The background material for the Salgótarján-Fiľakovo reference group meeting under the #ACCESS project, aiming to advance legal accessibility in the Slovak-Hungarian border region, was compiled for the session on March 5, 2024, held at Salgótarján. This meeting sought to include officials and experts to scrutinise the complex facets of cross-border cooperation, underscoring the pivotal roles of Salgótarján and Fiľakovo within the cross-border urban agglomerations. The document offered a detailed examination of the specific challenges and opportunities presented by the Salgótarján-Fiľakovo axis, with an emphasis on the significant geographical and socio-economic disadvantages that have historically marginalised this area compared to other regions in both countries. The material underscored the need for enhanced cooperation across various sectors, including economic development, education, healthcare, and tourism, to leverage the positioning of Salgótarján and Fiľakovo as catalysts for cross-border collaboration and mutual development.