EGTC Future Paths Participated in an International Interreg Europe Peer Review

2026-07-01

EGTC Future Paths, with his representative had the honour of participating in an international peer review group dedicated to supporting the establishment of a new European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation (EGTC) between the cities of Frankfurt (Oder), Germany, and Słubice, Poland.

The peer review brought together distinguished experts and practitioners in European territorial cooperation, including representatives of the Interreg Europe team – Thorsten Kohlisch, Alison Morrisroe, Elena Ferrario and Veronika Ritter – together with Klaus Boele (ECBP), Ricardo Ferreira (DG REGIO) and colleagues from several well-established EGTCs across Europe.

The exchange of experiences, knowledge and good practices provided an excellent opportunity to strengthen professional networks and to support the future EGTC in developing an effective governance model for cross-border cooperation.

All participants returned home with fresh ideas, renewed inspiration and strong motivation for their future work. Our shared mission is to strengthen cooperation in cross-border regions, where joint efforts can make a meaningful contribution to improving quality of life, fostering sustainable economic development and addressing demographic challenges on both sides of the border.

The knowledge and good practices gained during this peer review will play an important role in preparing the development strategy for the Future Paths cross-border region and in implementing our flagship initiative – the revitalisation of the Ljubljana–Novo mesto–Karlovac–Zagreb railway corridor. Through this initiative, EGTC Future Paths aims to improve sustainable mobility, strengthen regional connectivity and unlock new development opportunities for communities along the corridor.

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News

Preberi novico o obnovi železnice v Beli krajini

project impact (oecd)

The OECD, together with the European Commission and its Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy (DG REGIO), has launched the international project IMPACT – Interreg Mechanism for Promoting Active Communities and Territories. This initiative represents one of the most important new European initiatives in the field of cross-border development, aiming to strengthen border regions through the active involvement of local communities, municipalities, businesses, tourism organizations, and civil society.

Preberi novico o obnovi železnice v Beli krajini

founders of egtc on past and future steps

The annual General Assembly of EGTC Future Paths Ljubljana - Novo mesto - Karlovac - Zagreb, once again brought together mayors of municipalities along the corridor, representatives of Slovenske železnice, HŽ Infrastruktura, Karlovac County, and the Development Centre Novo mesto. Participants reviewed ongoing cross-border cooperation activities, progress in revitalising the Ljubljana - Novo mesto - Karlovac - Zagreb corridor and defined next steps.

Preberi novico o obnovi železnice v Beli krajini

A year of progress and the future of mobility

The past year has been dynamic and rich in content, marked by numerous concrete steps toward revitalising the cross-border region along the Ljubljana - Novo mesto - Karlovac - Zagreb railway corridor. This area holds significant development potential, where infrastructural, economic, environmental, and social challenges intersect – and the railway remains one of the key pillars of future development.

Preberi novico o obnovi železnice v Beli krajini

new connection karlovac - metlika

As part of the objectives of the EGTC Future Paths, the flagship project is the revitalisation of the railway corridor Ljubljana – Novo mesto – Karlovac – Zagreb, along whiich sustainable mobility, multifunctional infrastructure and the promotion of cross-border cooperation in all relevant areas are being developed simultaneously. After several years of interruption, it will once again be possible to symbolically travel across the border from the Metlika railway station to Ozalj and Karlovac, or to travel from Karlovac and Ozalj across the border to the Metlika railway station.

Preberi novico o obnovi železnice v Beli krajini

interstate forum

On Thursday, 20 November 2025, the European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation »Future Paths« organized cross-border conference “Future Paths Ljubljana – Novo mesto – Karlovac – Zagreb” at the Business Incubator in Črnomelj. Conference brought together numerous important representatives of Slovenian and Croatian railway companies, ministries, DRI, several mayors from both sides of the border, as well as representatives of regions, development agencies, spatial planners and many others.

Preberi novico o obnovi železnice v Beli krajini

Visit by the Government of the Republic of Slovenia

The Government of the Republic of Slovenia concluded yesterday’s visit to Dolenjska (Lower Carniola) and Bela krajina (White Carniola) at the Development Centre Novo mesto with a consultation involving mayors and representatives of the business community, at which current issues affecting the local economy were highlighted.

renewal in bela krajina

The first step in revitalising the Bela krajina railway: the renovation and construction of transport infrastructure in border problem areas are not important solely from an infrastructure perspective. This is a structural step towards a breakthrough for a region that has for decades faced demographic decline, the out-migration of young people, and a lack of investment.

Maintenance works

We are pleased that, as of tomorrow (26 June 2025), the Bela krajina section of the Ljubljana–Novo mesto–Karlovac–Zagreb railway line will be temporarily closed. Although this is not yet a comprehensive renovation, the construction works will eliminate numerous deficiencies that cause delays and unpredictable travel times.

Karlovac–Ozalj: first train by year-end

Representatives of the European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation; the Deputy Prefect of Karlovac County, Vesna Hajsan Dolinar; the Mayor of the Municipality of Grosuplje, Dr Peter Verlič; a member of the Management Board of HŽ Infrastruktura, Darko Barišić; and Director Marko Vukobrat met with representatives of the Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure, Croatian Railways Passenger Transport, Slovenian Railways Passenger Transport, the company Pružne građevine, the Karlovac County Development Agency, and others, with the aim of re-establishing the Karlovac–Novo mesto–Ljubljana rail connection as soon as possible.

Steel Paths of the Future

Today, for travel to two meetings in Ljubljana, I chose Slovenian Railways. I set off by train. I admit, it is my favourite means of transport, although unfortunately it is not the most competitive in most situations. In any case, due to construction works taking place at the Ljubljana railway junction, the business trip did not proceed particularly smoothly. Still, I reached my destination — of course with a considerable delay, but at least without the hassle of crowds and searching for a parking space.

new visual identity

In 2025, the European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation (EGTC) “Future Paths Ljubljana–Novo mesto–Karlovac–Zagreb” adopted its comprehensive visual identity, which brings together the key symbols of the cross-border region and reflects a vision of a connected future.