Cape Verde presents 28 projects under Interreg MAC 2021-2027
Cape Verde presented 28 projects approved under Interreg MAC 2021-2027, during an event in Praia. The EU-funded program strengthens cooperation between Macaronesia and African countries, with an emphasis on innovation, sustainability, the blue economy and resilience.
Cape Verde this week strengthened its role as a strategic bridge between Europe, Africa and Macaronesia, by presenting 28 projects approved in the 1st call of the Interreg MAC 2021-2027 Program. The announcement took place during an event held in the city of Praia on September 10 and 11.
The program, financed by the European Regional Development Fund, has a budget of 169.9 million euros, of which 154.45 million is intended to co-finance 85% cooperation projects. Since its creation 23 years ago, it has supported 415 projects between Madeira, the Azores, the Canary Islands and seven African countries, including Cape Verde.
In the current call, Cape Verde is participating in 28 of the 34 projects approved, involving around 31 national institutions. The projects cover various priority areas: in innovation and competitiveness, the Ecomaris, InnoVamos and TecnoMac stand out; in sustainability and climate action, the projects IDIWATER, GEOTERMAC and PLANCLIMAC2; in the field of the blue and circular economy, SANIFISH and Blue Supply Chain; in risk prevention and resilience, RESMAC, IMPLACOST and RENATURMAC; and finally, in mobility, migration and qualifications, the MAC Skiling and the SOTAVENTO.
The meeting took place within the framework of the ATLANTE strategic project, which supports the governance of the program and promotes dialogue platforms, thematic working groups and coordination with other European Union instruments.
Among the participants were Myrian Vieira, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Cape Verde, Duarte Freitas, Regional Secretary for Finance of Madeira, Artur Lima, Vice-President of the Government of the Azores, and Luís Padilla, Director-General for Relations with Africa of the Government of the Canary Islands, as well as representatives of the European Commission and the ambassadors of Portugal and Spain.
The strong institutional presence underlined Cape Verde's strategic importance in Euro-African cooperation and the shared commitment to innovation, sustainability and regional stability.
