On October 11th, 2024, EGTC GO representatives took part in a meeting in Frankfurt (Oder), where they met with representatives of the European double cities Tornio-Haparanda (FI-SE), Valga-Valka (EE-LV) and, of course Frankfurt (Oder) and Słubice.

The focus of the exchange was on joint cross-border urban development projects. Lord Mayor René Wilke (Frankfurt Oder) and the deputy mayor of Słubice, Tomasz Stefański, presented the area along Slubice Street as a key element of the Frankfurt-Słubice Masterplan 2025-2035, which aims to develop joint transport and inner-city planning and a feasibility study for a second and third bridge. The guests from Estonia and Latvia shared their experiences of building cross-border urban spaces, the “New Town Center” in Valga-Valka, whereas EGTC GO representatives spoke about “Europe Square” in Gorizia-Nova Gorica. The Finnish-Swedish delegation was particularly interested in the Frankfurt's ideas for the development of the area on Słubice Street, as they also have a very similar, as yet unused area on the Swedish side, very close to the border.

The four double cities have set themselves the goal of jointly raising their profile as a laboratory and beacon of European integration, particularly with a view to the next EU funding period 2028-2034. With this prospect, the guests from Tornio-Haparanda and Valga-Valka took with them the very positive experiences of Gorizia-Nova Gorica with their EGTC and from which Frankfurt (Oder) and Słubice are also benefiting in their current EGTC establishment process.

At the end of the working meeting in Frankfurt City Hall, the guests paid a brief visit to the Frankfurt (Oder)-Słubice Municipal Development Advisory Board, which was working on its recommendations for the future design of Slubicer Straße next door at the same time.

The next meeting is planned for 2025 at the invitation of the EGTC GO in Nova Gorica and Gorizia in the occasion of GO! 2025.