Danube Region Strategy (EUSDR)

Pillar 1 of the Danube Region Strategy – 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧 - aims to contribute to sustainable, inclusive and intelligent regional development through measures in the areas of transport, energy, culture and tourism. The overall focus is on improving connectivity in the Region. The joint efforts of the Danube Region's participating countries have led to significant progress in terms of coordination in infrastructure works, the operation of transport and energy systems, the exchange of best practices on clean energy, and the promotion of Danube culture and tourism. Effective, coordinated planning, financing, and implementation of measures have contributed to achieving significant steps in overcoming the main bottlenecks identified in the region.

The Danube basin is characterized by complex and yet fragile ecosystems and habitats underpinning all human activities. Sustainable use of natural resources and the overall preservation of the quality of the environment are the main challenges in the Danube Region. Thus, Pillar 2 - 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 – of the EUSDR proposes specific cooperation activities for restoring and maintaining water quality, managing environmental risks and preserving biodiversity, landscapes and the quality of air and soil. Stakeholders in the Priority Areas across the Danube Region have been developing joint measures to protect and restore the quality of natural assets, which form a diverse range of ecosystems. At the same time, integrated activities have been designed to prevent, prepare for and respond to disasters.

Countries participating in the EUSDR experience significant differences in terms of innovation, the information society, competitiveness, education, the labour market, and marginalised communities. Therefore, the Priority Areas acting within the Danube Region Strategy’s Pillar 3 - 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 - aim at improving the cooperation across the Region by jointly developing projects and processes for improving social and economic framework conditions. As a result of the long-term, coordinated activities of stakeholders, notable achievements have been made in stimulating excellence in research and development, strengthening cooperation between knowledge providers, boosting transnational cooperation between innovation and business, leveraging the potential of the labour force, and fighting poverty.

The Danube Region participating countries share the goal of improving the functioning of democratic institutions, public administrations, and national, regional, and local organisations to provide a safer and more secure environment for their citizens. To achieve this goal, EUSDR Priority Areas set up within the framework of the Danube Region Strategy’s Pillar 4 - 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧 - have initiated joint actions to better ensure political, civil, and administrative structures, improving multi-level governance mechanisms, facilitating administrative cooperation among cross-border communities, and combating corruption and organised crime. Effective, coordinated planning, financing, and implementation of measures contribute to achieving important steps in overcoming the main bottlenecks identified in the Danube Region.

Countries participating in the EUSDR experience significant differences in terms of innovation, the information society, competitiveness, education, the labour market, and marginalised communities. Therefore, the Priority Areas acting within the Danube Region Strategy’s Pillar 3 - 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 - aim at improving the cooperation across the Region by jointly developing projects and processes for improving social and economic framework conditions. As a result of the long-term, coordinated activities of stakeholders, notable achievements have been made in stimulating excellence in research and development, strengthening cooperation between knowledge providers, boosting transnational cooperation between innovation and business, leveraging the potential of the labour force, and fighting poverty. https://danube-region.eu/

Pillar 1 of the Danube Region Strategy – 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧 - aims to contribute to sustainable, inclusive and intelligent regional development through measures in the areas of transport, energy, culture and tourism. The overall focus is on improving connectivity in the Region. The joint efforts of the Danube Region's participating countries have led to significant progress in terms of coordination in infrastructure works, the operation of transport and energy systems, the exchange of best practices on clean energy, and the promotion of Danube culture and tourism. Effective, coordinated planning, financing, and implementation of measures have contributed to achieving significant steps in overcoming the main bottlenecks identified in the region. https://danube-region.eu/