September 30, 2025 – The Polish-Lithuanian Cross-border Functional Area EGTC has concluded its pilot project under the EU’s Resilient Borders programme, strengthening cross-border cooperation mechanisms and establishing lasting partnerships.
Project Completion
The project “CLLD-oriented facilitation of cross-border planning across the Polish-Lithuanian Functional Area” ran from February to September 2025 with EU funding of €39,868.20, focusing on building resilient governance structures and multi-stakeholder networks in this strategically important border region.
New Era of LAG Cooperation
The highlight of the closing conference in Puńsk (September 19, 2025) was the signing of a historic Letter of Intent between Polish and Lithuanian Local Action Groups. This partnership brings together:
- Suwalsko-Sejneńska LAG (Poland)
- Dzukija LAG from Lazdijai (Lithuania)
- Vilkaviškis LAG (Lithuania)
- Kalvarija LAG (Lithuania)
The LAGs committed to joint action for sustainable border development, marking the beginning of systematic cross-border collaboration at the community level. This partnership will enable coordinated project implementation, resource sharing, and unified approaches to local development challenges across the Polish-Lithuanian border.
Project Outputs
The initiative delivered three key intellectual outputs:
- Management and Communication Manual for EGTC governance
- Study on Cross-Border Brokering and Facilitation Conditions
- Operational framework for multi-stakeholder cooperation
Future Outlook
The established LAG partnership represents a fundamental shift in border cooperation, moving from occasional collaboration to structured, long-term engagement. This community-led approach, combined with EGTC’s institutional framework, creates a sustainable model for addressing shared challenges and opportunities in the Polish-Lithuanian border region. The cooperation mechanisms developed will continue beyond project funding, ensuring that cross-border collaboration becomes a permanent feature of regional development.
