Highlights

© Thibaut Vos - Fotolia.com

On 13 April, the General Affairs Council endorsed the Strategy for the Danube Region, aimed at developing the economic potential of an area defined by the world's most international river basin and improving environmental conditions in it.

"This means that one of the priorities of the Hungarian Presidency has been achieved," declared János Martonyi, Hungarian Foreign Minister and President of the General Affairs Council, adding that "the sense of this morning's discussion was that each and every member state is interested in this strategy, in the successful implementation of this strategy. Not only those countries which are directly involved but also those who realise that there is an all-European interest involved."

The strategy contains a detailed action plan based around four topics:

1. Connecting the Danube region
2. Protecting the environment in the Danube region
3. Building prosperity in the Danube region
4. Strengthening the Danube region (e.g. stepping up institutional capacity and cooperation to promote security and tackle organised crime).

In addition to the eight participant member states, Germany, Austria, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovenia, Romania and Bulgaria, the strategy involves the four Western Balkan countries, Ukraine and Moldova - and it remains open to other partners in the region.

This is the EU's second macro-regional strategy, following the Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region. "Many other countries want to follow this model to prepare macro-regional development strategies," said Minister Martonyi.

The implementation of the new strategy starts immediately.

More information:
Press release (pdf)
Press conference webcast