"Border Focal Point Network Newsletter" Newsletter Issues

Breakfast Debate #18: Insights into cross-border primary and secondary education (24/04/2024)

Join us online on 23rd May 2024, from 10:00 to 11:00 CET, for our #18 Beyond Borders: Breakfast Debate.

Dear Border Colleague, (24/04/2024)

The April edition of our newsletter is here!

Essential Cooperation for Resilient Health Systems: The Role of Interreg (24/04/2024)

Mark your calendar for the conference on "Essential co-operation for resilient health systems: The role of Interreg"

Young people from 12 countries across the EU apply to become Youth4Cooperation: Cross Border Ambassadors (24/04/2024)

The BFPN is thrilled to have received applications from young people from 12 countries across the EU and EFTA area: Italy, Portugal, Belgium, Spain, Poland, Greece, Germany, Slovakia, France, The Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland.

Conversation with GeoRefAct, Harmonization of Estonian and Latvian geodetic systems in border areas (24/04/2024)

Watch out latest conversation with Interreg Estonia - Latvia through the GeoRefAct project, which stands for “The Harmonization of Estonian and Latvian Geodetic Systems in Border Areas”.

Cross-Border Nursery in the Eurodistrict Saarmoselle! (24/04/2024)

Explore the collaborative triumph of the "Babylingua" project, a joint effort between France and Germany that led to the creation of the Kita Salut nursery.

Missed our latest debate? Watch the #17 Beyond Borders Breakfast Debate: "Facilitating Access to Healthcare in Cross-Border Regions"! (24/04/2024)

On Thursday, 21st March 2024, we explored practices to enhance access to cross-border healthcare.

What matters to people living in Europe’s cross-border regions? (24/04/2024)

We invite our colleagues and community members to share their perspectives on cross-border issues under the "Have Your Say" section on Futurium.

Every voice counts, including yours. (24/04/2024)

Every voice counts, and every perspective matters.

Dear Border Colleague, (11/03/2024)

Welcome! This issue is packed with exciting news, events and insights.

APPLY NOW! Join the Youth4Cooperation: Cross-Border Ambassadors initiative (11/03/2024)

💡Are you 18-30, and do you have ideas on how to improve the life of citizens in cross-border regions? Here is your chance!

New European Commission initiative: COMMUNITIES FOR CLIMATE (C4C) (11/03/2024)

The Communities for Climate (C4C) is a new initiative of the European Commission that will support 50 community-led projects in eleven EU countries.

Breakfast Debate #17: Facilitating access to healthcare in cross-border regions (11/03/2024)

Join us for the #17 Breakfast Debate webinar on "Facilitating Access to Healthcare in Cross-Border Regions", which will take place online on 📅 21st March 2024, from 10:00 to 11:00 CET.

Conference on the Future of Cross-Border Cooperation: Lessons Learned from the COVID-19 Pandemic (11/03/2024)

Join us for the ‘Conference on the Future of Cross-Border Cooperation: Lessons Learned from the Covid-19 Pandemic’, co-hosted by the European Parliament and DG REGIO’s Border Focal Point.

Enhancing Healthcare Access in the Polish-Lithuanian border regions (11/03/2024)

Lithuania and Poland’s cross-border cooperation has been marked by a shared dedication to tackling mutual challenges and strengthening regional development.

Breakfast Debate #16: How can cross-border risk & crisis management enhance EU resilience? (11/03/2024)

Did you miss our #16 Beyond Borders: Breakfast Debate?

What matters to people living in Europe’s cross-border regions? (11/03/2024)

We invite our colleagues and community members to share their perspectives on cross-border issues.

Every voice counts, including yours. (11/03/2024)

Every voice counts, and every perspective matters.

Dear Border Colleague, (30/01/2024)

Welcome to the first newsletter of 2024! We’re looking forward to seeing what the new year will bring.

Breakfast Debate #16: How can cross-border risk & crisis management enhance EU resilience? (30/01/2024)

On 15 February 2024, the Border Focal Point Network will host the 16th webinar of the 'Beyond Borders' Breakfast Debates series.

Border Focal Point – Publications Catalogue (30/01/2024)

The latest Publications Catalogue containing a selection of the most important publications from the last few years.

Benelux companies join forces to eliminate trade barriers for SMEs (30/01/2024)

Big moves in the Benelux region as Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg join forces to revolutionize trade for SMEs!

Regio Waves Podcast - Border Regions: the final frontier of cooperation (30/01/2024)

Discover the Regio Waves podcast!

Integrated cross-border emergency response: Romania and Hungary (30/01/2024)

Romania and Hungary joined forces to turn border challenges into opportunities for cooperation.

