Speaking ahead of the conference, Commissioner Hahn said: "It is clear that some issues, like pollution and flooding, cannot be tackled at national level alone. In the Danube Region, we all agree that improved cooperation is needed to identify joint problems and opportunities, and agree on joint responses. This conference provides an excellent opportunity to get down to the business of discussing concrete projects that will deliver lasting results."

Key themes: environment, transport and energy

Given the inter-linked nature of many of the challenges facing the region, cooperation within a 'macro-regional' framework is intended to produce more effective coordination. The two day conference will focus on three key themes - environment, transport and energy - but it will also tackle the information society and urban issues. It will provide a platform for a wide range of stakeholders to examine how these key issues can be addressed to produce integrated and coherent results.

Although the strategy will not come with extra EU finance, a considerable amount of funding is already available to the region through a host of EU programmes. The aim is to use this available support – € 100 billion alone has been allocated from the cohesion policy (European Regional Development Fund, Cohesion Fund, European Social Fund) between 2007 and 2013 – to greater effect and show how macro-regional cooperation can help tackle local problems.

Next steps

The consultation process on the Danube Strategy will continue until the summer with further events planned for Bulgaria (May), Romania (June). As well as the stakeholder events, the European Commission also held an on-line public consultation from 2 February until 12 April 2010.

The Commission will propose an Action Plan and governance system in December 2010. This is scheduled for discussion and likely endorsement by Member States in early 2011.

More information: http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/cooperation/danube/index_en.htm

Further details on the conference: http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/cooperation/danube/events_en.htm

Source: RAPID Press Release of April 16, 2010.