Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on facilitating cross-border solutions - BRIDGEforEU

Abstract

The Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union not only aims to establish a common market guaranteeing the free movement of people, goods, services and capital, but also seeks to promote economic, social and territorial cohesion across the EU. This includes cross-border regions, which face persistent obstacles − especially legal and administrative incompatibilities − that hinder seamless cross-border activities and negatively impact the lives and opportunities of 150 million citizens in these areas. Against this backdrop, the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament have agreed a proposal by the European Commission on a regulation offering a facilitation tool to overcome administrative and legal cross-border obstacles (BRIDGEforEU Regulation1). Despite the value of this tool for overcoming cross-border obstacles through mechanisms like Cross-Border Contact Points, it remains limited by its voluntary nature, lack of guaranteed outcomes and concerns about clarity, capacity and national sovereignty, making a cooperative and open administrative mindset essential for its success.