The Future of Cross-Border Mobility with EGTC Euregio Meuse-Rhine and the Aachen Transport Association (30/01/2024)

This discussion centres on the measures implemented to improve cross-border mobility for Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands, as well as plans for future initiatives.

What matters to people living in Europe’s cross-border regions? (30/01/2024)

We invite our colleagues and community members from these cross-border areas to express their opinions and share their perspectives under the "Have Your Say" section:

Every voice counts, including yours. (30/01/2024)

Every voice counts, and every perspective matters.

Dear Border Colleague, (18/12/2023)

Happy Holidays, we have come to the final newsletter of 2023! Let's dive into some noteworthy highlights and insights from the past twelve months:

What matters to people living in Europe’s cross-border regions? (18/12/2023)

We invite our colleagues and community members from these cross-border areas to express their opinions and share their perspectives under the "Have Your Say" section:

Breakfast Debate #15: Navigating the EU Single Market – How to help SMEs across borders? (18/12/2023)

On 6 December 2023, the Border Focal Point Network hosted the 15th webinar of the 'Beyond Borders' Breakfast Debates series.

Every voice counts, including yours. (18/12/2023)

Every voice counts, and every perspective matters.

Commission proposal to strengthen the Single Market by tackling legal and administrative obstacles in Europe's cross-border regions! (18/12/2023)

Learn about how the European Commission is strengthening the Single Market!

Cross-border cooperation at the heart of the 158th CoR Plenary Session! (18/12/2023)

Read the insights from the 158th CoR Plenary Session on strengthening cross-border cooperation for a more cohesive Europe.

ITEM releases 2023 cross-border impact assessment! (18/12/2023)

Discover the latest insights in cross-border cooperation with ITEM's 2023 Impact Assessment!

Cross-border disaster management in Greece and North Macedonia! (18/12/2023)

Read all about how Greece and North Macedonia are pioneering cross-border disaster management with the ground-breaking SOLVE project.

Exploring the North Sea Port Cross-Border Cooperation! (18/12/2023)

Discover the power of cross-border cooperation with Belgium and the Netherlands’ latest collaboration: the North Sea Port Talent Project.

Dear Border Colleague, (23/11/2023)

Welcome to the Border Focal Point Network (BFPN) Newsletter for November!

The 15th Beyond Borders Breakfast Debate: Navigating the EU Single Market – How to help SMEs across borders? (23/11/2023)

The next Beyond Borders Breakfast Debates is coming up!

COTER commission meeting on cross border emergency cooperation. (23/11/2023)

The European Committee of the Regions’ meeting on 17 November 2023 focused on cross-border emergency cooperation challenges.

Cross-border business have more tools to cut tax-associated red tape! (23/11/2023)

Unlock New Markets with Simplified Tax Rules for Cross-Border Business in the EU!

Spain and Portugal cooperate to face depopulation in cross-border regions (23/11/2023)

Discover the innovative RAIA project, a collaborative effort launched in September 2023.

The Netherlands and Germany create inaugural Cross-Border Museum Month! (23/11/2023)

Cross-border cooperation between the Netherlands and Germany seeks to enhance regional competitiveness by facilitating collaboration among citizens, companies, and institutions.

What resonates with the people of Europe that live in cross-border regions? (23/11/2023)

Under the ‘Have your say’ tab we ask our cross-border colleagues and community members questions to share their views:

Breakfast Debate #14 (5 November 2023): Border regions in post-2027 cohesion policy (23/11/2023)

On 5 November 2023, the Border Focal Point Network hosted the 14th webinar of the 'Beyond Borders' Breakfast Debates series.

Every voice counts, including yours. (23/11/2023)

Every voice counts, and every perspective matters.

Dear Border Colleague, (26/10/2023)

As we move deeper into autumn, we continue to bring you the latest developments, insights, and success stories from across the vibrant cross-border regions of the European Union.

Every voice counts, including yours! (26/10/2023)

Every voice counts, and every perspective matters.

The 14th Beyond Borders Breakfast Debate - Border regions in post-2027 Cohesion policy (26/10/2023)

The next Beyond Borders Breakfast Debates is just around the corner!

Breakfast Debate #13 (21 September 2023): How would a new European legal tool solve cross-border obstacles? (26/10/2023)

On 21 September, the Border Focal Point Network hosted the 13th webinar of 'Beyond Borders' Breakfast Debates series. Focusing on "How would a new European legal tool solve cross-border obstacles?" speakers delved into the potential of a ground-breaking new European legal instrument designed to tackle and resolve cross-border challenges.

Conversation with Cerdagne Hospital (26/10/2023)

The Cerdagne Hospital is the first cross-border hospital in Europe.

