What does b-solutions indicate about the role of EGTCs in solving border obstacles and creating innovative models of collaboration
Abstract
The role of European Groupings of Territorial Cooperation (EGTCs) within the framework of the b-solutions initiative is the research object of the article. It evaluates their effectiveness in resolving border obstacles and fostering innovative collaboration models. As a legal instrument of the EU, the EGTC was designed to provide cross-border, transnational, and interregional cooperation with its own legal personality, aiming to overcome the administrative and legal asymmetries caused by national boundaries. The analysis reveals that EGTCs frequently appear in b-solutions documentation as applicants, objects of study, and proposed solutions to complex cross-border challenges. In policy fields such as transport and healthcare, EGTCs serve as promising managers of services of general economic interest, exemplified by the coordination of maritime transport planning or the operation of the French-Spanish Cerdanya Hospital. However, the study concludes that the EGTC remains an "incomplete" legal instrument; while it facilitates management, it cannot single-handedly solve deeply rooted national barriers such as divergent diploma recognition, specialized taxation rules, or social security contributions. Consequently, the article advocates for a diversified approach that complements EGTCs with new tools, such as the proposed "Cross-Border Facilitation Tool," to bridge remaining legislative gaps and fully realize a "Europe of the cross-border regions".
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