Romina Kocina, Director of the EGTC GO, and Deputy Director Tomaž Konrad took part on 27 and 28 October in the conference "Autonomy as a tool for boosting territorial cooperation: Experiences and best practices in EGTCs", organised by the EGTC Euregio Tyrol-South Tyrol-Trentino at the Buonconsiglio Castle in Trento. The event brought together representatives of European Groupings of Territorial Cooperation (EGTCs) from several European countries, academics and experts in cross-border cooperation to discuss the role of autonomy and the future prospects of territorial cooperation in Europe.

During the first day, Director Kocina participated in the panel dedicated to models of cross-border cooperation, presenting the experience of the EGTC GO through the contribution "Autonomy and Strategic Projects: the Case of the EGTC GO as a European Laboratory for Cross-Border Cooperation". The presentation illustrated the development path undertaken by the EGTC GO in the cross-border area between Italy and Slovenia and highlighted the role played by the grouping in implementing shared strategic projects, helping to transform the border into a space of concrete cooperation.

The discussion continued on the second day with a round table on the future of territorial cooperation in autonomous regions, bringing together representatives of several European EGTCs, including the EGTC GO, the EGTC Euregio Tyrol-South Tyrol-Trentino, the EGTC Galicia-Norte Portugal, the EGTC Euroregion Nouvelle-Aquitaine Euskadi Navarra, the EGTC Hospital de Cerdanya and the EGTC Pyrenees-Mediterranean. The debate focused on the added value that EGTCs provide to their territories, the relationship between autonomy and cross-border cooperation, and the main challenges these instruments are facing. The discussion highlighted the evolution of EGTCs from project management structures into genuine actors of cross-border governance, capable of ensuring strategic continuity beyond individual funding programmes. Among the topics addressed was also the role of territorial autonomies in facilitating cooperation between neighbouring regions through their proximity to decision-making processes and by promoting the linguistic and cultural specificities of border areas. Particular attention was devoted to the administrative and regulatory obstacles that still limit cross-border cooperation, the need to strengthen citizen involvement, and possible innovations aimed at consolidating the role of EGTCs within future European policies.

The event in Trento was part of the programme of initiatives marking the 80th anniversary of the De Gasperi-Gruber Agreement and provided an important opportunity for dialogue among organisations that work daily to overcome administrative and regulatory barriers along European borders. Through the exchange of experiences and good practices, the conference highlighted the contribution of EGTCs to strengthening territorial integration and promoting shared solutions to the common challenges faced by border regions.