EU Tool to overcome legal and administrative obstacles in cross-border regions (26/10/2023)

The European Parliament has taken a proactive stance in addressing legal and administrative challenges in cross-border regions with the BRIDGEU proposal.

A new Study on Cross-border Energy Communities just started! (26/10/2023)

DG Regio has taken a significant stride towards a sustainable future with the launch of the study 📑"Handbook on Cross-border Energy Communities."

Report on the kick-off conference of the #ACCESS project (26/10/2023)

Held on 14 September in Košice, Slovakia, with participants from the Slovak-Hungarian border region.

Learning Cooperation: The first Online course on European Territorial Cooperation is now available! (26/10/2023)

Discover the first-ever online course on European Territorial Cooperation! Whether you're a stakeholder, policymaker, academic researcher, or a curious cross-border citizen, this MOOC is your gateway.

The future of sustainable infrastructure and mobility in cross border regions and the importance of cooperation (26/10/2023)

On 27 September, in the context of the European Week of Regions and Cities, the House of the Dutch Province and the Institute for Transnational & Euregional Cross-Border Cooperation & Mobility, joined forces to discuss the future of sustainable infrastructure and mobility.

Cross-Border Curriculum Development between Denmark and Germany (26/10/2023)

The Fehmarn Belt Connection Graduate Program is a visionary project forging a cross-border region in Northern Europe.

Babies across borders - Transforming Healthcare Infrastructure (26/10/2023)

Babies across borders is a transformative project that elevates healthcare in the Romanian-Hungarian cross-border region.

Boosting cross-border recycling and composting in Greece & Albania (26/10/2023)

Albania and Greece have already collaborated on labour markets, tourism, and energy.

Check out the ‘Have your say’ tab on Futurium! (26/10/2023)

Under the ‘Have your say’ tab we ask our cross-border colleagues and community members questions that resonate with the people of Europe that live in cross-border regions.

Dear Border Colleague, (14/09/2023)

Welcome to the September edition of the Border Focal Point Network (BFPN) Newsletter!

The 13th Beyond Borders: Breakfast Debate - How would a new European legal tool solve cross-border obstacles? (14/09/2023)

We are thrilled to announce that we are back at full steam with our 'Beyond Borders: Breakfast Debate' series!

European Commission adopts proposal to facilitate non-profit cross-border operations (14/09/2023)

On September 5th the European Commission adopted a proposal to facilitate cross-border activities of non-profit associations in the EU.

IEA Analysts call for cross-border cooperation in establishing the power systems of the future (14/09/2023)

The International Energy Agency (IEA) has recently published a commentary on the need to establish interconnected power systems for a better future.

2023 Europe Prize awarded to the town of Boleslawiec (Poland) (14/09/2023)

Every year, the Europe Prize honours a European town for its actions in the European domain.

Development of a Sustainable Cross-border Agrifood Sector between France and Belgium (14/09/2023)

In October 2016, the Filière AD-T Project was initiated with the aim to enhance sustainable practices within the agri-food sector by orchestrating a comprehensive set of actions across different stages of the food supply chain.

Parliamentary and Governmental cross-border cooperation: The case of the Baltics (14/09/2023)

The Baltic Assembly is one of the more recent examples of this in the history of Europe and one that other regions and countries in Europe could follow.

Enhancing current and future cross-border cooperation through the CBenACT project (14/09/2023)

The work of the Centre for Cross Border Studies has been significant in the cross-border region of The Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

We want to hear from you! (14/09/2023)

Check out the ‘Have your say’ tab on Futurium!

Every voice counts, yours too. (14/09/2023)

Every voice counts, and every perspective matters.

Conversation with Mayor Rodolfo Ziberna (14/09/2023)

Dive into a conversation with Mr. Rodolfo Ziberna, Mayor of Gorizia, a city at the heart of the Italy-Slovenia border.

The European Week of Regions and Cities is fast approaching! (17/08/2023)

The biggest event dedicated to Cohesion Policy will take place from the 9th to the 12th of October 2023 in Brussels (Belgium).

Dear Border Colleague, (17/08/2023)

Welcome to the August edition of the Border Focal Point Network (BFPN) Newsletter!

REGIOSTARS competition finalists announced (17/08/2023)

REGIOSTARS is the yearly competition organised by the European Commission’s Directorate General for Regional and Urban Policies since 2008.

Advancing Cross-border Collaboration on Hydrogen in The Benelux and Neighbouring Regions in Germany and France (17/08/2023)

Last month, the Benelux Union's Secretariat, along with WatersofNet, organised and hosted the Benelux Hydrogen Conference.

