This annual meeting of the European Cross-Border Platform (ECBP) will provide an opportunity to present and discuss the needs and potential of border regions, their citizens, and cross-border entities. We will look at recent political developments impacting cross-border cooperation and practical experiences, new approaches, and policy solutions for cross-border regions.

As part of European Territorial Cooperation, cross-border cooperation is one of the cornerstones of European integration and strengthening the single market. While progress has been made in facilitating cross-border interactions in recent years, many obstacles remain. Citizens, businesses and administrations in border regions continue to encounter difficulties in their daily lives, whether it be finding a job, accessing healthcare, everyday commuting or overcoming administrative problems.

The European Cross-Border Platform (ECBP), established in 2024 as the successor of the European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation (EGTC) Platform, aims to gather all actors in cross-border cooperation from border cities and regions to EGTCs and Euroregions. The event will include the annual meeting of the platform’s EGTC working group and the ceremony for the 2026 edition of the EGTC award “Building Europe across Borders”.