Interreg Volunteer Youth (IVY) is an initiative promoted by the Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy (DG REGIO) and managed by AEBR.
IVY offers the possibility to young people to serve as volunteers in cross-border, transnational or interregional programmes and related projects.
Volunteers support, promote and report about the achievements of Interreg programmes and projects, as well as generally promote cooperation and related values, across European borders and beyond. While helping their host organisations, volunteers acquire a unique experience of personal growth and gain skills that they can employ in their future experiences.
By involving young people in programmes of territorial cooperation, IVY aims at fostering a greater sense citizenship and civic engagement among young people. The volunteers experience cooperation and learn about the achievements of Interreg, IPA-CBC and ENI-CBC programmes and projects, while also contributing to it and becoming aware of the many benefits of collaboration across borders.
Duration: March 2017 – December 2024
AEBR role in IVY pilot initiative: holder of a Commission’s grant (DG Regio); managing the initiative
Target:
Organisations: Any Interreg Programme, National Authority and Project beneficiary can become an IVY host organisation, including Programmes and Projects based in European Economic Area (EEA) countries, countries involved in Pre-Accession Assistance Cross-Border Cooperation Programmes (IPA-CBC), and countries involved in Neighbourhood Cross-Border Cooperation Programmes (ENI-CBC). To apply, please find detailed information and the necessary documents here.
People: Young people between 18-30-year-old from any European Union and partner countries can participate. These include: Switzerland, the UK, member countries of the European Economic Area (EEA) (EU member states, Norway, Lichtenstein and Iceland), countries involved in Pre-Accession Assistance Cross-Border Cooperation Programmes (IPA-CBC) (Serbia, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo, Albania, and Turkey), and countries involved in Neighbourhood Cross-Border Cooperation Programmes (previous ENI-CBC, now also under Interreg) (Algeria, Armenia, Belarus*, Georgia, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Republic of Moldova, Russia*, Tunisia and Ukraine).
*Following the Russian military aggression against Ukraine, the European Commission has suspended the cooperation with Russia and its ally Belarus in the European Neighbourhood Instrument cross-border cooperation programmes (ENI CBC). The decision includes also their participation in the IVY Programme, which is therefore suspended.).
Activities:
IVY is structured around two main strands:
Candidates from the following countries can participate:
Outputs / Deliverables:
The following outputs are delivered by the IVY programme so far:
For young volunteers:
Under implementation of “Citizens’ Engagement Activities”, IVY helps:
What will the members of AEBR gain from this project:
Responsible persons in AEBR about the IVY project: Martín Guillermo Ramírez, Anna Cinzia Dellagiacoma, Milena Pallotta, Bekhta Djilidjel
Link to IVY project web page: https://www.interregyouth.com/
Contact: ivy@aebr.eu
Mobile phone: +49 176 420 90 666
Address: Association of European Border Regions c/o BISDN
Körnerstraße 7,
10785 Berlin – Germany