New social security agreement for cross-border teleworkers comes into effect (17/08/2023)

A new framework agreement has been put in effect since the 1st of July 2023.

Cross-border power grid interconnection between Greece and Bulgaria (17/08/2023)

Over the past couple of decades, Greece and Bulgaria have been implementing strategies of joint efforts to increase their energy exchange capacity by creating electricity and gas interconnectors.

ELWIND: A cross border project to produce renewable energy (17/08/2023)

For over a century, Estonia and Latvia have forged a history of cross-border cooperation, encompassing cultural exchanges, trade partnerships, and labour collaborations.

We want to hear from you! (17/08/2023)

In our recently-launched ‘Have your say’ tab on Futurium, we are asking our cross-border colleagues and community members questions that resonate with the peoples of Europe that live in cross-border regions.

Every voice counts, yours too. (17/08/2023)

Every voice counts, and every perspective matters. That is how cross-border cooperation is built and enhanced, and that is why we have launched a new section of our newsletter, Perspectives from our Network, allowing a space where community members will have the chance to publish short editorial content on a voluntary basis.

Every voice counts, yours too. (20/07/2023)

The Border Focal Point Network is all about sharing experiences, guidance, good practices, expertise, updates, and useful resources among stakeholders involved in cross-border region issues – from citizens to public authorities, private entities, civil society, academia and more.

Dear Border Colleague, (20/07/2023)

Welcome to the July edition of the Border Focal Point Network (BFPN) Newsletter!

We want to hear from you! (20/07/2023)

Visit the ‘Have your say’ tab and answer some of these questions:

Exploring Opportunities and Challenges for Cross-Border Labour Market Integration: (20/07/2023)

Insights from the Beyond Borders Breakfast Debate Series

New project: Cross-border regional labour market analysis (20/07/2023)

Steered by DG REGIO, a fresh project is set to delve into the sphere of cross-border labour market analysis across Europe.

Benelux and the Treaty on Automatic Recognition of Higher Education Qualifications (20/07/2023)

The Benelux area, consisting of Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg, has long been celebrated for its remarkable commitment to cross-border cooperation initiatives.

Reinforcing territorial cooperation and addressing challenges on European integration (20/07/2023)

Two new reports on the future of cohesion policy have been published by Professors Eduardo Medeiros and Hynek Böhm.

Cross-border labour market integration efforts between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland (20/07/2023)

Here we highlight the efforts made to resolve the labour-related issues of the border region between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

Dear Border Colleague, (16/06/2023)

Welcome back to the renewed Border Focal Point Network Newsletter – your gateway to bringing the peoples of Europe closer together. All is now set for you to get stuck in to some engaging, insightful and interactive reading.

The ‘Beyond Borders: Breakfast Debate’ series is back: register for our next edition coming up on 13 July (16/06/2023)

Draft parliamentary report presented to relaunch the European Cross-Border Mechanism (ECBM) (16/06/2023)

Sandro Gozi, a member of the European Parliament, has presented a draft parliamentary report with the objective of relaunching the European Cross-Border Mechanism (ECBM).

4th meeting of the Group of high-level specialists on the future of Cohesion Policy (16/06/2023)

The 4th meeting of the Group of high-level specialists on the future of Cohesion Policy took place in Brussels on 23 May to discuss a wide range of topics, including presentations of scientific work on place-based policies and strategies for development.

ESPON's invitation to submit proposals for Targeted Analyses: applications open (16/06/2023)

Narrowing the digital divide across the Swedish and Norwegian border (16/06/2023)

Cross-border regions with significant urban populations present numerous opportunities for cooperation across borders in areas such as education, health, transport, the labour market, or digital infrastructure. However, remote areas face a high proportion of non-tech-savvy elderly residents, dealing with increasing depopulation, and are often forgotten.

Ensuring that the voices of cross-border citizens are heard in the decision-making process (16/06/2023)

Civil engagement at the EU, national and regional levels in the policy-making process plays a key role in the improvement of the daily lives of citizens, as the design and implementation of policies thus take into account the opinion and experiences of those that will be directly affected by them.

Every voice counts, yours too. (16/06/2023)

The Border Focal Point Network is all about sharing experiences, guidance, good practices, expertise, updates and useful resources among stakeholders involved in cross-border region issues – from citizens to public authorities, private entities, civil society, academia and more.

Have your say (16/06/2023)

We want to hear from you!

How can we improve the daily lives of cross-border citizens? The 11th Beyond Borders Breakfast Debate (16/06/2023)

The latest edition of the ‘Beyond Borders: Breakfast Debate’ series took place on the 1 June, and focused on exploring how we can improve cross-border citizens’ daily lives.