From 2 to 4 March 2026, partners of the BorderLabs CE project gathered in Wrocław, Poland, for a partner meeting combined with a thematic expert workshop and a wider conference on cross-border cooperation. The meetings were hosted at the Instytut Rozwoju Terytorialnego (IRT) and brought together project partners and experts working on solutions to legal and administrative obstacles in Central European border regions.

Partner meeting focuses on progress of pilot actions

The three-day programme started on 2 March with a partner meeting dedicated to reviewing the progress of the project’s pilot activities. Partners discussed the solutions emerging from the pilots, their transferability to other regions and the risks still to be addressed before the final phase of implementation. The discussion also focused on how pilot results could feed into integrated cross-border strategies and participatory governance approaches in border regions. The EGTC GO updated the partners on the activities of Pilot No. 3 – Development of sustainable tourism and slow tourism based on cycling mobility, announcing the installation of bicycle counters in the coming months. This will allow the collection of data on bicycle traffic during the spring–summer period. A workshop with stakeholders, scheduled for April, was also announced and will involve institutions and tourism operators from both Italy and Slovenia.

The meeting also looked ahead to the final stage of the project, including the final event planned in Brussels in June 2026 and the development of a multimedia learning platform and a Charter for participatory cross-border cooperation governance.

Expert workshop on managing cross-border obstacles

On 3 March, the programme continued with a thematic expert workshop on obstacle management in Central Europe, bringing together researchers, practitioners and representatives of cross-border institutions. The workshop explored theoretical approaches, research findings and practical experiences from different border regions, with contributions from organisations such as ITEM, BBSR and several Euroregions. The discussions highlighted how identifying and addressing legal and administrative barriers can strengthen territorial integration and improve everyday cooperation for citizens, businesses and public authorities in border areas.

During the session dedicated to reports from the PILOT partners, representatives of EGTC GO contributed with a presentation on “Dealing with border obstacles in the EGTC GO area.” The presentation showcased the experience of the cross-border area between Italy and Slovenia, illustrating concrete administrative and legal challenges that affect cooperation across the border and presenting approaches developed within the BorderLabs CE pilot activities.

The EGTC GO contribution highlighted the importance of structured mechanisms to identify, analyse and resolve cross-border obstacles, and demonstrated how pilot actions within the project can support more effective cross-border governance and practical solutions for local stakeholders.

Continuing cooperation across Central Europe

The Wrocław meetings provided an important opportunity for partners to exchange experiences and coordinate the final phase of the project. By bringing together practical pilot experiences, expert knowledge and policy discussions, the BorderLabs CE partnership continues to work towards more effective management of cross-border obstacles and stronger territorial integration across Central Europe.

The programme concluded on 4 March with a conference on “Cross-border cooperation in the era of challenges and transformation”, further broadening the discussion on the future of cooperation across European borders.