On 11 April 2025, young people from Romania took part in a consultation focused on cross-border cooperation, sharing their ideas about opportunities, challenges, and the future of collaboration in the Black Sea region.
Participants had diverse perspectives on whether living near a border is an advantage or a disadvantage. Many saw it as an opportunity, emphasizing that borders should connect, not divide. Constanța, they noted, could become a true hub for cultural and economic exchange. Others pointed out that this potential can only be realized when authorities cooperate effectively, which is often not the case. For many, living near a border opens the door to new cultures and broader perspectives, though some observed that missed chances for real collaboration are common.
When discussing where cooperation is most needed, young people mentioned infrastructure, environmental protection, sustainable transport, and coastal preservation. They also called for more youth engagement and education exchanges, particularly since some teachers fear that European projects might distract from the curriculum. Other priorities included cultural preservation, climate action, and smart transport and startup development to keep young innovators in the region.
Among useful Interreg projects, participants highlighted Clean Border for its tools in emergency and disaster cooperation, Danube Water Integrated Management for its adaptable logic, Cross-border Tourism Trail Development for promoting shared heritage, and Fast Danube for its potential in improving coastal trade and logistics.
In their daily lives, young people experience several obstacles to cross-border and transnational cooperation: the lack of school partnerships with Bulgarian students, bureaucracy, limited travel options, language barriers, and insufficient promotion of EU initiatives in schools. Many feel that European cooperation is treated as “extra,” not essential, which prevents more students from engaging in meaningful exchanges.
Their “dream projects” included:
- a Romania–Bulgaria student exchange and eco-lab to solve local environmental issues;
- youth cultural centers along the Black Sea focused on arts, innovation, and sustainability;
- a student-led Black Sea environmental campaign using art and storytelling;
- a digital museum of shared Romanian–Bulgarian heritage curated by young people; and
- a coastal tech incubator for green and smart city startups with cross-border mentorship.