The BRRIDGE Consortium held its Final Meeting on 17 November 2025 in Banská Bystrica, in a hybrid format with the majority of partners present on site. The timing of the meeting, on the anniversary of 17 November, a symbolic day for democracy and civic freedoms in Slovakia – added a meaningful dimension to our discussions and reflections.

During the meeting, partners reviewed project achievements, aligned the remaining reporting tasks, and finalised steps toward the closure and long-term sustainability of BRRIDGE outcomes. The gathering also highlighted the strength of collaboration built throughout the project and reaffirmed the value of continued cooperation beyond its formal end.

Immediately after the consortium meeting, the team seamlessly continued its work through the BRRIDGE Final Conference, integrated into the Human Forum 2025 programme. This created a unique space where research, policy dialogue, and civil society engagement converged: a synergy that perfectly captured the mission of BRRIDGE.

We thank all partners for their commitment, expertise, and constructive cooperation. Working together over the past years has been both professionally enriching and personally rewarding. The foundations built through BRRIDGE will continue to inform future initiatives, partnerships, and shared efforts to strengthen democracy and resilience across Europe.