Association of European Border Regions - AEBR / AGEG / ARFE

08/09/2026

🌍Environmental challenges don’t stop at borders — and neither should cooperation.

On June 23, experts and practitioners from across Europe came together for the online Strategic Workshop on Cross-Border Environmental Cooperation through the lens of b-solutions. From river restoration to energy transition and environmental governance, the discussion highlighted the importance of cooperation across borders to protect shared environments.

📄 Catch up on the key insights:
Our new article on the b‑solutions website highlights the main takeaways and shows how b‑solutions helps border regions overcome legal and administrative obstacles to protect shared environments:
https://www.b-solutionsproject.com/post/environmental-challenges-cross-borders-solutions-must-too

🎥 Prefer to watch?
The full webinar recording is available on AEBR’s YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VuPak094dhY&t=371s

🙏A warm thank you to moderator Caitriona Mullan for guiding the discussion, the four speakers Catherine Christiaens, Sónia Antunes, Péter Merza and Olivera Antic for sharing valuable contributions from their border regions, and Ricardo Ferreira from the European Commission’s DG REGIO for his encouraging closing remarks.

02/09/2026

🎉 We are proud to announce the selection of the 200th b-solutions case — a milestone that highlights how many legal and administrative obstacles still affect cross‑border cooperation across Europe!

The 200th case focuses on the Ohrid–Prespa lake system, shared by North Macedonia, Albania and Greece. Differences in legal and administrative frameworks make coordinated management difficult. This lack of alignment hinders joint action on biodiversity protection, water governance and cultural heritage preservation, increasing ecological pressures and limiting sustainable development opportunities for local communities.

✨ Advancing institutional cooperation would enable shared environmental protection, support community resilience and open long‑term prospects for sustainable tourism, research collaboration and socio‑economic growth across the region.

🔍 The obstacle, submitted by the Tourist Association of Ohrid city Biljana, is currently being analysed by a b‑solutions expert .

📚 Explore this case and other selected b-solutions cases: https://www.b-solutionsproject.com/projects

01/09/2026

📍 AEBR at 2026 🇪🇺

From 12 to 14 October, AEBR and its network will contribute to the 2026 with a range of discussions and networking opportunities dedicated to the potential of cross-border cooperation in Europe.

AEBR will be present in the Exhibition Area on 14 October with two flagship initiatives of the European Commission:

🔹 Interreg Volunteer Youth - IVY at the stand "Youth for Cooperation: shaping the future of regional cooperation"

🔹 b-solutions at the Border Focal Point stand

🕗 Visit us from 08:00 to 18:30 in the Exhibition Area, Grand Hall 2, Square Brussels.

Whether you are interested in empowering young people through Interreg, overcoming border obstacles, or strengthening cooperation across regions, we look forward to exchanging ideas and experiences with you.

👉 Check the full programme of activities by our network: https://www.aebr.eu/events/aebrs-initiatives-at-euregionsweek-2026/

🤗 join us in Brussels for a stimulating !

27/08/2026

🎓 Join the X Edition of the AEBR Cross-Border School!

Cross-border cooperation thrives when knowledge meets practice.

The AEBR Cross-Border School is a unique one-day event that brings together academics, policymakers, and practitioners in an open and collaborative learning environment. Here, participants engage as peers, sharing experiences, discussing challenges, and learning from one another in a genuinely interactive and horizontal setting.

Whether you work in a border region, conduct research on territorial cooperation, or shape policies that impact cross-border communities, the School offers an opportunity to:

🎯 Reflect on your professional practice in a structured way
🎯 Exchange experiences with experts from different backgrounds
🎯 Discuss research findings and practical realities
🎯 Contribute ideas that can inspire future policies and initiatives

Together, we create a space for dialogue, mutual learning, and fresh perspectives on the future of cross-border cooperation.

This year:

📗Border Regions' Role and Cross-Border Governance
📅 28 October 2026
📍 Dundalk Institute of Technology (DKIT) Campus, Dundalk, Co. Louth, Ireland
🔗 Register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeuXN7H_KE3hn7NogknHxj2uODch79zURqrkmowBTljByysSw/viewform

27/08/2026

🤝 AEBR Annual Conference 2026, hosted by East Border Region

How can cross-border regions contribute to a more peaceful, stable, and resilient Europe?

Join us on 29 and 30 October 2026 in Ireland for the AEBR Annual Conference 2026, focusing on the theme:

"Cross-Border Regions as Catalysts for Peace and Stability".

Through a series of engaging discussions, participants will explore:
✅ 50 Years of Peace-making through Cross-Border Cooperation
✅ Resilient Borders
✅ The Role of Citizen Engagement and Deliberative Democracy in Cross-Border Cooperation
✅ Cross-Border Cooperation in a Thriving and Enlarged Europe
✅The Future of Cohesion Policy

The conference will bring together policymakers, practitioners, researchers, and regional stakeholders from across Europe to exchange experiences and shape the future of cross-border cooperation.

🔗 Learn more and register: https://www.aebr.eu/annualevents_2026/

We look forward to welcoming you to this important conversation on peace, resilience, and European cooperation.

24/08/2026

📢 Reminder: Voices of Europe 2026 Call for Speakers & Presentations is still open!

