Fostering community-led local development in cross-border regions: call to participate in EU project
The EU-funded project IMPACT, launched by the European Commission’s DG REGIO in collaboration with the OECD, has opened a call for applications to support cross-border regions with their community-led local development (CLLD) strategies. Apply by 10 April 2026.
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The project will select up to 30 pilot cross-border regions and support them in establishing or strengthening governance partnerships and adopting joint CLLD strategies, with the ultimate goal of improving residents’ well-being and boosting territorial performance. An information webinar about the call will be held on 24 February.
IMPACT is a two-year project which explores how CLLD can strengthen cross-border co-operation, diminish structural barriers and unlock the economic and social potential of Europe’s border regions.
From 2026 to 2027, the selected pilot regions will receive tailored analytical, strategic and practical assistance from experts to develop a cross-border CLLD strategy, opportunities for peer-to-peer exchange and learning, and training and guidance on strategy implementation and funding mobilisation.
The call is open to regional and local institutions and organisations with a legal entity in a border region located in EU Member States, Albania, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Liechtenstein, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, Switzerland, Türkiye and Ukraine. These can include regional and local authorities, non-governmental organisations, Local Action Groups, tourism offices, and cross-border co-operation structures.
Structural barriers to co-operation often hold back the performance of cross-border regions. CLLD offers a practical and place-based approach to tackle the challenges involved. While widely used in EU Member States, its potential in cross-border contexts is largely untapped. Expanding CLLD's use across borders gives an opportunity to support more inclusive and effective development in Europe's border regions.
Explore the latest Rural Pact resources on the topic of LEADER/CLLD.