Two border regions, geographically distant yet united by the same challenge: transforming borders from lines of separation into opportunities for development. This was the common thread of the study visit that brought a delegation of around fifteen people, including mayors and technical staff from the Carpathian Euroregion (Euroregion Karpacki), to the EGTC GO area. The visit provided an important opportunity to exchange experiences and best practices in European territorial cooperation.

The Carpathian Euroregion is a cross-border cooperation network involving local authorities from Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, and Ukraine. Through European projects and support for local administrations, it promotes the development of border regions and collaboration among communities.

The visit focused on exploring the methods for designing and managing European programs developed by EGTC GO, with particular attention to the Small Projects Fund (SPF), an instrument also used by the Carpathian Euroregion to support cross-border cooperation initiatives. During meetings at the EGTC GO headquarters, EGTC GO project managers presented the SPF calls for proposals, the management procedures and support services provided to beneficiaries, and EGTC GO’s main activities. They also provided an overview of other ongoing European projects, the two Integrated Territorial Investments (ITIs) Isonzo-Soča and Salute-Zdravstvo, and the network of collaborations developed over the years with institutions, universities, research bodies, and local stakeholders. In this context, the guests also heard a brief presentation from ISIG, which highlighted the close cooperation between the two organizations, particularly from a strategic perspective aimed at building an even more coherent and functional cross-border area beyond GO! 2025.

Representatives of the Carpathian Euroregion also presented their organization’s activities and ongoing projects, focusing in particular on an initiative dedicated to strengthening cross-border governance through closer collaboration with universities.

The exchange between the two organizations provided an opportunity to share experiences and approaches to managing SPF funds, confirming their common belief that small projects are an effective tool for fostering cooperation between border regions and generating tangible results. A shared commitment also emerged to continue investing in this instrument during future European programming periods.

The delegation then visited several projects funded under SPF GO! 2025, including WALK 2 SPIRIT, dedicated to the development of cultural and religious tourism along the Gorizia Pilgrimage Route between Aquileia and Mount Santo (Sveta Gora); ZAFA25, which included a visit to the Farra Observatory focused on science communication and astronomy; ARS SINE FINIBUS, promoting dialogue between contemporary art and the cross-border landscape of Collio and Brda; and KONFIN, dedicated to promoting the cultural and food-and-wine heritage of border areas.

The program also included an in-depth presentation of the BeWoP project and visits to several symbolic sites of cross-border cooperation, including the Isonzo River pedestrian and cycling bridge built by EGTC GO as part of the Isonzo-Soča project, Mount Sabotin, the Doblar hydroelectric power plant, and the main landmarks and points of interest in Gorizia and Nova Gorica.