Art of Cooperation conference 2024 – Launch event of the European Cross-Border Platform
As part of the Hungarian Presidency of the European Union, the Art of Cooperation Conference took place in Budapest from 13 to 15 November, with the participation of the MOT. Dedicated to the future of European territorial cooperation, the event provided an opportunity to officially launch the European Cross-Border Platform, an initiative of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) and its partners CESCI, AEBR and the MOT, aimed at bringing together all stakeholders involved in cross-border cooperation across Europe.
The conference gathered nearly 400 participants from Interreg programmes, as well as a wide range of stakeholders, including representatives of the European Commission, the Committee of the Regions, Member States, and regional and local authorities from across Europe. Through a series of plenary sessions and workshops, participants explored key issues for the 2027+ programming period, including the territorial approach, citizen-led projects, and the removal of obstacles to cooperation.
Launching of the European Cross-Border Platform
To underline the needs of the border regions and their citizens, the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) launched the European Cross-Border Platform, the successor of the European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation (EGTC) Platform, which aims to gather all actors in cross-border cooperation from border cities and regions to EGTCs and Euroregions.
The newly established Platform aims to create a new place for cross-border stakeholders to meet and discuss border communities’ unique circumstances and needs, allowing them to engage with the EU institutions through the CoR. The platform will advocate for new approaches and policy solutions for cross-border regions, contributing to their social and economic growth while building a common European cross-border future for border regions.
