During the conference “EGTCs: Experiences and Prospects for Cross-Border Cooperation”, which will take place on 30 October in the conference centre in Gorizia, the BE-EGTC project will also be presented. Co-financed by the European Commission, the initiative brings together the EGTC Euregio Senza Confini (project coordinator) and the EGTC GO with the aim of establishing and testing a prospective Cross-Border Coordination Point (CBCP) for the border areas between Italy and Austria and between Italy and Slovenia.

Cross-Border Coordination Points (CBCPs) are a tool introduced by the European Commission under Regulation (EU) 2025/925 BRIDGEforEU to facilitate the resolution of administrative, technical and legal obstacles that arise in cross-border contexts. For the first time in the history of European integration, this regulation seeks to promote the gradual harmonisation of administrative law and the removal of regulatory barriers that still hinder the full development of territorial cooperation.

The new coordination point could serve as a permanent reference for public administrations, businesses and citizens, ensuring a more efficient management of issues involving multiple national legal systems and fostering dialogue with the competent authorities of the three countries. Particularly innovative is the governance model envisaged by the project, which foresees the joint management of the prospective CBCP by the two EGTCs, building on the expertise developed through European cooperation programmes and initiatives, including Interreg Italy-Austria, Interreg Italy-Slovenia, b-solutions, and the pathway linked to GO! 2025 Nova Gorica-Gorizia European Capital of Culture.

During the pilot phase, a multilingual digital platform will be developed for the submission and monitoring of cross-border cases, supported by a network of legal and technical experts. A shared database of obstacles and possible solutions will also be established, with the aim of enabling the continuous monitoring of cross-border challenges and facilitating the replication of the model in other European regions.

Expected project outcomes include the launch of the pilot CBCP, the collection of the first cross-border cases to be transferred to the competent authorities, strengthened coordination between Italian, Austrian and Slovenian administrations, and increased awareness among local stakeholders of the tools available to address cross-border cooperation challenges. Officially launched on 1 July 2026 with a duration of 18 months, the project has a total budget of €128,400, of which €64,200 is allocated to EGTC GO. Through these activities, BE-EGTC aims to make borders more permeable by helping remove administrative barriers, support the economic development of the territories involved, and contribute to strengthening the European Single Market.