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Three cheeseburgers with lettuce, tomato, cheese, and beef patties sit on a wooden board, with fries and drinks in the background. The burgers are wrapped in paper at the base.
News 09 July 2025

A slice of cooperation: Four programmes launch the Interreg Bake Off Challenge

How do you celebrate 35 years of European cooperation? With a cake, of course. Or better yet, with a cake that tells a story.
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To mark the anniversary of Interreg, we launched a new initiative this year: the Interreg Bake Off Challenge – Cook up some cooperation! A light-hearted and symbolic way to involve programmes, projects, and citizens in the celebration. Because what better way to share the spirit of cooperation than by baking something together?

And we’re thrilled to announce that the first cake has already been baked. 
As a pilot action, four programmes — Interreg Hungary–Slovakia, Interreg Hungary–Croatia, Interreg Hungary–Serbia, and Interreg NEXT Hungary–Slovakia–Romania–Ukraine — came together to bring the Bake Off Challenge to life.

Coordinated by Beáta Árokszállási, the horizontal Communications Manager at Széchenyi Programme Office, in charge of the four programes, the cake symbolises more than just a birthday, it represents 35 years of a united Europe, built on trust, partnership and shared goals.

The cake she crafted is full of symbols and meaning. It celebrates the bridges built between neighbours, the cross-border friendships formed over the years, and the creative energy that defines Interreg. A perfect fusion of ingredients and inspiration, just like the programmes themselves.

This pilot is more than a fun activity. It’s a call to action.

We invite all Interreg programmes to take part in the #InterregBakeOff Challenge and:

  • Bake your own anniversary cake – at home, in the office, with your team or your community.
  • Host a local Bake Off event and invite citizens to join the celebration.
  • Let your funded projects get involved and showcase their own interpretation of Interreg in cake form.
  • Serve a slice at your Interreg Cooperation Day events this autumn – and share the photos and stories online.

This is your chance to turn celebration into participation. To show that cooperation can be as joyful as it is meaningful. And to add a little sugar and fun to 35 years of working together across borders.

So get your aprons ready – we can’t wait to see (and taste!) what you’ll come up with.

You can get in contact with Interreg Cooperation Day coordinator rosa.escamilla@interact.eu for more information.