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EU Parl Watch

Where the law stands, Dossier 2018/0198(COD)

Border Regions’ instrument for development and growth (BRIDGEforEU)

· Second reading

A proposed EU law. Parliament and the Council must agree on the same text: Parliament adopts its position, then negotiates with the Council.

Where it stands

Published as law

Completed: published in the Official Journal on 19 May 2025 and now EU law.

  1. Referred to committee(done) 3 April 2025
  2. Committee work(done) Report adopted 9 April 2025
  3. Tabled for plenary(done) 9 April 2025
  4. Plenary vote(done) Voted 6 May 2025
  5. Negotiations with the Council(done) Deal approved in committee 28 January 2025
  6. Published as law(done) 19 May 2025

Decided in plenary

6 May 2025 · decision 5

New EU law

Border Regions’ instrument for development and growth (BRIDGEforEU)

Approved without a vote Decided by show of hands: no count recorded.

AI summary:The draft law sets up an EU mechanism to resolve legal and administrative obstacles in cross-border regions.

What changed

  • Committee draft → Tabled for plenary

    AI summary:Extends the mechanism to all border regions, including maritime and external borders, and clarifies voluntary use. Adds provisions on coordination points, preliminary reactions, and procedures for handling legal obstacles. Adds definitions and extends legal protection to persons in cross-border regions. Adds requirements for the Commission's report and public consultation. The other changes are formal: updates to recitals and signature copies.

    See the changes →

Who works on it

Lead committee
Regional Development
Mep #125022 (ALDE), Sandro Gozi (Renew)
Mep #28586 (GUE-NGL), Mep #124835 (EFDD), Mep #96762 (EPP), Daniel Buda (EPP), Daniel Attard (S&D), Mep #96655 (S&D), Mep #28341 (ECR), Waldemar Buda (ECR), Mep #125214 (Greens), Ana Miranda Paz (Greens), Valentina Palmisano (The Left), Irmhild Bossdorf (ESN)
Committees giving an opinion
  • Legal Affairs
  • Environment, Climate and Food Safety· rapporteurAdina Vălean (EPP)

The text, version by version

Newest first.

  1. Adopted by Parliament· 6 May 2025

    Adopted text TA10-0070/2025

    AI summary:Parliament approves the Council position at first reading on the regulation establishing BRIDGEforEU, a Border Regions’ instrument for development and growth.

    What changed since Adopted text TA8-0118/2019 →

  2. Adopted by Parliament· 14 Feb 2019

    Adopted text TA8-0118/2019

    AI summary:Parliament's amended version of the proposed regulation sets up a voluntary mechanism for member states to resolve legal and administrative obstacles in cross-border regions by applying another member state's legal provisions to a joint project.

    What changed since Report A10-0058/2025 →

  3. Tabled for plenary· 9 Apr 2025

    Report A10-0058/2025

    AI summary:Parliament approves the Council position at first reading on a regulation to resolve legal and administrative obstacles in a cross-border context.

    What changed since Report A8-0414/2018 →

  4. Tabled for plenary· 29 Nov 2018

    Report A8-0414/2018

    AI summary:Parliament's amended version of the proposed regulation sets up a voluntary mechanism to resolve legal and administrative obstacles in cross-border regions, allowing one member state to apply another's legal provisions for a joint project.

    What changed since Draft report (REGI) →

  5. Committee draft· 25 Sept 2018

    Draft report (REGI)

    AI summary:The draft report proposes amendments to the regulation on a mechanism to resolve legal and administrative obstacles in a cross-border context, making the mechanism voluntary and allowing Member States to choose per joint project.

Committee opinions: Opinion (ENVI)

Timeline

Newest first.

Outcome 2 steps
  1. 19 May 2025

    Published in the Official Journal

    The act is now EU law.

  2. 7 May 2025

    Signed by the Presidents of Parliament and the Council

    The last step before the act is published in the Official Journal.

Plenary stage 2 steps
  1. 6 May 2025

    Plenary vote

    Sitting of 6 May 2025 Adopted text TA10-0070/2025Report A10-0058/2025

  2. 9 April 2025

    Report tabled for plenary

    This is the text all MEPs vote on. Political groups can still table amendments to it.

    Report A10-0058/2025

Committee stage 2 steps
  1. 9 April 2025

    Committee vote: report adopted

    REGI (Regional Development) voted on the amendments and adopted the report that goes to plenary.

  2. 3 April 2025

    Referred to the REGI (Regional Development) committee

    The lead committee prepares the report; JURI (Legal Affairs), ENVI (Environment, Climate and Food Safety) give an opinion.

Negotiations with the Council 1 step
  1. 28 January 2025

    Committee approved the deal reached with the Council

    The provisional agreement from the trilogues goes to the whole Parliament for a vote.

Plenary stage 1 step
  1. 14 February 2019

    Plenary vote

    Sitting of 14 Feb 2019 Adopted text TA8-0118/2019Report A8-0414/2018

Negotiations with the Council 1 step
  1. 12 December 2018

    Plenary endorsed the mandate to negotiate with the Council

    Parliament’s negotiators can now seek a compromise text with the Council (in “trilogues”).

Plenary stage 1 step
  1. 29 November 2018

    Report tabled for plenary

    This is the text all MEPs vote on. Political groups can still table amendments to it.

    Report A8-0414/2018

Committee stage 5 steps
  1. 22 November 2018

    Committee vote: report adopted

    REGI (Regional Development) voted on the amendments and adopted the report that goes to plenary.

  2. 25 October 2018

    ENVI (Environment, Climate and Food Safety) adopted its opinion

    The opinion is attached to the report for the lead committee to consider.

    Opinion (ENVI)

  3. 25 September – 23 October 2018

    Amendments tabled in committee (2 batches)

    Members of ENVI (Environment, Climate and Food Safety) proposed changes to the draft.

    Amendments in committee (ENVI)Amendments in committee (REGI)

  4. 25 September 2018

    Draft report published

    The rapporteur’s first text in REGI (Regional Development). Members can table amendments before the committee votes.

    Draft report (REGI)

  5. 11 June 2018

    Referred to the REGI (Regional Development) committee

    The lead committee prepares the report; JURI (Legal Affairs), ENVI (Environment, Climate and Food Safety) give an opinion.

Official record: Legislative Observatory, 2018/0198(COD)