The voice of students on Cohesion Policy and Cross-Border Cooperation
As part of the celebration marking 35 years of INTERREG Programmes in Europe, and the 20th anniversary of the Managing Authority’s presence in Thessaloniki, the Managing Authority of INTERREG 2021–2027 Programmes of the General Secretariat for NSRF organized a Student Essay Competition on the theme: “Cohesion Policy and Cross-Border Cooperation through the eyes of students.”
The competition was implemented in collaboration with the Department of International and European Studies of the University of Macedonia, attracting insightful and thought-provoking entries from young people eager to share their vision for the future of European cooperation.
The award ceremony took place during the anniversary event celebrating 35 Years of Interreg and 20 Years in Thessaloniki.
The 1st Prize was awarded to Orestis Sevastopoulos, student of the Department of International and European Studies at the University of Macedonia, for his inspiring essay which—through personal experience and social sensitivity—highlighted the core message of Cohesion Policy: no region and no person should be left behind.
As part of his award, his essay was published in the newspaper “Makedonia tis Kyriakis” on 2 November 2025, giving voice to young people who believe in a Europe of cooperation, equality, and participation.
📸 Below: a snapshot from the award ceremony and excerpts from the publication.
