The EU Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR), endorsed in 2011, is a cooperation between Germany (Bavaria & Baden-Wurttemberg), Czech Republic, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Slovakia, Hungary, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, Ukraine and Moldova.
The EUSDR is the second macro-regional strategy in the EU. In 2009, the European Council formally asked the European Commission to prepare an EU Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR). The initial discussions for an Strategy for the Danube Region resulted from an initiative by the governments of Romania, Austria, Serbia and Baden-Württemberg following a blockade of the Danube river for shipping due to low water levels.
In 2020 the EUSDR presented a new Action Plan. The 12 Priority Areas contribute to achieving their overarching goals to connect the region, protect the environment, building prosperity and strengthen the region, which at the same time provide the 4 pillars in which the 12 PAs are organised. Additionally, the participating states elaborated and endorsed five strategic objectives of the EUSDR:
1. Counteracting Climate Change
2. Stimulating Sustainable Development
3. Establishing and enforcing Knowledge Society, stimulating the Economy and fight Poverty
4. Improving Mobility and Connectivity
5. Enhancing Democracy, sound Administration and strong Involvement of Civil Society and Youth
Specificities of the EU Danube Region include the cooperation with 5 non-EU member states. Currently, embedding the EUSDR in EU programmes 2021+ is one of the main priorities in the Danube Region. Within the EUSDR, a new online reporting tool about the progress and achievements of the EUSDR Priority Areas is under development as of July 2020.
The Strategy implementation is supported by the Danube Strategy Point, a joint strategic secretariat of the Strategy hosted by Austria and Romania. Find out more about the EUSDR governance here.
Further information on a Territorial Analysis designed for the Danube Region can also be found in a study prepared by CESCI.
For more documentation and materials, please visit the EUSDR website.