Do you have a story to tell about life in a border region? A project that promotes multilingualism and cultural diversity? A performance, exhibition, or interactive idea that deserves a wider audience?

✨ Voices of Europe is looking for inspiring contributions that explore languages, cultures, identities, and connections across Europe's border regions at a one-week event that is part of Oulu2026 - European Capital of Culture 2026

📍 Oulu, Finland
📆 From 19 to 25 October 2026
🌍 Hybrid format
🎟️ Free public event
👥 Expected audience: 750 to 2,000 participants
⏳ Application deadline: 30 August 2026

Apply now: https://tinyurl.com/bds4ns36

More information: https://bothnianarc.voog.com/voices-of-europe-19-25-10-2026

Spread the word by sharing this opportunity with colleagues, artists, researchers, educators, and community leaders working in or with border regions.

10/08/2026

📢 Join the AEBR Team in Berlin!

We are looking for a Project Assistant to support the implementation of the Interreg Volunteer Youth (IVY) initiative, a programme funded by the European Commission that promotes territorial cooperation and youth engagement across Europe and the EU’s neighbouring countries.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone interested in 🇪🇺 EU affairs & 🙌 youth empowerment, ✍️ project management, 📣 communication, and 🌐 international cooperation. The role includes supporting volunteers and host organisations, coordinating project activities, assisting with communication and outreach, and contributing to the success of a Europe-wide initiative.

📍 Location: Berlin, Germany
🕒 Full-time position
🌍 Working language: English

Interested? Learn more and apply here: https://www.aebr.eu/job-offer-project-assistant-at-the-association-of-european-border-regions-2/

23/07/2026

🌍 Call for Speakers & Presentations – Voices of Europe 2026

Do you have a story, project, performance, or perspective on languages, cultures or identities in border regions?

Apply to contribute to Voices of Europe, a week-long cultural event taking place in Oulu, Finland (19–25 October 2026) as part of Oulu2026 - European Capital of Culture 2026.

The programme will feature:
🎙️ Roundtable discussions
🎭 Interactive performances
📚 Living Library sessions
🖼️ Exhibitions

🌐 Hybrid format | 🎟️ Free public event | 👥 750–2,000 expected participants

📢 The call for speakers and presentations is now open!

📆 Apply by 30 August 2026

👉 Apply here: https://tinyurl.com/bds4ns36

🔗 More information: https://bothnianarc.voog.com/voices-of-europe-19-25-10-2026

23/07/2026

🚆 Connecting three countries, one stop at a time

In the Czech German Polish tri border area, trains on the Liberec–Hrádek nad Nisou–Zittau line pass through Porajów in Poland without stopping. Adding a stop would require compliance with Polish rules, including requirements related to safety and driver qualifications, creating challenges for the operation of the existing cross-border service.

✨ Addressing this obstacle would support the creation a predictable framework for operating a limited stop in Porajów, improving local accessibility and reinforcing long term cooperation in cross border public transport.

🔍 The obstacle, submitted by Euroregion Neisse e.V., is currently being analysed by a b-solutions expert.

📚 Explore this case and other selected b solutions cases https://www.b-solutionsproject.com/projects

21/07/2026

Apply to the Call for Visitors managed by Centro Estudos Eurorrexionais and take part in peer exchanges hosted by b-solutions cases tackling cross-border obstacles.

This is a great opportunity to:
✅ Discover innovative solutions to cross-border challenges
✅ Exchange experiences with peers from across Europe
✅ Gain practical and transferable insights for your own border region

🔗 Conditions and details below: https://visitors.borderexchange.fceer.org/

📢 𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗡 𝗖𝗔𝗟𝗟
𝗪𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝟭𝟬𝟬 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻, 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝗘𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲

Are you part of an organisation working on cross-border cooperation? Do you want to discover practical solutions to challenges that are also affecting your region?🌍

✅The 𝗕𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗣𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 programme is looking for 100 visitors to join a unique learning experience across Europe.

✅Through 10 exchange visitis, participants will have the opportunity to:
◾ Meet peers working on shared cross-border challenges, such as improving access to public services, strengthening cross-border healthcare or employment cooperation, and enhancing coordination during flood incidents.
◾ Explore real cross-border solutions in action
◾ Bring back new ideas to their own territories.

🤝 Why join?
◾ Learn directly from organisations that have tackled similar cross-border obstacles
◾ Exchange experiences with professionals from across Europe
◾ Discover transferable approaches and innovative practices
◾ Build long-lasting partnerships and cooperation networks
◾ Increase the visibility and impact of your organisation


👥Who can apply?
The call is open to a wide range of Interreg Europe A stakeholders, including public authorities, Interreg programme bodies, universities, research centres, civil society organisations, cooperation entities and other actors involved in territorial cooperation.


📍 10 exchange visits
👥 100 participating visitors
🗓️ 2–3 days per visit
💶 Up to €750 (lump sum) awarded to the 50 highest-ranked applicants.



⏳ 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝗯𝘆 𝟳 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲, 𝟭𝟳:𝟬𝟬 𝗖𝗘𝗦𝗧


Association of European Border Regions - AEBR / AGEG / ARFE European Commission EU REGIO Interreg