is needed, right now! Before the 2026 call launches, the Interreg Northern Periphery and Arctic Programme wants to hear directly from the young people and youth organisations in the region. What matters to them? What would make it easier for them to take part in a project? What kinds of themes and formats would help them succeed?
A survey has been launched to gather youth ideas and experiences. Their input will help define how the youth call is structured, from the funding conditions to the types of projects it supports.
Related themes
Research and innnovation
Climate change
Island, Mountains and Sparsely Populated areas
More information
Are you aged 18–35 and living in the NPA region? Do you work with young people, or represent a youth organisation active in the North Atlantic and Arctic? This is your chance to shape the future of youth engagement in regional development.
Fill in the survey here: https://www.interreg-npa.eu/news-events/co-create-the-first-youth-funding-opportunity-of-interreg-npa/ Your ideas can help build a more inclusive, innovative, and vibrant Northern Periphery and Arctic region —starting today.
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