Informest participated in the 2nd annual meeting of the European Cross-Border Platform (ECBP), held on November 13–14, 2025, in Gorizia at the Auditorium of Friulian Culture. The event brought together representatives of border regions, Euroregions, and EGTCs to discuss the challenges and opportunities of cross-border cooperation, a fundamental pillar of European integration.

During the two days, discussions focused on strategic topics such as:

• The future of cross-border cooperation in an evolving geopolitical context;
• Border resilience and crisis management;
• The role of border regions in EU enlargement.

The meeting featured contributions from European institutions, academics, and EGTC representatives, with notable interventions from the European Commission and the Committee of the Regions. The second day was dedicated to the EGTC working group, focusing on the impact of this instrument on cross-border governance and cohesion policies.

Speakers highlighted key characteristics of cross-border cooperation (CBC):

• It is a form of multi-level governance involving local, regional, national, and European actors;
• It serves as a tool for regional development and paradiplomacy, fostering direct relations between territories;
• It is a means of reconciliation and contributes to building the European Union;
• It represents a form of subnational multilateralism based on collaboration rather than competition among Member States.

Special attention was given to the new “Bridge for EU” Regulation, designed to remove legal and administrative obstacles limiting cooperation between border regions, simplifying procedures and promoting integration.

The concept of exaptive resilience was also discussed, referring to the ability to adapt existing resources and skills to unforeseen challenges, turning constraints into opportunities.

Another central theme was the principle of complementarity among Member States, which should prevail over competitive logic to strengthen European cohesion and solidarity.

Finally, good practices of pilot actions recognized as examples of “Resilient borders” were presented. Among these was the CONNECT project by EGTC GO, an eight-month initiative involving three cross-border municipalities. The project aims to prepare, share, and potentially adopt a common strategy and joint protocols for managing climate and environmental crises with cross-border impacts, promoting a resilient and cooperative approach to climate change challenges.

Informest’s presence confirms its commitment to promoting cooperation between territories and contributing to the development of innovative policies for cross-border areas.