EU REGIO Interreg

🌍 Missed the 29th Beyond Borders: Breakfast Debate? The full recording is now available!

In this special edition, experts from across the world explored how cross-border cooperation takes shape in the US–Canada and Mexico–US corridors, Central Asia, East Africa, and the Argentina–Brazil–Uruguay border region.

🎥 Watch now: https://futurium.ec.europa.eu/en/border-focal-point-network/multimedia/breakfast-debate-29-cross-border-cooperation-world

Big news for workers living and working across EU borders. 🌍

The EU has agreed to modernise its social security coordination rules, bringing clarity on which country's system applies, whether you work remotely, across multiple Member States or have a career that spans countries.

The result: less legal uncertainty and stronger protection for mobile workers across . ✅

Find out what the new rules mean for you 👉 https://futurium.ec.europa.eu/en/border-focal-point-network/news/eu-agreement-modernised-social-security-coordination-rules-strengthens-cross-border-protection

🌍 We are pleased to welcome José María Cruz to the 29th Beyond Borders: Breakfast Debate.

As Global Coordinator at the Association of European Border Regions (AEBR), José María works at the interface between European institutions and territories across the world, promoting the exchange of cross-border cooperation experiences across different global contexts. His experience ranges from DG INTPA initiatives in Latin America to institutional coordination at the Committee of the Regions.

At the debate, he will share insights on cross-border governance in the Argentina–Brazil–Uruguay triple border area.

📅 4 June | 16:00 CET | Online

🔗 Register: https://futurium.ec.europa.eu/en/border-focal-point-network/events/29th-beyond-borders-breakfast-debate-cross-border-cooperation-world

🌍 We are pleased to welcome Dr. Kehinde Bolaji to the 29th Beyond Borders: Breakfast Debate.

A development and regional integration specialist at UNDP, Kehinde brings over 19 years of experience in governance, resilience, peacebuilding, and cross-border development across Africa and the Caribbean. His work focuses on linking trade, corridor development, and local economic transformation as pathways toward stability and inclusive growth across the continent.

At the debate, he will share insights on borderlands development and regional integration in Africa.

📅 4 June | 16:00 CET | Online

🔗 Register: https://futurium.ec.europa.eu/en/border-focal-point-network/events/29th-beyond-borders-breakfast-debate-cross-border-cooperation-world

🌍 We are pleased to welcome Dr. Daniel Covarrubias to the 29th Beyond Borders: Breakfast Debate.

Daniel is Director of the Texas Center for Border Economic and Enterprise Development at the A.R. Sanchez, Jr. School of Business at Texas A&M International University. His research on how emerging technologies are transforming cross-border trade and logistics in North America has informed stakeholder preparations for the 2026 USMCA Joint Review.

At the debate, he will share insights on how technology and policy are reshaping cross-border cooperation in the region.

📅 4 June | 16:00 CET | Online

🔗 Register: https://futurium.ec.europa.eu/en/border-focal-point-network/events/29th-beyond-borders-breakfast-debate-cross-border-cooperation-world

Want to know more about b-solutions and its impact on environmental cooperation across borders?
Connect on 23 June! Info below👇

📢 Save the date for the online strategic workshop on Cross-border environmental cooperation through the lens of b-solutions!

On 23 June 2026, we will explore how border regions can strengthen environmental governance and respond to environmental challenges that do not stop at national boundaries. Drawing on insights from b solutions, the session will highlight key obstacles, needs, and opportunities identified through real cases to support the effective implementation of the European Green Deal in border regions.

The workshop will examine what border areas require to advance the Green Deal on the ground — and how cross border cooperation can transform shared environmental challenges into shared solutions. Participants will also have the opportunity to ask questions at the end of the session.

📅 23 June 2026 | 13:00–14:00 CEST

💻 Online — registration required

👉 Sign up here: https://forms.gle/5E6TSHz69bbBjijz6

Stay tuned for updates on speakers and further details in the coming weeks.

EU REGIO Interreg

Galicia and North Portugal are building something bigger than either could alone.

A shared biotech ecosystem connecting universities, research centres and companies on both sides of the border to bring health and life sciences discoveries to market faster. On 17 April, key actors met to align priorities, support SMEs and scale up what's working.

This is regional cooperation in action. 🔬

Read more: https://futurium.ec.europa.eu/en/border-focal-point-network/news/strengthening-cross-border-biotechnology-innovation-galicia-north-portugal-euroregion

📣 Coming up soon: the 29th Beyond Borders: Breakfast Debate

This special edition will bring together leading academics, policy experts and practitioners for a global discussion on cross-border cooperation beyond Europe, exploring diverse border realities across four continents.

🎤 Nathalie Verschelde, Head of Unit – Interreg & Cross-Border Cooperation, DG REGIO - Opening remarks

🗣️ Laurie Trautman, Director, Border Policy Research Institute, Western Washington University - U.S.–Canada border region

🗣️ Daniel Covarrubias, Director, Texas A&M International University - Mexico–U.S. border region

🗣️ Sergei Golunov, Professor, SDU University - Central Asian border regions

🗣️ Kehinde A. Bolaji, Resilience Portfolio Adviser, United Nations Development Programme - African borderlands

🗣️ José María Cruz, Cross-border Cooperation Expert, Association of European Border Regions - Argentina–Brazil–Uruguay border region

⚠️ Please note our special afternoon timeslot.

📅 4 June 2026
🕓 16:00–17:30 CET
💻 Online

👉 Register now: https://futurium.ec.europa.eu/en/border-focal-point-network/events/29th-beyond-borders-breakfast-debate-cross-border-cooperation-world

📢 Our session on Cross-Border Energy Communities is almost here!

Join us on 9 June 2026, 16:30–18:00h, at the NH Berlaymont – Simone Veil in Brussels and online for our dedicated policy session on “Cross-Border Energy Communities and Interregional Cooperation: Fostering the development of energy communities across borders”.

🎤 Moderated by Katharina Krell, Thematic Expert – Greener Europe Policy Learning Platform, Interreg Europe

🗣️ Delia Bonsignore, Programme Manager – Interreg, European Commission DG REGIO Unit D2

🗣️ Martín Guillermo Ramírez, Secretary General, Association of European Border Regions (AEBR)

🗣️ Frans Folkvord, President, Arcen Velden Lomm Energy Cooperative

🗣️ Gilles Kittel, Team Leader – South-East Europe, European Commission DG REGIO Unit D1

🗣️ Marek Jaskólski, Sustainability Manager, Europastadt GörlitzZgorzelec

🗣️ Rachel Tully, Head of EU Projects Department, Extremadura Energy Agency (AGENEX)

📅 9 June 2026 | 16:30 to 18:00h

📍 NH Berlaymont – Simone Veil, Brussels + online

Save our session via the EUSEW2026 programme: https://sustainable-energy-week.ec.europa.eu/

🌏 We're pleased to welcome Prof. Sergei Golunov to the 29th Beyond Borders: Breakfast Debate.

A professor at SDU University in Kazakhstan, Sergei has spent years studying how borders shape communities, trade, and cooperation across Central Asia. His co-authored book Bridging Borders offers a comparative perspective on cross-border cooperation across different global contexts.

📅 4 June | 16:00 CET | Online
🔗 Register: https://futurium.ec.europa.eu/en/border-focal-point-network/events/29th-beyond-borders-breakfast-debate-cross-border-cooperation-world