On 6 May 2025, the European Parliament definitively adopted the regulation establishing the Instrument for the Development and Growth of Border Regions (BRIDGEforEU). This new tool aims to reduce the legal and administrative obstacles that hinder cross-border cooperation in the European Union.
Border regions account for 40% of the EU's territory and are home to 30% of its population. They face specific challenges: differences in legislation, language barriers, obstacles to accessing public services or employment on the other side of the border. Until now, no European instrument has been able to address these problems in a coordinated manner.
Parliament approved the Council's position at first reading, thus finalising the adoption of the regulation. The text provides for the creation of a voluntary mechanism allowing border regions to propose concrete solutions to remove cross-border obstacles. These solutions may take the form of declarations of intent or agreements between local, regional or national authorities, with the support of the European Commission.
The BRIDGEforEU instrument will apply to all EU land and maritime borders, as well as to external borders with associated neighbouring countries. It provides for a specific budget and a single point of contact to facilitate procedures.
The text was adopted without a roll-call vote, by a show of hands or without opposition. This is a final adoption, meaning that the regulation will enter into force after its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
For residents of border regions, BRIDGEforEU promises concrete improvements:
The instrument does not create new rules, but gives local actors the means to find solutions adapted to their realities. Citizens will be able to follow progress via a dedicated online portal.