European Union Strategy for the Danube Region

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The European Union's strategy for the Danube region is a strategy of the European Commission that aims at closer cooperation between the states along the Danube . The focus is on the areas of infrastructure , environmental protection , wealth creation and good governance .

background

The concept of the macro region

The European Commission defines a macro- region as "an area that comprises several administrative regions but has enough common themes to justify a uniform strategic concept". Various regions of the European Union are beginning to call themselves macro-regions or are being referred to as such - in addition to the Baltic Sea, for example, the Mediterranean , the Alps-Adriatic region , the Atlantic arc or the Danube . The aim of such regional cooperation is project-related cross-border cooperation in sectors that are of particular common interest for the region concerned. The European Commission takes over the coordination and supports the affected actors in the implementation of the respective measures. In addition to the Commission and the participating states and regions, the Committee of the Regions (CoR) sees itself as a key player in the field of macro-regions.

The Danube region as a macro region

As Europe's second longest river, the Danube flows through ten countries from the Black Forest to the Black Sea, and more than 100 million people live in its catchment area. A total of fourteen countries are participating in the Danube Strategy. Eight of them belong to the European Union - six of them since the two eastward enlargements in 2004/2007 - six are outside with different accession prospects. The Danube is seen as a connecting element by both the neighboring countries and the European Commission. The Danube Strategy defines challenges and potentials to which the actors concerned want to address themselves together.

History of the Danube Strategy

The original initiative for a Danube strategy came from the European Commission. At a conference in Brussels in October 2008, to which the federal state of Baden-Württemberg and Prime Minister Günther Oettinger had invited, the then Commissioner for Regional Policy Danuta Hübner called for "a specific strategy comparable to the one we are developing for the Baltic Sea region". The focus should be "ecology, traffic and socio-economic issues". In connection with the formulation of the Baltic Sea Strategy in the first half of 2009, the Council of the European Union asked at its meeting in Brussels on 18./19. June 2009 the Commission to present an EU strategy for the Danube region by the end of 2010. The Committee of the Regions agreed on 7 October 2009. The committee proposed the expansion of the transport infrastructure, cross-border cooperation in flood protection, joint tourism concepts and regional cultural work as the focal points of the strategy. In particular, the “cultural bridging function of cities and municipalities” was emphasized.

On January 21, 2010 the European Parliament also passed a resolution on a European strategy for the Danube region. In it it emphasized the role model function of the Baltic Sea strategy and referred to the long tradition of cooperation in the Danube region, which goes back to the European Danube Commission founded in 1856 . At the same time, it made it clear that, given the fact that not all the countries of the Danube region are members of the EU, the Danube Strategy represents an important hub between cohesion policy and the European neighborhood policy . By understanding the Danube region as a macro-region, the regional differences in economic output could be overcome. Specifically, the strategy should include the following elements: environmental protection, improvement of infrastructure, improvement of water quality, safety of shipping, tourism as well as education, research and social cohesion. In addition, academic exchange and cultural dialogue should be promoted.

Based on the resolution of the European Parliament, the Commission published a framework paper on February 2, 2010 in which it called on all stakeholders - Member States, neighboring countries, regions, municipalities, international organizations, social partners and civil society - to participate. In it, she divided the aspects of the Danube Strategy into the points of improving accessibility and communication systems, protecting the environment and improving water quality, and strengthening socio-economic, human and institutional development. Following the consultation, on 8 December 2010 the Commission presented its proposal for an EU strategy in the Danube region. This was approved on April 13, 2011 by the EU member states, which can now start implementing the strategy.

actors

Participating EU Member States

Other participating states

Other actors

Focus

The EU strategy for the Danube region consists of the four pillars “Connecting the Danube Region”, “Environmental Protection in the Danube Region”, “Building Prosperity in the Danube Region” and “Strengthening the Danube Region”. These four pillars are further divided into eleven priority areas. On February 3, 2011, EU Regional Commissioner Johannes Hahn and Hungarian Foreign Minister János Martonyi announced coordinators for the eleven thematic priorities of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region. The thematic priorities include a. promoting the use of sustainable energies, promoting culture and tourism, improving institutional capacity and cooperation.

Infrastructure

Above all, this includes improving the connection with the Danube region by improving mobility, promoting the use of sustainable energies and promoting culture and tourism. In the area of ​​transport, inland shipping is to be strengthened and road, rail and air transport infrastructures improved. In addition, the energy infrastructure is to be modernized. In the field of culture and tourism, a common and sustainable concept for the upgrading and promotion of the Danube region is to be created.

environmental Protection

This concerns to ensure good water quality in accordance with the EU Water Framework Directive , according to another preparedness and management measures of the Flood Directive , the Seveso Directive , the Mining Waste Directive and the Environmental Liability Directive . In addition, there is the preservation of biological diversity and nature reserves.

Wealth creation

This area includes investments in education and qualifications, research and innovation as well as the targeted promotion of companies through better networking and the establishment of so-called "centers of excellence". In addition, there is the fight against poverty and the creation of jobs.

Good governance

This includes the exchange of experience on good administrative practice and the fight against corruption, organized and serious crime.

Individual evidence

  1. Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on the Strategy of the European Union for the Baltic Sea Region, COM (2009) 248 final, p. 6 (PDF; 59 kB)
  2. ^ Draft report on the strategy of the European Union for the Baltic Sea region and on the role of macro-regions in the future cohesion policy (2009/2230 (INI)), Committee on Regional Development of the European Parliament, PE439.338v02-00, p. 3 (PDF; 167 kB)
  3. "EU Commissioner Hübner calls for European Danube Strategy", Europe Press Release, October 6, 2008
  4. ^ "Committee of the Regions prevails with its call for its own EU Danube Strategy", Europa Press Release, October 7, 2009
  5. Resolution of the European Parliament of January 21, 2010 on a European strategy for the Danube region
  6. ^ European Commission, EU Strategy for the Danube Region: Scoping Paper for the public consultation
  7. Press release EU Commission: "Cast off for Danube Strategy"  ( page no longer available , search in web archivesInfo: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.@1@ 2Template: Toter Link / presseportal.eu-kommission.de  
  8. www.adz.ro , Ulrich Brunhuber: Innovative environmental technologies as an opportunity for the Danube region ADZ from December 8, 2011
  9. ^ Danube Strategy: Coordinators named for priorities, press release of the European Commission, February 3, 2011

Web links