Bridging borders in practice: lessons from the DKMT Euroregion and the BTC EGTC

Cross-border cooperation has emerged as a key area of interest for both policymakers and scholars in the context of growing regional interdependence, European integration and shifting border dynamics in Europe. This research paper investigates the Hungarian and Serbian border area as a distinctive geopolitical interface where the European Union structures converge with non-EU territories, namely Serbia, thus offering a valuable space for analysing regional governance models, institutional cooperation, cross-border strategic planning and implementation. This research draws on secondary data analysis and expert interviews conducted in a semi-structured format to research the legal frameworks, institutional arrangements and policy mechanisms underpinning these platforms, while also identifying the processes of implementation and practical barriers, too.