EGTC GO continues to strengthen its role as a laboratory for cross-border cooperation and European project development, promoting initiatives that address some of the key challenges facing the area.

Before any infrastructure project or initiative can become a reality, it is necessary to identify resources, build partnerships, and navigate the complexities associated with the border. The newly approved IMPACT and CentrADAPT projects are part of this process, helping to develop tools and strategies that will support future opportunities for growth and cooperation between Italy and Slovenia.

The IMPACT project (Interreg Mechanism for Promoting Active Communities and Territories), promoted by the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) through funding from the European Commission's DG REGIO, will be implemented by EGTC GO together with the University of Nova Gorica. Although the project does not provide direct financial support, it offers a package of specialist services to foster innovative forms of Community-Led Local Development (CLLD). From July 2026 to July 2027, the needs and expectations of young people, students, and temporary residents in the EGTC GO area will be analysed, with the aim of developing a cross-border strategy to encourage cultural and creative participation, mobility, access to educational opportunities, and the creation of shared services that strengthen integration among the area's diverse communities. The project includes an initial phase of planning and data collection, followed by the development of a community-led local development strategy and the definition of financial instruments, monitoring activities, and feasibility assessments necessary for future implementation.

A second major achievement this summer is the approval of CentrADAPT, funded by the Interreg Central Europe Programme. The project brings together partners from several Central European countries with the goal of developing and testing new climate adaptation strategies in border regions. The cross-border area of Gorizia and Nova Gorica has been selected as one of the pilot territories, where tools and operational models will be tested and ultimately translated into a joint climate adaptation action plan. The objective is to equip local institutions with the skills and capacities needed to manage extreme weather events and the challenges posed by climate change.

“Launching new cross-border projects means, first and foremost, laying the groundwork for their future development. Through the pursuit of European funding, preparatory studies, and the building of partnerships and strategic networks, EGTC GO works throughout the year to transform European opportunities into tangible benefits for the territory,” commented Director Romina Kocina.

Projects currently underway

EGTC GO serves as a bridge between territories and institutions in Italy and Slovenia, creating the conditions necessary to develop new investment and cooperation opportunities. Over recent years, this approach has also contributed to landmark achievements such as the redevelopment of Transalpina Square and continues today through new European projects. The organisation is currently involved in the management and implementation of numerous European initiatives spanning culture, sustainable tourism, public health, and cross-border governance.

Among these, the GO! 2025 Small Projects Fund plays a central role. Managed by EGTC GO within the framework of the Interreg Italy-Slovenia 2021-2027 Programme, the Fund has a total budget of approximately €11 million. Through three calls for proposals published between 2023 and today, it has supported 69 cross-border projects that helped prepare the area, support the European Capital of Culture programme, and build its legacy for the years beyond.

In the field of cultural and tourism enhancement, the BeWoP – Beyond Walk of Peace project is underway, involving EGTC GO with a budget of approximately €194,000. The project promotes the shared valorisation of the cross-border historical and landscape heritage, strengthening the connection between memory, territory, cultural tourism, and sustainable development. Key outcomes include the feasibility study and planned interventions on Mount Sabotin, as well as the two concerts held last year in the Church of St. Valentine.

In the healthcare sector, the Sanitas project provides a budget of €119,343.20 for EGTC GO and focuses on preparing joint actions between Italy and Slovenia to ensure essential healthcare assistance in the event of natural disasters. Language courses in Italian and Slovenian for healthcare professionals in the cross-border area, funded through the project, have been particularly well received.

On the institutional cooperation front, EGTC-NET, with a budget allocation of €124,894 for EGTC GO, aims to create the first stable network among five European Groupings of Territorial Cooperation operating within the Interreg Italy-Austria area. The objective is to reduce cross-border obstacles and strengthen cooperation between neighbouring territories.

Special attention is also devoted to governance issues. The BorderLABS CE project, which allocates €161,046.54 to EGTC GO, is dedicated to developing participatory governance models to support economic, social, and environmental transitions in Central European cross-border regions. Recently, three bicycle counters were installed in Gorizia to monitor cycling flows, with the aim of promoting sustainable mobility and enhancing the cycling infrastructure already present in the area.

In the field of sustainable tourism, the Cycle Promotion project provides €198,080 to EGTC GO to encourage cycling mobility and slow tourism in the cross-border area between Italy and Slovenia, helping to strengthen the connection between the territory, sustainability, and tourism attractiveness.

Finally, among the initiatives aimed at younger generations is FLYE – Financial Literacy for Innovative Youth Participation in Europe. With approximately €98,000 managed by EGTC GO, the project promotes financial literacy among young people as a tool for active participation and European citizenship. Various thematic workshops and study visits have been organised within the framework of the project.