EGTCs - Building Bridges Across European Borders

2026-06-12

Europe is strengthened by organisations that connect regions beyond national borders. One of the most important instruments for territorial cooperation is the European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation (EGTC), established by the European Committee of the Regions and the European Union to facilitate long-term cross-border collaboration.

EGTCs bring together regions that are naturally connected through their history, geography, economy and everyday life. Despite these strong ties, citizens and businesses often continue to face administrative, legal and institutional barriers that arise at national borders. The mission of every EGTC is to help overcome these obstacles and create better conditions for cooperation and development.

This week, representatives of EGTCs from across Europe gathered in Brussels for the meeting of the Association of European Border Regions and the European Cross-Border Platform (ECBP), where they exchanged experiences, discussed common challenges and explored new approaches to strengthening cross-border governance.

Next week, representatives of EGTC Future Paths – Mathias Lindström, Mathias Fink and Marko Vukobrat – together with colleagues from other European EGTCs, will continue this work in Frankfurt as members of the Interreg Europe Peer Review Service. The peer review will support the establishment of a new EGTC while promoting the exchange of good practices and innovative governance models.

Through these activities, EGTC Future Paths continues to contribute to building stronger partnerships, removing barriers and shaping a more connected, resilient and sustainable Europe.

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News

Preberi novico o obnovi železnice v Beli krajini

project impact (oecd)

The OECD, together with the European Commission and its Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy (DG REGIO), has launched the international project IMPACT – Interreg Mechanism for Promoting Active Communities and Territories. This initiative represents one of the most important new European initiatives in the field of cross-border development, aiming to strengthen border regions through the active involvement of local communities, municipalities, businesses, tourism organizations, and civil society.

Preberi novico o obnovi železnice v Beli krajini

founders of egtc on past and future steps

The annual General Assembly of EGTC Future Paths Ljubljana - Novo mesto - Karlovac - Zagreb, once again brought together mayors of municipalities along the corridor, representatives of Slovenske železnice, HŽ Infrastruktura, Karlovac County, and the Development Centre Novo mesto. Participants reviewed ongoing cross-border cooperation activities, progress in revitalising the Ljubljana - Novo mesto - Karlovac - Zagreb corridor and defined next steps.

Preberi novico o obnovi železnice v Beli krajini

A year of progress and the future of mobility

The past year has been dynamic and rich in content, marked by numerous concrete steps toward revitalising the cross-border region along the Ljubljana - Novo mesto - Karlovac - Zagreb railway corridor. This area holds significant development potential, where infrastructural, economic, environmental, and social challenges intersect – and the railway remains one of the key pillars of future development.

Preberi novico o obnovi železnice v Beli krajini

new connection karlovac - metlika

As part of the objectives of the EGTC Future Paths, the flagship project is the revitalisation of the railway corridor Ljubljana – Novo mesto – Karlovac – Zagreb, along whiich sustainable mobility, multifunctional infrastructure and the promotion of cross-border cooperation in all relevant areas are being developed simultaneously. After several years of interruption, it will once again be possible to symbolically travel across the border from the Metlika railway station to Ozalj and Karlovac, or to travel from Karlovac and Ozalj across the border to the Metlika railway station.

Preberi novico o obnovi železnice v Beli krajini

interstate forum

On Thursday, 20 November 2025, the European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation »Future Paths« organized cross-border conference “Future Paths Ljubljana – Novo mesto – Karlovac – Zagreb” at the Business Incubator in Črnomelj. Conference brought together numerous important representatives of Slovenian and Croatian railway companies, ministries, DRI, several mayors from both sides of the border, as well as representatives of regions, development agencies, spatial planners and many others.

Preberi novico o obnovi železnice v Beli krajini

Visit by the Government of the Republic of Slovenia

The Government of the Republic of Slovenia concluded yesterday’s visit to Dolenjska (Lower Carniola) and Bela krajina (White Carniola) at the Development Centre Novo mesto with a consultation involving mayors and representatives of the business community, at which current issues affecting the local economy were highlighted.

renewal in bela krajina

The first step in revitalising the Bela krajina railway: the renovation and construction of transport infrastructure in border problem areas are not important solely from an infrastructure perspective. This is a structural step towards a breakthrough for a region that has for decades faced demographic decline, the out-migration of young people, and a lack of investment.

Maintenance works

We are pleased that, as of tomorrow (26 June 2025), the Bela krajina section of the Ljubljana–Novo mesto–Karlovac–Zagreb railway line will be temporarily closed. Although this is not yet a comprehensive renovation, the construction works will eliminate numerous deficiencies that cause delays and unpredictable travel times.

Karlovac–Ozalj: first train by year-end

Representatives of the European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation; the Deputy Prefect of Karlovac County, Vesna Hajsan Dolinar; the Mayor of the Municipality of Grosuplje, Dr Peter Verlič; a member of the Management Board of HŽ Infrastruktura, Darko Barišić; and Director Marko Vukobrat met with representatives of the Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure, Croatian Railways Passenger Transport, Slovenian Railways Passenger Transport, the company Pružne građevine, the Karlovac County Development Agency, and others, with the aim of re-establishing the Karlovac–Novo mesto–Ljubljana rail connection as soon as possible.

Steel Paths of the Future

Today, for travel to two meetings in Ljubljana, I chose Slovenian Railways. I set off by train. I admit, it is my favourite means of transport, although unfortunately it is not the most competitive in most situations. In any case, due to construction works taking place at the Ljubljana railway junction, the business trip did not proceed particularly smoothly. Still, I reached my destination — of course with a considerable delay, but at least without the hassle of crowds and searching for a parking space.

new visual identity

In 2025, the European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation (EGTC) “Future Paths Ljubljana–Novo mesto–Karlovac–Zagreb” adopted its comprehensive visual identity, which brings together the key symbols of the cross-border region and reflects a vision of a connected future.