Programme area

From the Isles of Scilly to Norfolk in England and from Somme to Texel on the continental side, the Interreg 2 Seas area covers both rural and urban territories. With a total population of about 29 million inhabitants, the area is one of the most densely populated of Europe.

A total of 59 NUTS3 regions are taking part in the Programme, which represents the following areas:

• England: South-West, South-East and East of England
• France: Departments of Nord, Pas de Calais, Somme and Aisne
• Belgium (Flanders): Provinces of West-Flanders, East-Flanders and Antwerp
• The Netherlands: Province of Zeeland and the coastal areas of the Provinces of Zuid-Holland, Noord-Holland and Noord-Brabant.

The 2 Seas Programme is a maritime cross-border Programme which means that the presence of the sea is both seen as a natural barrier and a link, and thus impacts cooperation at all levels. This is directly reflected in the Cooperation Programme in which every Specific Objective can support maritime projects pursuing smart, sustainable and/or inclusive growth for the 2 seas area.

Maritime in the context of the 2 Seas Programme does not exclusively mean a direct link to the sea. It can be defined as cooperation between border maritime local communities or authorities to tackle common needs. There is therefore also a strong “territorial” dimension which distinguishes it from other Programmes covering larger maritime spaces.