Cohesion Policy tailored for youth. This was the winning ingredient of the event held in the University of Bari, on march 24th. The initiative was promoted by the Interreg VI-A Greece-Italy Programme and organised by the IVY reporter of Joint Secretariat, mr. Fabio Barresi, with the support of the Interreg Volunteer Youth Programme.
The event, named “Cohesion policy. First steps in the Interreg world“, adopted an informal and interactive format, fostering direct engagement with participants. Discussions focused on the impact of Cohesion Policy on young people’s daily lives, the role of Interreg programmes in supporting growth and employment, and the contribution of youth to strengthening cooperation among European regions. Interactive quizzes, interviews and short videos stimulated dialogue on the future of European integration and introduced tailored opportunities such as volunteering experiences within Interreg programmes and projects across Europe.
According to Gianfranco Gadaleta, Coordinator of our Programme, “following the Interreg Cooperation Day 2025, which targeted primary school students, we organised this initiative to present the full range of Cohesion Policy opportunities to the academic community. Territorial cooperation is one of its key pillars. Programmes like ours help ensure that borders do not become barriers, bring European citizens closer together, promote solutions to shared challenges and facilitate the exchange of ideas, strategic collaboration and good practices” he stated.
“When young people meet and work together on projects focused on inclusion and dialogue, they are building something greater: stronger foundations for lasting international peace,” said Graziamaria Starace, Councillor for Tourism and Promotion of the Regione Puglia, addressing students gathered in the university’s central atrium. She highlighted the concrete opportunities offered by Cohesion Policy, stressing how EU funds can be transformed into real-life experiences that help young people explore career paths that might otherwise seem out of reach. Through territorial cooperation programmes, students can gain international experience across a wide range of fields, including healthcare, safety, civil protection, culture and tourism.
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