EU macro-regional strategies (MRS) address challenges shared within a wider transboundary space approached as a functional area. They have the potential to be a catalyst for coordinated development and implementation of EU policies. They are thereby meeting the need of a more integrated Europe where societal and ecological challenges are addressed across borders, integrating various policy sectors and taking multilevel governance as a guiding principle. 

Currently, there are four MRS adopted and at different implementation stages. Each Strategy has established its governance structure to address and better achieve its objectives, defined targets and indicators. However, the implementation of MRS depends not only on the success and efficiency of the MRS governance but also on the engagement in the MRS delivery of its key implementers (internal actors) and external stakeholders, including funding programmes. Involvement of many diverse stakeholders makes capacity building work particularly important. 

Within its mandate for supporting exchanges across the MRS, Interact III Programme in February 2018 organised a joint meeting of coordinators/support structures of the MRS that are providing capacity building support. Following up on the suggestion from the meeting, the coordinators/ representatives of the MRS expressed their interest in further elaborating and building common capacity support environment for enhanced implementation of the MRS. 

Taking into account the above mentioned, this working group meeting is aiming to elaborate on the elements of capacity support framework for all the MRS as well as agreeing on its further development. Participation in the meeting is upon invitation only.