On 9 June 2025, Romanian students participated in a youth consultation exploring how border regions can become spaces of opportunity through cooperation and shared development. The discussion focused on transport, environment, education, and community connections, revealing both optimism and pragmatism among participants.
Most students agreed that living near a border offers many opportunities, including access to new markets and diverse cultures, which can boost local businesses and tourism. They acknowledged, however, that borders can also bring challenges such as legal differences, border controls, and economic inequality between neighbouring regions. Still, they concluded that strong cooperation and shared action can help overcome these obstacles and turn border life into a lasting advantage.
When identifying priority areas for cooperation, students emphasized the need to improve public transport and road networks to make cross-border travel smoother and more efficient. They also highlighted environmental protection, especially of shared natural areas like rivers and forests, as a key responsibility for all border communities. In addition, they called for joint healthcare services and educational programs for young people living in border zones, which could foster a stronger sense of inclusion and opportunity.
Participants mentioned two major EU-funded initiatives with clear benefits for their regions: the Black Sea Basin Programme, which supports sustainable development and environmental protection and directly benefits Constanța, and the Central Europe Programme, which helps Bucharest strengthen innovation and regional development while improving its connections with other European cities.
Despite these successes, students pointed out several obstacles to daily cross-border and transnational cooperation. They mentioned language barriers, different administrative rules, and a lack of accessible information about cooperation programs, which limit public participation. Others raised practical issues, such as delays at border checkpoints and insufficient public transport, both of which complicate commuting and trade.
When asked to imagine their dream cooperation projects, students envisioned:
- a high-speed train network connecting Bucharest, Constanța, and neighbouring countries, improving travel and trade;
- a joint cultural festival celebrating the shared heritage of border regions, strengthening community bonds and promoting tourism; and
- a large-scale environmental cleanup of the Black Sea, bringing together all countries in the region for coordinated ecological action.