Stronger together!

The German-Polish border region of Spree-Neisse-Bober was hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. Without a coordinated EU crisis plan, cross-border life in this closely interconnected area came to a standstill. People who worked on the other side of the border faced closed checkpoints, and joint sports classes and events were cancelled. In a region already shaped by demographic ageing and political scepticism, the pandemic years posed a serious challenge.

The Euroregion Spree-Neisse-Bober e.V. took these experiences to heart. Together with local communities, it set out to develop a cross-border crisis response plan. But during the project Common Ground – Shaping Across Borders, it quickly became clear: there was potential for much more. What began as a practical plan evolved into a bold participatory approach that brought a wide range of new topics to the table.

Once involved, citizens were eager to contribute. Through lively public dialogues, they shared ideas on health, tourism, education, and mobility — from bilingual daycare centres to improved public transport. A German-Polish citizens’ advisory board was established to refine and advance the proposals.