On 15 April 2025, the partners of Trans-Borders+ gathered in the historic city of Gorizia (Italy) for their second transnational project meeting.
The event was hosted by the project partner FVG (Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia), welcoming participants to a city that perfectly symbolises European integration and cross-border cooperation.
Representatives from all ten partner organisations from Germany, Czech Republic, Austria, Slovenia, and Italy participated. The meeting marked a key milestone: after the first four months of implementation, partners were able to share progress, exchange best practices, and coordinate the next steps for advancing smart and sustainable cross-border mobility solutions.
Meeting Highlights
- Project Progress: Partners presented early results, including cross-border mobility data collection and first models for improved interoperability and regional cooperation between the two focus areas (Saxony–Liberec Region and Carinthia–Slovenia–Friuli Venezia Giulia).
- Knowledge Exchange: The meeting emphasised the sharing of innovative approaches to foster smart mobility, low-carbon transport solutions, and enhanced urban-rural connectivity across border regions.
- Cooperation with Other Projects: A special highlight was the networking session with representatives from other Interreg CENTRAL EUROPE projects – EnClode, Nutshell@CE, and BorderLabs CE. The exchange focused on finding synergies and identifying joint opportunities in the fields of sustainable public transport, digital connectivity, climate change adaptation, and better governance.
This aligns with the goals of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the broader aims of fostering regional development, cohesion policy, and sustainability through cooperation projects.
Gorizia – A Symbol of European Integration
Hosting the meeting in Gorizia was a deliberate choice. As the European Capital of Culture 2025 (together with Nova Gorica), Gorizia embodies the spirit of overcoming borders and building a shared future.
This perfectly reflects the core mission of Trans-Borders+: enhancing cross-border integration, mobility, and sustainable transport solutions to create a more connected and smart Central Europe.
Looking Ahead
The Gorizia meeting laid a solid foundation for the next project phase. Partners are highly motivated to push forward with the planned pilot projects focusing on multimodal and eco-friendly mobility, digital solutions, and stronger interoperability of regional transport systems.
The next major partner meeting is scheduled for October 2025, with several regional workshops, pilot activities, and stakeholder engagement events taking place in the meantime.