European Parliament Approves BRIDGEforEU: Empowering EU Border Regions

Date: April 9, 2025

In a significant step towards enhancing cooperation and economic growth in border regions, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have endorsed a crucial agreement on the Border Regions’ Instrument for Development and Growth, known as “BRIDGEforEU.” This new tool aims to tackle administrative and legal obstacles that hinder cross-border services and infrastructure, ultimately benefiting the estimated 150 million Europeans living in border areas.

On April 9, the Committee on Regional Development voted unanimously with 30 votes in favor and 2 abstentions to support the proposal. This landmark agreement will empower regional and local authorities, as well as private entities, to identify and report barriers to cross-border coordination. By facilitating communication with designated coordination points established by member states, BRIDGEforEU aims to streamline processes and enable quicker resolutions to challenges faced by border communities.

The essential goal of the BRIDGEforEU initiative is to eliminate the administrative hurdles that create difficulties for citizens and stymie economic growth. Once an obstacle is flagged, the coordination points will assess the situation and can engage relevant local, regional, or national authorities to seek solutions. This proactive approach is expected to foster more integrated and cohesive cross-border services.

Rapporteur Sandro Gozi (Renew, France), who played a crucial role in the agreement, emphasized the importance of this initiative: “The BRIDGEforEU instrument is an unprecedented win for EU border regions and the citizens living in them. By allowing local authorities and private bodies to flag obstacles blocking cross-border infrastructure and services, BRIDGEforEU can bring us closer to completing the Single Market, thus promoting the cohesion and development of EU regions.”

Economic Implications of Administrative Obstacles

The European Parliament has highlighted the significant economic impact of existing cross-border barriers, with estimates suggesting a staggering annual loss of €457 billion across the EU. Furthermore, eliminating just 20% of these hurdles could potentially enhance the EU’s GDP by 2%. These figures underline the critical need for tools such as BRIDGEforEU that facilitate smoother interactions across borders.

Next Steps

To advance toward becoming law, this proposal must be formally endorsed by the Parliament plenary, with the vote scheduled for the upcoming plenary session from May 5-9. If approved, BRIDGEforEU could revolutionize the way border regions operate, fostering stronger connections and economic opportunities for millio

https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20250409IPR27736/bridgeforeu-a-new-tool-to-empower-eu-border-regionsns across Europe.

As the initiative moves forward, attention will be on its potential to bridge gaps in cross-border collaboration and significantly enhance the everyday lives of citizens in these areas.