The Interreg Atlantic Area programme approved its unique ‘operation of strategic importance’ project, a classification established by the European Commission to highlight the most representative investments within the current framework. The primary aim of the project GRAAL – Governance and Regional Atlantic Area Lighthouse is to increase the programme's impact on its key goals, such as environmental protection, prosperity, and preparedness for climate change. It focuses on improving the valorisation of the results of projects supported by the Interreg Atlantic Area.
This includes developing and implementing strategies for better integration into public policies and fostering future collaboration through roadmaps, an action plan, and flagship projects. It also looks at a better coordination between European programmes supporting environmental policies in the Atlantic Region and aims at making proposals for the future. The approach focuses on 5 thematic areas: energy, ocean pollution, climate and risks, nature, and sustainable tourism, as well as 3 cross-cutting topics: digitisation and innovation, circular economy, and governance.
The project mobilises 11 full partners from the 4 countries of the Atlantic Region (France, Ireland, Portugal, and Spain), along with 12 associated partners to collaborate on the implementation of activities. The partnership is led by the French institution Cerema – Centre for Studies on Risks, the Environment, Mobility and Urban Planning and involves other public actors at national, regional, and local levels.
Total budget 4,3 M€
ERDF funding 3,2 M€
Duration 04.04.2025 — 30.06.2029
Lead partner
Cerema – Centre for Studies and Expertise on Risks, the Environment, Mobility and Urban Planning (Bretagne, France)
Partners
European Regions Network for the Application of Communications Technology (Northern and Western, Ireland)
Comissão de Coordenação e Desenvolvimento Regional de Lisboa e Vale do Tejo (Grande Lisboa, Portugal)
Fundación Instituto de Hidráulica Ambiental de Cantabria (Cantabria, Spain)
Fundación AZTI - AZTI Fundazioa, Marine and Food Research (País Vasco, Spain)
Pôle Mer Bretagne Atlantique (Bretagne, France)
Atlantic Cities (Bretagne, France)
Fórum Oceano - Associação da Economia do Mar (Norte, Portugal)
Conférence des Régions Périphériques Maritimes d'Europe - Atlantic Arc Commission (Bretagne, France)
Fundación Asturiana de la Energía (Asturias, Spain)
RDI Hub (Southern, Ireland)
Associated partners
Office Français de la Biodiversité (Ile-de-France, France)
Gobierno de Navarra (Navarra, Spain)
Comissão de Coordenação e Desenvolvimento Regional do Alentejo, IP (Alentejo, Portugal)
Brest Metropole (Bretagne, France)
Regional Council of Pays de la Loire (Pays de la Loire, France)
Donegal County Council (Northern and Western, Ireland)
Ayuntamiento de Santander (Cantabria, Spain)
Dirección General de Fondos Europeos. Consejería de Economía, Hacienda y Fondos Europeos. Gobierno de Cantabria (Cantabria, Spain)
Área Metropolitana de Lisboa (Grande Lisboa, Portugal)
Communauté d'Agglomération de La Rochelle (Nouvelle Aquitaine, France)
Direction générale des affaires maritimes, de la pêche et de l'aquaculture (Ile-de-France, France)
Turismo de Portugal, I.P. (Grande Lisboa, Portugal)