On 14 April 2025, pupils from Romania participated in a youth consultation exploring how living near a border shapes their communities, opportunities, and future cooperation. The discussion revealed both optimism and concern, with young people emphasizing the potential of cross-border connections when supported by the right initiatives.
Many participants believed that living next to a border offers unique cultural benefits, such as learning new languages, discovering diverse traditions, and accessing goods or events from neighboring countries. For them, the border represents a bridge, not a wall, especially when it fosters cross-border friendships. However, others pointed out challenges such as limited investment, fewer job opportunities, and weaker infrastructure in border regions. Some expressed frustration at being overlooked by national authorities, but most agreed that EU programs like Interreg can turn these disadvantages into strengths.
When asked about areas where cooperation is needed most, pupils emphasized environmental protection, particularly around the Danube Delta. They noted that pollution and biodiversity loss affect everyone along the river, and that joint clean-up efforts and monitoring systems are vital. Other priorities included education, healthcare, and improved transport links, with ideas for bilingual school exchanges, shared cultural events, and cross-border access to medical services.
During the session, students identified several Interreg Romania–Bulgaria projects, such as “Clean Border Rivers,” “Safe Border,” “Green Danube,” “Cross-border Youth Power,” and “Danube Bike Trail.” They also mentioned “Joint Emergency Support Across Borders,” a program that provided new equipment and training for emergency responders. Many were surprised to learn that these initiatives were part of the Interreg framework, recognizing their real impact on daily life and safety.
As for barriers to cooperation, students highlighted language differences, weak transport infrastructure, and a lack of accessible information about projects. They suggested more multilingual activities, better promotion, and simplified procedures to make participation easier for young people.
Their dream project imagined a shared Romanian–foreign campus, where students could learn, create, and collaborate daily, blending cultures, languages, and ideas. They also envisioned environmental projects, youth festivals, and online learning platforms connecting students across borders — all rooted in unity, creativity, and mutual understanding.