BRIDGEforEU: EU Delivers for Cross-Border Communities

Imagine living in a border region where you can easily commute to work, visit family, or enjoy leisure activities across the border. A region where bureaucratic hurdles and physical obstacles no longer hinder your daily life. This is the vision behind the European Union's latest legislation, BRIDGEforEU, which aims to address the challenges faced by border regions and bring Europeans closer together.

Approved by the European Parliament and the Council, BRIDGEforEU is a groundbreaking regulation that will help break down the barriers that have long divided Europe's border regions. From the rugged mountains of the Pyrenees to the scenic coastlines of the Baltic Sea, the EU's border regions are home to over 150 million people, many of whom face unique challenges in their daily lives.

A New Era for Border Regions

For decades, border regions have struggled with a range of obstacles that hinder their economic, social, and cultural development. Language barriers, different legal frameworks, a limited choice of cross-border transportation or insufficient digital connectivity are just a few of the challenges border regions face, hampering their potential for social economic growth and widening territorial disparities.

The approval of BRIDGEforEU marks a significant milestone in the EU's efforts to promote regional development and cohesion. By breaking down the barriers that have long divided Europe's border regions, the Regulation will unlock new opportunities for economic growth, social progress, and cultural exchange. With BRIDGEforEU, the EU is sending a powerful message: that it is committed to creating a Europe that is more united, more connected, and more prosperous for all its citizens.

A Brighter Future Ahead

The impact of BRIDGEforEU will be felt across the continent, from rural to metropolitan areas.

Even a city that exemplifies cross-border cooperation like Gorizia/Nova Gorica is not immune from this type of obstacles. The city, sitting right on the Italo-Slovene border, is split into two in the middle of its main square. With the ambition of becoming the first cross-border European Capital of Culture - a goal it reached in 2025 – the city was to organise a celebratory concert for Europe Day in its main square, only to be faced with the stubborn nature of the border, as abstract as it can be physical. With a few days to the event, with everything in place and the stage already built, organisers found that a school gathering on the Italian side of the square was scheduled to take place at the same time of the concert.  

The double booking occurred due to differing administrative procedures and legal requirements on each side of the square, which spans two countries. With no coordination between the national authorities, neither event was communicated to the other. The Italian school gathering had to be relocated at the last minute.

This highlights a broader issue: how to overcome the legal, practical and administrative barriers to make the square truly borderless. Despite its strategic and accessible location, event organisers face complex challenges. Each country has its own safety rules, technical standards, and approval processes — in different languages and involving multiple actors — leading to duplicated efforts, higher costs, and endless paperwork for permits, security, road closures and logistics.

The absurdity of this anecdote illustrates but one of the many Kafkaesque challenges of the people living, working, taking children to school, paying taxes and receiving care between two bordering countries.  

Thankfully, the BRIDGEforEU regulation is a step forward in making living on the border as smooth as anywhere else in Europe. The regulation is designed to address the challenges faced by border regions through the following measures:

• Cross-Border Coordination Points: Member States will establish Cross-Border Coordination Points to facilitate cooperation and communication between border regions. These points will serve as a single contact point for citizens, businesses, and public authorities, providing information and support on cross-border issues, while also gathering complaints on border obstacles.
• Simplified Procedures: The Regulation will introduce simplified procedures for resolving cross-border obstacles, making it easier for citizens and businesses to navigate the complexities of cross-border cooperation.
• Cross-Border Facilitation Tool: The legislation will establish a Cross-Border Facilitation Tool, which will provide a structured approach to identifying and resolving cross-border obstacles. The tool will be available to all Member States and will help to facilitate cooperation and communication between border regions.
• Annual Reporting: Member States will be required to submit annual reports to the Commission on the implementation of the Regulation, providing information on the number of cross-border obstacles resolved, the types of obstacles encountered, and the overall impact of the regulation on cross-border cooperation.

The BRIDGEforEU regulation will apply to all Member States and will cover a wide range of cross-border issues covering infrastructure, public services and economic development. The Regulation is expected to bring several benefits to citizens and businesses in border regions, including:

• Improved Access to Services: tackling border obstacles will make it easier for citizens to access public services, such as healthcare and education, on a cross-border basis.
• Increased Economic Opportunities: smoother interactions will improve economic development in border regions, creating new opportunities for businesses and entrepreneurs.
• Simplified Procedures: BRIDGEforEU will introduce simplified procedures for resolving cross-border obstacles, making it easier for citizens and businesses to navigate the complexities of cross-border cooperation.

"This regulation can make a real difference by strengthening regional cross-border cooperation and by unleashing the potential of European projects and their impact on our regions. Dear colleagues, this is the Europe of concrete solutions for all, a Europe that we stand and fight for together, in this Parliament” stated, Sandro Gozi, the European Parliament rapporteur for BRIDGEforEU after its adoption.

Next Steps

The BRIDGEforEU Regulation was published in the Official Journal of the European Union EUR-Lex on 19 May 2025 and will enter into force 20 days after its publication. Member States will now have time to implement the Regulation and establish the necessary structures and procedures to support cross-border cooperation. Overall, the BRIDGEforEU Regulation is an important step for cross-border cooperation, one that addresses the daily challenges faced by 150 million people. With a new framework for cooperation and simplified procedures, the Regulation can finally make life on the border easier for citizens and businesses alike.

You can read the Regulation in full in EUR-Lex:

Regulation - EU - 2025/925 - EN - EUR-Lex

Stories of life on the Borders: 

Living in a cross-border region - Publications Office of the EU

Read abour Interreg GO 2025 in Gorizia/Nova Gorica