In Rome, 120 delegates of 31 countries, together with representatives from the European institutions, took stock of the progress made and started the consultation process for the next generation of neighbourhood cross-border cooperation programmes. The full commitment of all stakeholders boosts achievements and delivers hope for the future.

The cooperation across the external borders of the EU is demonstrating its full potential; after a gradual start, a large majority of neighbourhood cross-border cooperation (CBC) programmes is now running in full speed, and the time is ripe to think about a third cycle of programming, preserving the specificity of this instrument which conjugates cooperation and cohesion for the benefit of all cross-border communities in both EU Member States and Partner Countries.